Claimed By The Mafia Don (Ariella and Asher) novel Chapter 437

ARIELLA

"But it worked wonders," I said. "I still can't believe it."

"I'm just happy that the two of you finally talked," Asher said. "And just as I expected, my amazing queen ended up getting the forgiveness that she so wanted and got a new, better relationship with her mother."

I nodded.

"Yeah. I guess it's because we're all older now. We're all mature, and a lot of time has gone by. I guess we're not the same people we were before....."

I smiled. "She used to hate me with you because you were the Don's son and not the Don, then got mad when she found me with you, even though you're the Don now. It's all different, I guess we're different people now, and so it's time for us to actually have a relationship."

Then I shook my head.

"It's just sad that my dad isn't here. I'm sure he would have loved to see us getting along."

Asher's expression softened.

"Yeah. But I'm sure that he's up there smiling down, seeing his girls together again."

I smiled. Then I leaned into him and, of course, he immediately pulled me closer, wrapping an arm around me and holding me against his side. And that's where I stayed. The rest of the ride home passed quietly. For the first time in a long time, I felt lighter. Like something heavy had finally been lifted from my chest.

When we arrived home, I pulled away from him so I could get out of the car.... But something felt off. I looked at him carefully. The smile was there, but it wasn't reaching his eyes.

"Are you okay?" I asked.

"Yeah, I'm good," he said. The answer came too quickly. Too short and too curt.

I frowned.

"I thought you would be happy about this."

"Yes, I am. I'm ecstatic."

The sarcasm was so faint that most people probably would've missed it. I didn't.

"Of course I'm happy that you're happy," he continued. "And I don't have to be worried about you, you know, trying to do something overboard like you did the last time."

I narrowed my eyes at him.

"Sorry. I'm just saying that this is good news. Except for the fact that you agreed to take Leon to your mother's house tomorrow without consulting me."

I took a breath.

"I got excited. She wanted to see him, and I wasn't sure you wanted her at the house. And I wasn't sure she'd want to come to the house because of... you and her and her feelings toward you."

"And did you think," he asked, frowning now, "that maybe we're under attack right now? That someone is waiting for a moment of weakness? A moment when we put our guards down, and they attack us?"

My excitement immediately dimmed.

"Asher...."

"No." He shook his head. "Going to her house means there is no security. No preparation. And having you and Leon there is a risk."

I swallowed.

"And when we go there tomorrow and have this whole guard detail surrounding her house on an ordinary street, first of all, it's not a good look. And second, the risk is higher with the neighbours and the cars and the whole shabang. No way to truly control the area. And third, it means I also have to be there."

His jaw tightened.

"And I'll probably have to spend the whole day there when I should be out looking for the person who's trying to hurt my family." His eyes locked onto mine. "Trying to hurt you."

The words hit harder than I expected.

"So no," he finished. "I'm not ecstatic that you promised your mother that you were going to take Leon to her house tomorrow without a second thought."

Silence fell between us. The happiness I'd been carrying all the way home suddenly collided with reality. Because he wasn't wrong. I hated that.

I hated it because, for the first time all day, I wasn't thinking about danger. I wasn't thinking about enemies. I wasn't thinking about attacks. I had spent the whole ride home thinking about my mother smiling over Leon's picture. Thinking about her calling him my grandson, thinking about tomorrow and about family and healing.

And now Asher had reminded me exactly what kind of life we lived. The kind where even something as simple as visiting your grandmother had to be treated like a military operation.

I looked away.

His hand gently squeezed mine.

"And I'm just not okay with the way everything has been happening." Another pause. "But it will be over soon."

He gave me a small nod.

"I promise. When I come back, we'll talk about it."

I nodded.

"But right now..." He looked toward the waiting convoy. "I really have to go."

I understood exactly what he was saying. He wasn't leaving because he wanted to; he was leaving because he had to.

So I took a step back from the car. He nodded once, got inside, and closed the door. A few moments later, after his men climbed back into the vehicles, the convoy pulled away. I stood there watching until the last SUV disappeared through the gates.

Not even a few seconds later, I heard little footsteps.

"Mom!"

Leon came running out of the house at full speed. He threw himself into my arms. I laughed, ruffled his hair, and kissed his forehead.

"Did you go see Grandma?" he asked excitedly.

"Yes."

"Where is she?"

"Don't worry," I said with a smile. "We're going to visit her tomorrow."

"Really?"

His eyes lit up as they sparkled with excitement. And maybe I hadn't thought everything through. Maybe Asher was right. Maybe tomorrow wasn't the safest idea. But seeing Leon this happy... Remembering the look on my mother's face when she found out she had a grandson...

I just knew, No matter what happened next... I had made the right decision.