Claimed By The Mafia Don (Ariella and Asher) novel Chapter 357

ARIELLA

The moment the flash went off, both of them stirred. Leon shifted first, letting out a small, confused sound as he buried his face deeper into the pillow.

But Asher.... Asher woke instantly. His hand tightened instinctively around the book on his chest, the other bracing slightly at his side as his eyes snapped open, sharp and alert, scanning the room like he was expecting an enemy.

It took him a second. Just one. To realise where he was. To understand what had happened, before his gaze landed on me, standing in the doorway. Phone still in my hand and Flash still fading.

There was a long pause.

“What are you doing?” he muttered, dragging a hand down his face.

I bit my lip, already trying not to laugh.

“You fell asleep,” I said. “.....And left me waiting.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” he said, glancing down at Leon, still sleeping peacefully, then back at me as everything settled in.

His eyes narrowed on me slightly. “Were you taking a picture of us?”

“Yes,” I said, still smiling. "You two looked so cute."

“Sleeping?”

“Yes,” I added, feeling a little heat creep into my cheeks.

“That’s creepy,” he said, though there was no real accusation in his tone.

I laughed softly.

“This is your fault. You told me later, and left me alone in our bedroom waiting for you. You didn’t come, so I came to check on you.....and guess what I found?”

“I was reading,” he said, as if that explained everything.

“And you were snoring,” I added.

“I don’t snore.”

“You do.”

“I don’t.”

“Asher,” I said, raising a brow. “You snored.”

He exhaled, glancing away before letting out a quiet laugh.

“Okay,” he admitted. “Maybe… a little.”

I smiled and walked closer to the bed. Leon hadn’t moved Not from the flash or from our voices. Nothing.

His small hand had somehow found its way onto Asher’s arm, holding onto him even in his sleep.

I noticed it immediately, and I noticed the way Asher looked at Leon's small, trusting little hand on his arm.

Something shifted in his expression. It wasn’t discomfort, not at all. It was… deeper than that. Like something heavy had settled on him all at once. Like in that simple, quiet moment.... He remembered everything.

The danger.

The enemies.

The life we were in.

I could see the mood changing in the expression that came with the need to protect him, us. But I didn’t want him to go there.

Not tonight.

Not now.

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