Claimed By The Mafia Don (Ariella and Asher) novel Chapter 457

ARIELLA

Luca didn't answer immediately. He simply looked at my mother, then at me. Finally, he spoke.

"Because the deal changed."

My mother's expression hardened.

"No, it didn't."

"It did," Luca responded.

"We had an agreement," my mother insisted.

"And then your people burned down the mansion," Luca said.

"My people?" she snapped. "Don't you dare put this on me. They are not my people. I am not one of them. I don't even know what this is about. All I care about is that you keep your end of the bargain."

"I didn't say you ordered it," Luca replied calmly. "But whoever you're working with did. And that caused a lot of problems. We lost a lot in that fire."

My breath caught. Working with...? I slowly turned to my mother.

"What does he mean? What is he talking about?"

She still refused to look at me, keeping her eyes on Luca.

"Luca..." she began.

But I didn't let her finish.

"No," I whispered. "Mom..."

She kept her gaze fixed on Luca.

"I kept my side of the agreement."

"You did," Luca answered calmly. "You delivered Leon."

The words slammed into me. Delivered... Leon?

I stared at my mother as though I'd never seen her before. Working with the people who burned down the mansion...? Delivering Leon...?

"What did he just say?" Silence. "Mom?"

Nothing.

"Tell me he didn't mean that."

Her jaw tightened as she finally spoke.

"I didn't deliver anything. You were supposed to help me get out of here with my grandson."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Disbelief wasn't even a strong enough word for what I felt.

"Mom... Luca... what's going on? I don't understand."

Neither of them answered. So I turned back to my mother.

"Mom, I watched you with Leon. I watched you love him. I watched you hold him. I watched you cry when he called you Grandma......"

My voice broke.

"How could you do this to him?"

Her eyes finally met mine.

"I do love him."

The words made no sense. I was so confused right now.

"You love him?"

"I do."

"Then why would you kidnap him?"

"You're too stupid to understand," she snapped.

"Then make me understand!" I shouted, my voice echoing through the truck.

The two armed men shifted uneasily, but Luca remained silent. My mother inhaled deeply before speaking.

"I gave up everything for you."

I frowned. Were we back to this again?

"What?"

"I gave up my husband, my family, my life. I lost everything because of you," she said, pointing straight at me.

"And now..." she continued, "...I finally have the chance to take something back."

My stomach twisted.

"What are you saying?"

"I saved Leon. I am taking him with me."

My mouth opened and closed. I couldn't believe it. Was I dreaming?

"You kidnapped him?"

I didn't even know whether I was asking or accusing anymore.

"I rescued him," she answered.

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