Claimed By The Mafia Don (Ariella and Asher) novel Chapter 441

ASHER

There it was again. That sentence..... Trust me.

For some reason, hearing it a second time unsettled me just as much as it had before. But I nodded anyway because this was Luca.

The man who had stood beside me through every fight, every loss and every victory.

"I trust you."

He smiled.

"I know."

Then he slapped my shoulder.

"Now go home. Your wife is waiting."

And this time I didn't argue. I got into my car, and for the first time all day... Home was the only place I wanted to be.

The city lights blurred past my window as I drove home, and I barely noticed them. My mind was with her. My wife. Ariella. I kept replaying everything that had happened today, how I had acted after her excitement when she told me things had gone well with her mother, when she told me her mother had been happy to learn about Leon, and when she told me about taking Leon to see her tomorrow.

I shouldn't have killed her excitement by reminding her about the threat hanging over us. It is my job to protect her, and today, I made a huge mistake.

She shouldn't have felt that way. I shouldn't have made her feel that way. I have to apologise. I have to talk to her. She has to know.

By the time I reached home, those thoughts were still circling in my head. I passed through the gates, and as soon as I stepped out of the car, one of my men in charge of security walked toward me.

"Everything quiet?" I asked.

"Yes, Don," he responded.

"No movement?"

"Not one. Everything has been cleared, and no one has gotten in or out without your instructions."

I nodded.

"Good."

Then I headed toward the front door. I was surprised to find the lights still on at this time of night. But when Ariella walked into the living room with a book in her hand, I immediately knew why.

She had been reading and waiting, just as Luca had said she would. The moment she saw me, a smile spread across her face. Without hesitation, she ran toward me and threw her arms around me.

Of course, I pulled her into my arms without a second thought. For a few seconds, I let myself simply hold her and feel her. Remind myself that she was here and Safe. Only then did I finally pull back.

"Hey," I said softly. "Sorry, I am late."

I think that was the moment my face finally registered with her.

"Oh my God, Asher." Her smile disappeared instantly. "What happened?"

Her hands immediately came up to my face.

"Did you get attacked? Are you okay?"

Before I could answer, she was already running her hands over my shoulders, my chest, my arms, checking me over from head to toe, making sure I wasn't hurt.

"I'm fine," I assured her. "I'm okay."

"What happened?"

"Nothing," I responded.

She frowned.

"Please don't tell me 'nothing.' Have you seen your face?"

"It's okay. It's just a little friendly fight."

"A friendly fight?" She narrowed her eyes suspiciously.

I didn't answer. Instead, I pulled her toward me and kissed her.

"I should know," she protested, trying to speak between my kisses.

But I wouldn't let her. I wrapped my arms around her waist, pulling her closer. Instinctively, she wrapped her legs around me, holding onto me as though she'd done it a thousand times before.

Still kissing her, I began walking us down the hallway.

"What are you doing?" she mumbled against my lips. "Where are you taking me?"

Originally, I had wanted to take her all the way to our bedroom. But it suddenly felt too far away. So instead, I pushed open the door to my office, the nearest room where no one (Leon) would accidentally walk in on us. The moment the door shut behind us, I locked it.

"A-Asher..."

She looked at me, still sitting in my arms, her legs wrapped around my waist.

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