Claimed By The Mafia Don (Ariella and Asher) novel Chapter 420

ASHER

Leon narrowed his eyes suspiciously.

"You promise."

I stared at him, then I looked at Sia. Then back at him.

"You've become smart."

Leon grinned proudly.

"I know."

I sighed dramatically.

"Terrible news."

Leon laughed loudly before hugging me again.

"Where is mommy?" He asked

"Mommy is asleep in her room"

"Again? But it's so early."

I patted his head softly with a forced smile.

"Do me a favour, okay?"

"Okay."

"When mom wakes up, can you cheer her up until I get back?"

"You got it," Leon responded with a high-five and a huge grin.

I chuckled softly and shook my head.

“Protecting your mother is a very important job.”

Leon straightened proudly.

“I know that too.”

Of course he did. That boy thought he was already a full-grown man half the time. Sia laughed softly from where she sat at the desk watching the two of us.

“He takes his duties very seriously,” she said warmly.

“I can see that.”

Leon crossed his arms.

“Mom smiles more when I’m around.”

And somehow that sentence hit me directly in the chest because he was right. Ariella did smile more around Leon. Even during the darkest moments. Even yesterday after everything with her mother. Leon could still pull light out of her.

I crouched slightly in front of him and fixed the collar of his shirt.

“Take care of her for me.”

“I will,” he promised seriously. Then his expression shifted. “Are you sad too?”

That caught me off guard. I looked at him for a second before answering.

“A little.”

Leon studied my face carefully like he was trying to solve a puzzle. Then he stepped forward and hugged me again, without saying a word. I closed my eyes briefly and held him tighter.

God. These two were going to ruin me completely.

When he finally pulled away, he smiled up at me. “Don’t worry,” he whispered dramatically. “I’ll protect both of you.”

I laughed quietly despite myself.

“Good. Because apparently I’m surrounded by emotional people.”

“Dad,” Leon gasped. “You’re emotional too.”

Sia burst out laughing behind him. I pointed at her immediately.

“You stay out of this.”

She lifted both hands innocently, still laughing while Leon looked entirely too pleased with himself. For the first time since the cemetery, I smiled without forcing it too.

*

Minutes later, I was walking into Luca’s office.

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