Claimed By The Mafia Don (Ariella and Asher) novel Chapter 318

ASHER

Time slipped away, forgotten between breath's pleasure and laughter. It was just a husband and a wife stealing moments like this, between responsibility and childcare, just to be together and to connect.

“Mommy! Daddy! I’m ready!” suddenly came Leon’s voice, ringing loudly from the hallway, followed by rapid footsteps getting closer.

“Is that the sound of the door opening?” Ariella spoke with a bit of nervousness.

I closed my eyes slowly, pressing my forehead against hers, fighting the urge to groan. “Of course he is,” I muttered under my breath. This boy seemed to be more than I thought he was.

Ariella bit her lip, trying and failing to hide her laughter.

“What did you say?” she asked.

“That Leon is more cut out to be the heir than I ever was when I was his age,”

She laughed before she sobered up. “You left the door open, didn’t you?” she whispered.

“Maybe.”

She pushed me lightly with a small smack against my chest, still smiling as she slid down my arm. I caught her waist before she could fully step away, letting her pass just long enough to press one last quick kiss to her lips, slower this time, lingering, promising.

“Where are you running off to?” I muttered. “This isn’t over,” I added,

Her cheeks flushed slightly, but her eyes sparkled with mischief.

“It never is with you.”

Another knock hit the door, this time against the closet.

“Shit,” I whispered under my breath, counting to two.

“Dad! I picked my clothes. William said, 'I look like a boss.' This is the one,” he said, full of pride.

I chuckled, finally stepping back and running a hand through my hair as I walked toward the door. “Okay, give me five minutes,” I called out.

“Okay, but hurry! Don’t act like a grandpa!”

His footsteps retreated from the closet door, then toward the hallway as they quietly disappeared.

Ariella shook her head at me before calling me "grandpa." From the look on my face, she smiled and turned back to her clothes as she continued choosing what to wear.

“He is your son,” I said. “Your son is the grandpa and you're the grandma.”

“It’s our son,” she corrected. “And no, you’re the grandpa. I fully agree with Leon on that one.”

I moved closer behind her back, shifting slightly as I pinched her waist slowly, reminding her who the boss in this house was. She sighed with pleasure and quickly walked away from me.

“I’m not doing this with you. I’m getting dressed and I’m going out with my son,” she said, giving me some sass.

Okay, I’ll take it. Just for now, since there seems to be a young tyrant in our house.

Ariella also put her hand forward and greeted both Mikey and Hals before stepping back into my arms. Leon, being Leon, was already telling them about himself, his favourite colour, and what he liked doing. I don’t think he fully understood what a bodyguard was, I think he thought they would be his friends.

Just then, the limo parked in front of the house, and my driver walked out.

“Why is this car still here?” I asked moving towards him. “I thought it was taken to the shop to be worked on.”

“I know,” he said. “I was also surprised when it was brought here. The front security gate told me someone ordered it to be returned. I thought you needed it to take you to the city today.”

“No,” I said sharply. “Bring the other car from the garage.”

“Okay. I’ll just take it back to the garage,” he said.

I turned back toward the driveway, not really watching him. My eyes were on my wife and son, Ariella adjusting Leon’s collar while he stood proudly in his chosen outfit.

Then, just as we all expected the car to be driven away… The car exploded right in front of our eyes.

And my first instinct, of course, was my wife and son.

“DOWN!” I roared, my voice tearing through the air before the blast even fully registered in my brain.

The explosion ripped through the driveway, a deafening boom that shook the ground beneath our feet. Heat and shattered metal burst outward in a violent wave. I lunged forward, grabbing Ariella around the waist and dragging her down behind the stone pillar bordering the entrance while my other arm reached blindly, searching......

“Leon!”