Claimed By The Mafia Don (Ariella and Asher) novel Chapter 15

Chapter 15

My mouth hung open, but Luca just smiled, like this was all some funny joke.

“You ain’t planning on keeping the money so you can run away from Asher again, are you?” he asked, amused.

I stared at him, frozen, like a deer caught in headlights. That only made him chuckle. Then, as if I had just told the funniest joke in the world, he burst into laughter.

Luca laughed so hard I didn’t think I had ever seen him like this. It wasn’t just a chuckle-it was a full, uncontrollable laugh, his shoulders shaking, his head thrown back.

I frowned, growing more irritated by the second.

“You can’t be serious,” he said, still laughing.

I just stared at him.

Then, still chuckling to himself, he turned and walked out of the diner, shaking his head as he headed toward the car.

Thank God Leon was too busy with his food to pay attention. He hadn’t noticed our exchange or pretended not to.

I paid the bill and followed him outside. By now, I was mad. No-fuming.

I got into the car, sitting stiffly, arms crossed, while Luca casually turned on the radio, humming along as we drove.

As the sky darkened, I turned to him, my patience thinning.

“I thought you were supposed to take me to the airport,” I said.

Luca caught my gaze in the rearview mirror and smirked.

“Yeah, that was the plan. Asher was going to take you back himself, you know… before he realized-” He glanced at Leon, hesitating as if stopping himself from saying something inappropriate.

Then he settled on, “Before he realized your complications.”

I clenched my jaw. I knew what he meant.

We went to a restaurant for dinner, and I decided it was time to voice my concerns.

“We can’t continue like this,” I said.

Luca kept eating, completely unbothered. Then, placing a hand on his chest in mock heartbreak, he smirked.

“What are you trying to do, Ari? Are you breaking up with me? Are you trying to tear apart our happy, beautiful family of three?”

I shot him a glare.

“We have a child with us, Luca. We can’t drive the whole night. If this trip is going to continue, we need to stop at a motel and sleep.”

Luca’s face twisted in immediate disgust.

“You want me to sleep in a motel? What do you take me for, Ari?”

My stomach twisted.

“Why?” I asked sceptically. “Are you letting us go?”

Luca chuckled lowly, shaking his head before starting the car.

“Not a chance.”

Luca took us to a private airport, where he stopped the car near a waiting helipad. The whirring sound of the helicopter blades filled the night air.

As we stepped out of the car, Luca turned to me.

“Just one more thing-leave everything in the car, including your electronic devices.”

I frowned. “You mean my phone?”

“I said everything,” he repeated flatly. “The only thing you’re bringing onto that helipad is the clothes you already have on and your body.”

“There are important things in my bag and on my phone,” I said, my voice growing sharper. “I have pictures of Leon, memories of him growing up. I’m not leaving them behind. I know you’re going to destroy them.”

Luca didn’t waver.

“You’re not getting on that helipad with those things. Leave everything in the car. I won’t repeat myself.”