Claimed By The Mafia Don (Ariella and Asher) novel Chapter 239

ARIELLA

To be honest with myself, I wanted more from Asher. Even though I knew I had no rights, knew that he wasn’t mine,....but he felt so mine. I wanted more than just him being a protector, him being the father of my son. I wanted him fully. Everything about him.... I wanted it.

But I also wanted to reach out to him, to bridge the space that had risen between us after everything. For now, though, I just let myself enjoy this moment. Watch him. Enjoy his presence. Watching the way he looked at Leon, the man who carried the night’s horrors on his shoulders, who was still here, who was still taking care of us.

“Let me go get you something to eat. I’m sure you haven’t eaten anything.”

I wanted to stop him. I just wanted him here. But I nodded. And just a few minutes later, he was back.

“That was quick,” I said.

“Well, I just had to order someone to get me something.”

I frowned a little,

“You do know there are guards outside, right? Not taking a chance with you again.”

"As if that helped the last time...' The words slipped out, and I didn’t even mean them bitterly. I didn’t even know if it was a joke, but I kept remembering Christian’s body there in front of the door. I shivered.

“So… Christian,” I asked, almost hesitantly, “he… is he dead?”

“Yeah. He is,” he said, tightly grinding his teeth.

I could feel the mood, the temperature in the room, turning sour, so I found myself turning to a different topic.

“Maria… how’s she doing?” I asked, hoping to lighten the air.

“She’s doing just great,” he said. “I think she’ll be released today.”

“Oh, that’s great. I wish I could see her.”

“Yeah, but she’s not here. Maybe after she’s released, I’ll tell her to come and say hi.”

I smiled at the thought. “I would love that. I’m sure Leon would love to see his auntie, too.”

Asher smiled.

“And Luca?” I found myself asking.

I remembered the last time Luca and I saw each other, we were on opposite sides of the room. He had offered to help me disappear, accused me of things… it wasn’t a good talk. But now, with Leon in trouble, I saw the truth: he hadn’t hesitated to protect my son.

I knew that was because Asher trusted him, and that trust extended to me, even if I didn’t fully understand where we really stood right now.

“Well,” he said, a look on his face I couldn’t quite understand, “I…” He paused, then continued. “He had to go.”

“Oh!?” I said, unsure if it was a question or a remark.

“Yeah, I mean, he did want to come and see you, see how you’re doing, but there are things out of our hands right now, things going on… We can’t all be out of the city, out of our territory. So I told him to go back.”

“Don’t be scared. We just… I don’t have much time. I have to leave tomorrow morning. Things are escalating, and I have to be there,” he said.

I nodded my head in understanding.

“I have to leave, and I want to take you with me. But after what happened, I think it’s safer if I leave you behind.”

“You’re leaving me here….?” I asked, a little voice breaking through.

“Don’t worry. You’re safe."

'Just like last time?”

“There’s no point lying to you,” Asher said, sighing. “I should just tell you the truth. Luca specifically planted you across Alex Volkov’s book cooker because he knew that’s the last place he would think to look. And that was a great plan, until you and he started getting complicated.... But anyway, I’m not blaming anyone for that. What happened, happened.”

I listened, even though he said he wasn't blaming anyone.... I felt a little guilty.

“Luca thought that Alan was easy, he wasn’t in the mafia, he was a normal person. But he underestimated him. And even though I was kind of angry at him, I think it’s the best place for you to keep on playing low. Nobody knows what happened with Alex or Alex Volkov’s men, and no one will come looking for you. I don’t want to interrupt Leon’s life for now until I find him something permanent. So for now, I think you should stay in that house.”

I blinked, my voice rising despite myself.

“Do you think you can do that?"

' It would be kind of weird if you switch houses after the story you already created there, with the job at the library and everything. Although I am more concerned about changing Leon's environment for now. But… if it’s too much.”