Claimed By The Mafia Don (Ariella and Asher) novel Chapter 426

ARIELLA

"No," I said shaking my head. "I am not doing it anymore."

"You barely started," Asher said.

"I'm finished."

"You ran for three minutes."

"It felt like two years."

Leon laughed so hard he nearly fell over.

"Mom."

"No."

"Mom."

"No. No, no."

"You look and sound exactly like Leon when he started his morning runs too," Asher said with a huge smile on his face. "I knew he got his dramatics from you..." He finished off laughing.

"Dad...." Leon protested.

"I am still not going," I responded tightening my hands around myself a bit too dramatically, with a pout for good measure.

They exchanged a look, realising I wasn't going to budge and then they abandoned me. Completely. The two traitors continued running while I remained exactly where I was—sitting on the ground waiting for rescue or breakfast. Whichever came first.

About twenty minutes later they came running back with enough energy for another run. I was still sitting there on the ground, exactly where they had left me without moving a muscle.

Leon burst out laughing the second he saw me while Asher pinched the bridge of his nose.

"You're unbelievable."

"Sue me," I told him. "Workout is not something for me. You already know this."

And honestly? I wasn't changing my mind.

"Maybe you'll like the gym," Leon said brightly.

I paled. "Do I have to?"

Leon laughed.

"Yes. It's going to be fun, Mom."

I groaned dramatically.

"I think running is... I don't know... maybe somehow great because it's fresh air and the whole scene. But the last thing I want to do is go to that gym with all those sweaty people in a confined room. Men with their....."

"Okay, we get the picture," Asher interrupted.

I narrowed my eyes at him. Rude.

"But how are you feeling?" he asked, his voice softening slightly. "Did it help... are you feeling better now?"

I thought about it for a moment. The truth was that I was feeling better. Not perfect, not healed and not magically cured. But lighter, A little lighter. But all that had nothing to do with running this morning.

I nodded. It all had to do with the two most important people standing before me.

"It's killing me, I don't think I can walk anymore," I informed him honestly. "I think you're going to have to carry me back to the house."

"I'm so not doing that," he said immediately.

My mouth fell open. The audacity. After everything I had been through.

"You have to..... I am your wife, I gave birth to your son. I married you..... I have been by your side every single day..... All of you. And this, this was how you treated me?"

Before I could continue my very reasonable argument, Asher grabbed Leon's hand. And then the two traitors started running backwards toward the house. Not in a hurry or quickly, soft unhurried steps with their front facing me.

“Oh, that's too bad. I absolutely love running.”

“Of course you do,” I said, not able to hide the attitude.

Normal people did not enjoy running. They endured running. There was a difference.

“Well, maybe you can join us and give Mom some company,” Leon suggested.

“Oh no,” Sia said quickly. “I wouldn't want to invade your family time.”

“Can you just give me a lift back to the house?” I interrupted.

Without waiting for a response, I immediately started walking toward the car, limping a little too dramatically.... Or maybe not dramatically. At that point, I genuinely wasn't sure my legs still worked.

When I reached Asher, he stopped me with a hand on my arm.

“Where do you think you're going?”

“Home.”

“We haven't even started yet.”

I stared at him.

“Today is my first day, Asher. Give the poor woman a break.”

He rolled his eyes and I took that as permission. I kissed his cheek and walked away. Sia opened the passenger door for me and I practically climbed inside.

“Okay, see you later, boys,” she called out. Then she got into the driver's seat.

Before closing the door, I stuck my tongue out at both of them. Leon burst out laughing and even Asher couldn't stop the smile from spreading on his face. The nerve of those two.

A second later, we were driving back toward the house where I would finally get my beauty rest. I looked through the window and watched Leon and his dad disappear behind us. I suddenly felt something I couldn't explain inside. I couldn't possibly want to go back there, no way.