Claimed By The Mafia Don (Ariella and Asher) novel Chapter 460

ARIELLA

Luca's answer came without hesitation.

"Because witnesses become liabilities."

The words sent a chill through my entire body. My mother went completely still. Even the man holding her loosened his grip slightly, surprised by how quickly the fight left her.

She looked at Luca as if seeing him for the first time.

"You were never going to let me leave with him."

"No."

"You were going to take him from the beginning."

"Yes."

She slowly looked down at the envelope lying on the floor of the van. At the Money. Now Worthless, A trap.

"You..." she whispered. "You played me."

"I did."

She began laughing like a maniac. A broken... Empty laugh. It echoed through the warehouse until it turned into sobs.

I should have hated her. After everything she'd done... After what she'd tried to do to Leon... I should have hated her. Instead... All I felt was horror. Because the same people who had manipulated her... Now had my son.

I looked desperately at Leon again. His little hand hung loosely against the Russian's arm. His favourite blue bracelet was still around his wrist, the one I'd tied there myself.

My chest tightened. "Please," I whispered.

The Russian glanced at me.

"Please don't hurt him."

His expression didn't change.

"I don't make those decisions."

Fear settled like ice in my stomach. If he didn't make the decisions... Then someone else did. Someone we hadn't even met yet.

Outside, there was another black van waiting for us. The famiglia soldier walked toward the back, opened the doors, and instructed me to get in. When I did, the Russian climbed in after me and gently placed Leon on the carpeted floor.

I immediately rushed toward him. I couldn't touch him because my hands were still bound behind my back, so I leaned down, pressing my face against his, making sure he was okay.

I sighed in relief that He was breathing and warm. Thank God. But... Why wasn't he waking up?

"Oh, God..." The tears started falling again.

I heard the van doors slam shut behind us, then car doors opening and closing outside. Voices and Footsteps followed.

I had no idea who was getting in or out, or where everyone was. A few moments later, the engine roared to life, and the van lurched forward. We were moving again toward a destination I had no idea about.

I stared at Leon the entire time. My beautiful little boy remained completely still. His chest rose and fell in slow, steady breaths, but he never opened his eyes. I looked toward the Russian. He hadn't said a single word since carrying Leon out of the other van. He sat opposite us, watching and watching Leon and me.

I looked away. My mind refused to stop racing. I had no idea who Luca was anymore, and I had no idea whether he was still with my mother... Whether he was still with Asher... Or whether he had never been on our side to begin with.

And why the hell was there a Russian involved?

Had Luca betrayed us?

Why had my own mother betrayed me?

What the hell was happening?

The questions chased each other around my head until I thought I was going to lose my mind. The van drove for what felt like forever before it suddenly slowed. Then it stopped.

The engine remained running. Nobody spoke. We just sat there waiting. A moment later, I heard Luca's voice from outside.

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