Claimed By The Mafia Don (Ariella and Asher) novel Chapter 380

ARIELLA

We went quiet for a moment, neither of us saying anything. The air seemed to shift, less playful, more real.

Asher leaned back slightly in his chair, watching me like he was trying to read something I hadn’t said out loud.

“You’re quiet,” he noted.

“I’m thinking.”

“About what?”

“About… everything. I’m so tired of staying inside this house all day and night.”

His expression changed.

“I am sorry..... but it’s dangerous right now....” he began.

“But I want to go. I’m not scared.”

“You might not be,” he said, “but I am.”

“You’re scared?” I asked, a hint of mockery in my voice.

“I’m not scared of them,” he replied. “I’m scared of something happening to you.”

That made me look away for a moment noticing the vulnerability in his voice. My fingers traced the edge of his desk.

"It just felt like… We are sitting ducks sometimes. Hiding and forced to stay in one place.... I had so many things I wanted to do, but now I couldn’t."

He didn’t say anything.

I took a breath. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.”

“No, it’s fine,” he said quickly. “Just tell me what you want to do. Whatever you want to do.”

I looked at him.

“ If you want to go back to school…? If there’s something else you want, just tell me. I want to help you. I want to make it easier.”

“Thanks,” I said and I meant it.

“I just… when I got here, the first thing I thought about was redecorating the house. I thought maybe I could reconnect with some of my friends here. Just… something to keep things moving.”

I exhaled.

“But with everything going on, I’ve been forced to stay inside. And we can't even have people coming in to do the changes I wanted to do to the house. It’s just…”

I paused.

“Sometimes I feel stuck.”

“It’s okay,” he said, taking my hand. “I will do everything to protect you. And if what you want is to go to the ball....and it’s absolutely necessary....then we’ll go.”

My eyes widened.

“Really?”

“We’ll prepare,” he said quickly. “Security, guest list, information flow. I’ll take control of everything.”

“I don’t want to force you into that,” I said immediately.

“You’re not,” he said. “You want to go and you get whatever you want. You deserve to make an entrance.”

A small smile tugged at my lips.

“You’re right. I’m not afraid of them.”

“I will protect you,” he said firmly.

His gaze flickered over me.

“You’ll stay close to me all night. You won’t leave my side. Do you understand?”

“I understand.”

“Not even to the bathroom,” he added. “You stay with me....always.”

I nodded.

“And Leon?”

“He stays here,” Asher said. “With guards. With people we trust. He won’t go anywhere. I'll keep track of everything happening here,” he added. “Everything.”

“And if something happens?” I asked quietly.

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