Claimed By The Mafia Don (Ariella and Asher) novel Chapter 320

ASHER

Ariella’s eyes lifted the moment she noticed me, and that single glance hit me harder than the explosion. I saw fear. Relief. Anger. And something I couldn’t yet understand was tangled in her gaze.

“What happened?” she asked quietly. “Was that meant for us?”

I didn’t answer immediately. I knew she was still riding the shock of a near-death experience, still shaking, still trying to piece together what had happened.

I crossed the room and crouched in front of Leon first, brushing soot lightly from his cheek.

“Are you okay, little man?” I asked, keeping my voice steady, forcing every emotion down. I needed him calm. I needed her calm.

He nodded, though his arms tightened around his mother’s neck. “That was loud. There was fire,” he said quietly. “I am scared.”

“Yeah, I know you’re scared, buddy,” I murmured. “That was a lot of fire. But you’re okay. You’re fine. I’m going to take care of you and your mother.”

He studied me for a moment, his brow furrowing.

“Did he die?” he asked.

The question landed hard.

I forced myself to smile. Forced myself to lie.

“No. He got out of the car before the big boom. It’s all okay. Everything is going to be fine. I’m going to protect you.”

He accepted it the way children do, believing the words of the adults they trust.

My gaze shifted to Ariella. There were so many questions in her eyes. Questions I couldn’t answer. Not with Leon here. Not with Hals and Mikey still standing guard, watching every movement like another attack might come crashing through the doors.

I hated having guards inside the house. I wanted my family, my wife and son to feel safe here. To feel at home.

And already, I felt like I was failing.

“Why don’t you take Leon upstairs to shower?” I said.

When I saw the question forming on her lips, I added, “We’ll talk later. I’ll tell you everything you need to know.”

“Okay,” she said quietly.

Just then, Leon lifted his head. “Are we still going to the city?”

I couldn’t help the smile that tugged at my lips, even though I knew I shouldn’t be smiling. Ariella couldn’t help herself either. Because after everything that had just happened… Leon still had the mind to think about our plans.

Even after everything went boom.

Leon’s question was innocent in a room still heavy with smoke and fear. Ariella looked at me, clearly expecting me to shut the idea down. Any sane father would. Any sane husband would lock every door, double security, and keep his family hidden until whoever did this was six feet underground.

But Leon was staring at me with those wide, hopeful eyes, eyes that still trusted me to make the world safe again with just a few words. And damn it… I needed that trust just as much as he needed reassurance.

I exhaled slowly and reached out, brushing his hair back from his forehead.

“We’re going to postpone it,” I said carefully. “Just for today.”

His face fell slightly, and the disappointment stabbed sharper than the cut on my arm.

“But,” I added, tapping his nose lightly, “that just means when we go, it’s going to be bigger. Better. Ice cream, toys, whatever you want. Deal?”

He studied me, clearly weighing my words like they were part of a serious business negotiation. Then he nodded slowly.

“Okay,” he said, though his grip on Ariella tightened again.

Ariella pressed a kiss to the top of his head before standing, still holding him close like she was afraid someone might rip him away if she loosened her hold even slightly.

“We’ll go upstairs,” she said softly, her voice calmer than the storm raging behind her eyes.

She paused when she reached me, her fingers brushing against my injured forearm. Her gaze dropped to the blood that had started drying against my skin.

“You’re hurt.”

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