Claimed By The Mafia Don (Ariella and Asher) novel Chapter 419

ASHER

My chest tightened immediately. "Ari..." I said softly.

She shook her head, No. No words came out and she wasn't looking at me either—just tears. I swallowed hard. Then I climbed onto the bed behind her and pulled her against me without asking.

She didn't resist. Didn't fight me. She immediately curled into me like her body already knew where it wanted to be. I immediately wrapped my arms around her tightly and buried my face in her hair.

Neither of us spoke as I held her to me. Minutes passed, maybe longer while I just held her and let her cry.

Then finally,

"I didn't even say goodbye."

Her voice was barely above a whisper. I closed my eyes.

"He died thinking I was gone." Another sob escaped her. "He died thinking I abandoned him."

"No," I said immediately. Firmly. "No, Ariella."

She cried harder.

"But I did."

"No." I turned her gently until she was looking at me.

Her eyes were destroyed. Red, Wet and Broken.

"You listen to me." I brushed tears from her face. "Your father loved you."

Fresh tears slid down her cheeks.

"He loved you enough to risk everything for you." I swallowed. "He wanted you safe."

Another tear escaped her.

"He wanted you alive." I pressed my forehead against hers. "And if he were here right now, do you know what he would say?"

She stared at me silently. I kissed her forehead.

"He'd tell you to stop blaming yourself." My thumb brushed her cheek. "He'd tell you to stop carrying this."

I pulled her back against me.

"And then he'd probably tell me to take care of his daughter."

She let out a broken laugh through tears. A tiny one, but I heard it And I held onto it like it meant everything. Because right now, it did.

****

Ariella finally fell asleep. I made sure she was comfortable on the bed before I carefully got up, making sure not to disturb her. She needed a rest after such a hard day. I pulled the blanket a little higher around her shoulders and stood there for a second, just looking at her.

Even in sleep, her face still looked tired and her eyes were swollen from crying. My chest tightened. I brushed a few strands of hair away from her face before stretching my muscles and straightening my clothes. My phone suddenly rang and I immediately looked toward the bed, but Ariella didn't move.

I stepped farther away before pulling my phone out.

Luca.

I picked up.

"Luca."

"I've been waiting for you for hours," he said immediately. "When are you coming?"

I pinched the bridge of my nose and glanced back toward the bed.

"Sorry. Something came up."

There was a small pause.

"What happened?"

I looked at Ariella again.

"I had to take Ariella to visit her father's grave."

Silence. Then,

"Oh."

That was all he said at first, because he knew. Luca knew enough not to ask stupid questions. He knew enough not to ask how she was doing. He knew if I was still here, if I had missed work for hours and forgotten everything else..... Then he already knew the answer.

"She's taking it badly?" he finally asked carefully.

I looked at her sleeping form again.

"She's finally grieving."

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