Claimed By The Mafia Don (Ariella and Asher) novel Chapter 149

Chapter 149

I took two steps back from him. My heart was pounding, not from fear… but from devastation.

“I get that you’re mad,” I said slowly, my voice trembling. “I get that tensions are high. So I suggest… you take a moment and get yourself together.”

I turned, refusing to meet his eyes.

“I’m going to check on the person you don’t want me to talk about. I’m going to make sure Maria and everyone else are okay.”

I stopped at the door.

“And when you’re ready to talk, like a man, not a monster… you know where to find me.”

He gave me a condescending look before turning his back to me. Just like that, dismissed. As if everything that had been said, every scar he just tore open again, meant nothing to him.

I sniffled quietly and turned away, heading toward Leon and Maria’s wing. I didn’t even know where the safe room was. I was just walking, heart numb, steps aimless until I saw them, Maria and Leon emerging into the hallway.

The moment my eyes landed on my son, I ran.

I scooped Leon into my arms, burying my face into his hair as I kissed his forehead over and over. I held him tight, too tight, probably but I didn’t care. I was just so grateful. Grateful to be alive. Grateful that he was alive. Grateful that whatever hell had just played out downstairs hadn’t touched him.

“Mom,” Leon mumbled, squirming slightly. “You’re suffocating me.”

I let out a breathy laugh, finally setting him down as I wiped at my eyes.

“Sorry,” I whispered, ruffling his hair.

Then I pulled Maria into a hug, wrapping my arms around her with all the strength I had left.” Are you okay?” I asked, eyes searching hers.

“I should be asking you that,” Maria replied, contern darkening her features. “Why did you stay? We could’ve all been safe together. I was worried sick, trying to convince Leon everything was fine when I didn’t even know if you were…

Her voice trailed off, and I glanced back at Leon. He was already wandering into his room, blissfully unaware, I knew he had to have felt something was wrong, kids always do but he didn’t know the full extent. He didn’t know how close he came to losing everything.

Thank God,

I must have drifted off into my own head because I didn’t hear Maria until she gently placed her hand on my shoulder,

“Are you okay?” she asked softly. “Is everything really okay?”

I hesitated before answering. “Yeah,” I said, forcing a small smile. “It was just… some misunderstanding. But everything is fine now.”

Maria didn’t buy it. Her expression softened with sympathy. “You don’t have to lie to me,” she murmured. “There’s a CCTV monitoring screen in the safe room. I couldn’t hear what was said, but… I saw what happened.”

She pulled me into another hug, this one tighter, more knowing. Then she gave me a quiet nod and turned away, disappearing into her room.

I took a deep breath. I knew she’d tried to shield Leon from everything, but I also knew she saw more than I wanted anyone to see.

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