Claimed By The Mafia Don (Ariella and Asher) novel Chapter 479

ASHER

Leon was discharged the next morning, and Ariella had gone through every procedure to make sure the pregnancy was progressing well.

Then we went home. Home.

Because of the fire and everything that had happened before we rushed to the hospital, I didn't know how much damage the house had suffered. But when we got there, I realised it wasn't as bad as I had imagined.

Construction workers and contractors were already there, moving around with ladders and equipment, repairing the damaged parts of the house. The three of us got out of the car and stood there silently, looking at our home.

"What happened to the house?" Leon asked.

"There was a fire," I answered.

"A fire?" His eyes widened. "Is everyone okay?"

I looked down at him and smiled.

"Everyone is okay, Leon." He let out a relieved breath.

"But it looks like we can't stay here for now."

"Then where do we go?" Ariella asked. "The hotel?"

I turned to look at her.

"What do you think about a vacation?"

The idea had just come to me, and I blurted it out before I could overthink it.

She stared at me, and before she could answer, Leon practically exploded with excitement.

"Yeah! A vacation!" he cheered. "Where are we going? Are we going to Disneyland? Are we going to see animals? We can go on a safari! We can see lions, tigers, and elephants! It's going to be amazing!"

He was already talking so fast that the words were tumbling over each other. I couldn't help smiling. Ariella looked at me while Leon continued rambling beside us.

"Are you sure this is the right time for a vacation?" she whispered. "After everything that just happened?"

"It's only for a few days," I said. "And besides..."

My smile faded.

"I want Matteo and everyone involved to shit their pants in the meantime."

She raised an eyebrow.

"I want them worried about what I'm going to do next. I want them sweating about when I'm coming back. That's worse than anything I could do right now."

I folded my arms.

"And if there's anyone else involved, anyone who doesn't yet know what happened, once they find out the others have been taken..."

A slow smile spread across my face.

"They're going to start running. And people who run..."

I looked at Ariella.

"...make themselves very easy to find."

She remained quiet for a long moment, thinking everything over.

"I don't know," she finally admitted.

I looked down at Leon.

"So, what do you say?"

"Yes!" he shouted without even thinking.

"Can we go to South Africa?" He gasped dramatically.

"Or Tanzania? I read there are lots of animals...."

His eyes sparkled with excitement.

"Please?"

I smiled, reaching over to ruffle his hair. Then I looked back at Ariella.

"So... What do you say?"

She sighed, shaking her head with the smallest smile.

"We just came from the hospital. A vacation should be the last thing on our minds."

"Mom," Leon complained dramatically, throwing his hands into the air.

I couldn't help laughing. For the first time in what felt like forever, the sound didn't feel forced.

Leon crossed his arms and puffed out his cheeks.

"Mom," he complained again, "There was a fire, we were in the hospital, and now Dad says we can go on vacation. This is the perfect time."

Ariella couldn't help smiling.

"You have quite the logic."

"I know," Leon said proudly.

I looked between the two of them before stepping closer to Ariella.

"It doesn't have to be anything big," I said quietly. "A few days. Just us."

She looked at me.

"I need to know you're somewhere I can actually relax knowing you're safe."

"You'll still be working." She accused.

"I'll always be working."

She rolled her eyes.

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