Claimed By The Mafia Don (Ariella and Asher) novel Chapter 151

I felt gaslighted. Manipulated. Blindsided.

“What do you mean? What are you saying, Luca?”

“I’m saying you’re leaving today,” he repeated calmly. “Leon and Maria will follow tomorrow.”

“What?” I blinked. “Why? I’m not leaving without my son. Are you kidding me?” My voice was rising. “There’s no way I’m leaving here without Leon. It’s either both of us, or it’s nothing at all.”

I took a breath, desperate, my eyes flicking toward Leon and Maria, silently praying he would say this was some kind of sick joke. But Luca wasn’t joking.

The man standing by the door didn’t move. Still like a statue. Watching.

“You too,” Luca snapped at him, sharp and commanding.

The man nodded and left. Now it was just the two of us in the hallway.

“I’m doing this for you,” Luca said gently.

I shook my head, voice low and trembling. “No. I’m not leaving without my son. There’s no way I’m leaving him behind. No. I can’t.”

“I’m going to need you to trust me,” he said again, as if that would change anything.

“I don’t trust you,” I snapped. “I don’t trust Asher. I don’t trust anybody... Not with my son.”

His expression darkened. “Well, you’re here, aren’t you?” he said tightly. “We’ve been protecting you. Taking care of you. If I wanted to drag you out of here by your hair, I could. And I would... don’t test me." Then he sighed, "But I’m talking to you like a civilized person because I care about you..... And I care about that little boy.”

He took a step forward.

“That’s why, even though the plan was for all of us to leave together, I decided it’s better if you leave first.”

“Why?” I asked, heart pounding. “Why are you changing the plan now? Does Asher know about this?” Then the realization hit. “It’s Asher, isn’t it? Of course it is.”

“No,” Luca said sharply. “It’s not. This is me. Asher doesn’t even know I made this decision. But I’m his right-hand man, and he trusts me to handle things. That’s why he left this to me, and I am handling it.”

I stared at him, eyes burning. My hands were shaking. “I can’t believe this,” I whispered. “I can’t believe you expect me to just leave my son behind. After everything.”

He didn’t answer, just looked at me.

I kept shaking my head, spiralling. I felt like I was being deceived all over again. How could I leave Leon now, after everything we had been through?

Then Luca tilted his head, and I remembered his earlier threat. He could drag me out if he wanted. And I wouldn’t be able to stop him.

It fucking sucked to be this powerless.

“Why?” I asked again, my voice softer this time. “Just tell me why you changed the plan. At least tell me that. Put my mind at ease so I can… so I can try to comply without completely breaking.”

A twisted smile played on his lips.

“Well, since you’re asking nicely… little Ari,” he said mockingly, “I think Alex is still watching this house.”

My stomach dropped.

“I mean, of course, he is,” Luca continued. “He gave Asher two days to ‘think about it,’ remember? He knows Asher might try something in that time. So he’s watching. Waiting. Probably planning his next move.”

He folded his arms and leaned against the wall, almost casually.

“And because I care about your son, I don’t want to take both of you out at once. As far as Alex knows, you’re the only one in this house. Now, if I sneak you out alone, and he follows, and he decides to make a move... well, at least it’s just you.”

My chest ached at the thought.

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