Claimed By The Mafia Don (Ariella and Asher) novel Chapter 224

ARIELLA

I rub my temples, trying to push the ache away, but it only grows heavier, pressing against the sides of my skull like it’s trying to split me open. My breathing feels too loud in the silence.

I don’t even know why I’m thinking about trusting Alan. Maybe because right now, he’s the only person who’s given me something, anything that feels like information and protection instead of a threat. Luka’s last name isn’t much, but it’s a thread, a thread that could very well become a noose around my neck.

I stand again, restless, pacing to the door before I stop myself from opening it. If I step outside, I’ll either find answers… or I’ll make myself an easy target. I’m not sure which one terrifies me more.

I glance back toward the window but don’t dare get close. If Alan really saw me, if he’s been watching, he’ll know I’m nervous now. And showing nerves in this world is like bleeding in front of a shark.

“What am I going to do?” I whisper to no one. My chest tightens at the thought of Luca finding Asher first.

The silence in the room feels heavier than the headache now. I sit on the edge of the bed, hands gripping my knees, mind spinning with questions I can’t afford to ask out loud.

If Alan is police, that’s one danger.

If he’s not, that’s another.

Either way, the walls are closing in, and my only option is Asher.

Asher is the one who has all the answers. He’s the one who’s going to make all of this right. So I call him, but he’s not available. He’s not… The phone doesn’t even ring. He’s just not there.

How am I going to explain myself? Should I write a message? Should I send an email? What do I do?

I pace the room, my mind looping in a frantic cycle. I try to resist the urge to call him every five minutes, but the minutes crawl by until Leon gets home. Then I hear it, his voice shouting from downstairs, the thump of hurried footsteps on the stairs. He’s running toward me.

We haven’t seen each other since yesterday. I try to put on a brave face, forcing a smile so he won’t see what’s really going on.

Boop!

He bursts into the room.

“Mom. Mom. Mom.”

I run to him, pulling him close, holding him so tight I can feel his heartbeat against mine. I bury my face into his hair, breathing him in… grounding myself in the only thing that feels steady right now.

"Hey, baby," I say after that grounding hug. "How are you? How was school?"

"It was fine. It was amazing. I had the best day."

"Wow, I’m so glad for you, sweetheart," I say, kissing his head.

"Mom, you told me Dad had gone away, and he’s going to come back. And he came back last night. Did you see him?" he asks, excited.

I really am a bad mom..... I’m turning into one.

Because after everything that happened… after Asher came back… after he found out about his dad… I can't believe I forgot.

I had a plan for his birthday. I knew they usually had those little school celebrations, he was going to have his party there with his friends, and then afterward, I was thinking about us going somewhere to celebrate as a family.

But after everything… I completely forgot about it. I just feel so bad that I forgot.

“How did your dad know when you're birthday is?” I asked him instead, trying to steer my mind away from where it wanted to go.

“Oh,” he says, “I told him, and he knows. He’s my father.”

He says it proudly, having no idea of all the thoughts storming through my head right now. I look at my little boy, who is so excited, his eyes bright, his heart even brighter. He doesn’t understand the circumstances.

Oh God… I hope one day he doesn’t piece together all the dots about everything. He’s just so excited, so positive. I wish I had a brain like his. I wish I could think like him.

I don’t even know what I was expecting. Maybe I thought he’d act a little like Asher… maybe be mad at me. Maybe not mad, but a little accusing. Something like; Why didn’t you tell me about my dad? Why didn’t you show me my dad?

I don’t know how to feel right now.