Claimed By The Mafia Don (Ariella and Asher) novel Chapter 180

Luca's smile deepened....cruel, controlled.

“I want you to remember that,” he said. “I don’t want to use your weakness against you.”

A pause. “But....” He chuckled, dry and sharp. “I could.”

He looked at his watch then, casually.

“I’m going downstairs,” he said, turning for the door. “And in exactly ten minutes, I want your ass in the car.”

And with that, he turned to walk out, leaving his threat hanging between us like smoke in the air. I stood there, heart pounding, dread crashing over me like a wave I couldn’t escape.

I was going back to a cage. But this one? This one was going to be far worse.

And then, like a soft whisper from the universe, a tiny little human came running into my bedroom. Luca had just reached the threshold of the doorway when Leon ran straight into him and wrapped his tiny arms around Luca’s legs.

“Uncle Luca!” he said joyfully, his voice like a melody, innocent and untouched by everything that had just happened.

I froze. Luca turned, just slightly, just enough to give me a quick glance, sharp and unreadable before his eyes returned to Leon.

“What’s up, my little man?” Luca said, his voice warmer now, as he bent down and lifted Leon into his arms.

“I’m good! I missed you, Uncle Luca,” Leon said, wrapping his arms around Luca’s neck. “We had so much fun at school. I love my teachers. I made friends!”

His words came quickly, tumbling out like a waterfall. He was rambling now, like only a child could. He talked about his new friend next door, Rosie, and her mother, and uncle. About how much fun he was having. How much he didn’t like the tutors because he had to be alone at home, but now he had friends, real friends.

He went on and on, his face lit up like the sun. His joy was so pure was unbearable to watch in that moment. And when he finally stopped, he tightened his little hands around Luca’s neck and whispered,

“The only thing I don’t have is you.”

Luca tensed. I saw it. I felt it.

But his hand came up slowly, tenderly, and patted Leon’s back. And then he said something I didn’t expect.

“You remind me so much of my best friend,” he said quietly.

Leon pulled back to look at him, eyes wide.

“Really? Do you have a best friend? I’ve never met him!” he beamed. “I want you to meet my friends too. Will I get to meet your best friend? Maybe he can also be my friend!”

That childlike wonder, so genuine in the room was like a challenge to the very mess that still lingered in the bedroom.

I stood frozen, watching the man who had just threatened me with a cage, now holding my son like he was something that mattered. And suddenly, I didn’t know which version of Luca I feared more the angry one who threatened me, or the silent one who was still human enough to love Leon.

“Maybe,” Luca said, his voice softer now. Then he asked, “What’s your best friend’s name?”

“I’ve got two best friends!” Leon announced proudly, puffing up his chest. “One is a girl, and the other one is a boy. What about you?”

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