Claimed By The Mafia Don (Ariella and Asher) novel Chapter 330

ARIELLA

For a second, he didn’t move. He just stood there, still looking outside, as if he could already see the next battle forming beyond the walls of the house.

Then he turned and His eyes softened the moment they landed on me.

“You’re done?” he asked.

I nodded. “Yes.”

There was a silence between us, not uncomfortable, not tense, just… careful. Like we both knew that the quiet moments were temporary.

“Leon’s downstairs,” I said. “He’s waiting for us.”

A faint smile touched his mouth. “Of course he is.”

"He said you promised him a run this morning. He wasn't happy you didn't wake him for it." I add smiling, " he called you a grandpa again."

"That kid will give me silver hair before my time." He said.

I laughed, and he smiled, but the smile didn’t reach his eyes.

I walked closer, studying his face. The exhaustion was still there, hidden beneath control and determination.

“Something happened?” I asked gently.

Asher seemed to be thinking for a second before he nodded.

“What is it? What happened?”

“That was Luca. He told me that the guard at the gate said something.... I don’t know what it is yet. But he says it’s a lead, and he’s already confirmed my meeting with Alex Volkov tonight.”

“What?” I said, because as much as I wanted him to find whoever this was, I knew the Russians were not good news, and that this meeting would be dangerous.

I did not want him to get hurt, and I was scared that if he went there and this Volkov man was actually seeking revenge for his son and daughter, he might be preparing a trap to finish him off.

“Yes,” Asher said, nodding his head. “It’s time. Even if he won’t admit it, if he’s the one behind the attacks, I will find something.”

I swallowed. “Don’t you think it’s too early?”

He raised his eyes and looked at me, and it felt like he was hiding a smile. “You think it’s too early?”

“I mean… yeah. Why so quickly? The bomb was just yesterday. I thought maybe you would see him in a few days, and who knows? I mean, this man...I really don’t trust him. I’m sure that there must be something wrong with him. What if he agreed to the meeting to ambush you? How could he be ready so soon to see you? I mean.... I think there might be a trap here. He might have put a trap in place to finish you off.”

“Okay,” I said, nodding. “I trust you. You’re going to come back home.”

“I promise I will always come back home. Maybe I will have a few scratches, but I will come back.”

And so I threw myself at him and hugged him even harder.

“Look, I’ve got to go,” he said gently after a few seconds.

So I let him go.

“And we both know your son won’t be able to forgive me if I couldn’t make our run this morning and I don’t go and have breakfast with him. So why don’t you head downstairs and I will be there in a few?” he added.

I pulled back and nodded.

“Okay. I’ll just put something on.”

He kissed my forehead, then stood up and walked into the bathroom. I stayed where I was for a few seconds after he disappeared into the bathroom, listening to the sound of running water.

I stood slowly and walked toward the wardrobe, pulling out a simple dress. My hands moved automatically, but my mind was still in that conversation, still stuck on bombs, meetings, enemies, and promises.

Promises..... He had promised he would come back. I held onto that.