Claimed By The Mafia Don (Ariella and Asher) novel Chapter 301

ARIELLA

Asher spent the remainder of his day with us yesterday, and it felt like home for once. home in the real sense of the word, because he was there and we were all together. For once, I felt like it was our home. I felt at home.

But then, at around three in the morning, while in bed, asleep, he got a call.

It was sudden. Urgent. There was a lot of background noise on the other end of the phone, voices overlapping, something sharp and rushed in his tone as he answered. He got out of bed quietly, quickly changed, and left. I watched him go, my chest tightening, not wanting him to leave, not like that, not so abruptly.

I was scared something might happen to him. I had just gotten him back. We had just begun stitching things together again, just started finding our rhythm, and already it felt like we were on the verge of losing him. I hadn’t even put my foot down yet. I hadn’t even figured out where I was standing in this life. I didn’t know what was going to happen if I were to lose him now.....

I shake my head, pushing the thoughts away, just as Maria walks into the room.

“Hi, everybody,” she says brightly.

Leon squeals and runs straight toward her. Maria laughs, bends down, kisses his forehead, and comes to sit next to him. We’re in the dining room now, having breakfast.

“So,” she asks, settling in, “how is everyone? How was yesterday? Did you miss me?”

Leon answers before I can open my mouth.

“It was great,” he says proudly. “I spent the day with Mommy and Daddy and William and Margaret. Margaret made cookies for me.”

And then he goes on and on, his words tumbling over each other, excitement spilling out of him so easily. As I listen, it suddenly hits me, I don’t even know this Margaret. I haven’t even gone into the kitchen yet. William had only pointed it out in passing, telling us it was the kitchen we never went into.

I’d never met her. After breakfast, I should go see her. At least thank her for cooking such delicious food and being so good to Leon.

“So how was your day?” I ask Maria.

She shrugs. “It was okay. I went to see a few relatives, checked on my little apartment. But honestly? I just missed you guys so much.”

“We missed you too,” I say.

After breakfast, we all stand, and Maria starts heading toward the sitting room. I stop her gently.

“I’ll just be a minute.”

I turn and walk toward the kitchen. Inside, I find her standing by the stove, her back to me, focused on whatever she’s stirring. She’s a little plump, a little short, and when she turns around, her whole face lights up with the warmest smile. She looks so lovely that I can’t help but smile back.

“Hello, Ariella” she says, extending her hand. “I’ve heard so much about you from both Asher and Leon.”

I take her hand. “Hello, Margaret. Thank you, Leon has been talking nonstop about you.”

She chuckles. “Yes, that sounds like him. Gosh, he’s such a sweet boy.”

“Having fun?” I ask.

“Yes!” Leon shouts, sending water flying.

I watch him, soaked and smiling, completely in his element. And for a moment, I wish I were like him, that I could fall into this life so easily, that I could step into my role and feel at home the moment I arrived.

I linger there for a moment, just watching them, Leon shrieking with laughter, Maria pretending to scold him while splashing him right back. The sun is already warm, the kind of warmth that seeps into your bones and makes you forget, just for a second, all the things you’re afraid of.

I sit on one of the loungers, tucking my legs under me. Maria waves me over.

“Come join us,” she calls.

“In a minute,” I say, smiling. I don’t want to break the moment. Leon looks so… free.

Eventually, he notices me too. “Mommy! Did you see? I can float now!”

“I see,” I laugh. “You’re doing amazing.”

And I mean it. He is. He always is.

But even as I laugh, my eyes drift to the house. To the long stretch of windows. To our window where I woke up at three in the morning, the rustle of clothes, the sharp edge in his voice when he said my name softly. The way he kissed my hair like it might be the last time for a while.