[BL] The Mafia Boss Wants My Body

Chapter 298: Chapter 298: The Enemy Behind the Walls

"I’ve got you," Matteo said urgently, one hand cradling the back of Adrian’s head while the other rubbed soothing circles over his trembling back. "I’ve got you, baby. Breathe... slowly. I’m right here."

He gently cupped Adrian’s face, forcing him to meet his eyes.

"Look at me," he whispered, his voice shaking with worry. "It was just a nightmare. You’re safe. I’m right here with you."

Adrian clung to Matteo as though he were the only thing keeping him alive. His fingers twisted tightly into Matteo’s shirt as violent sobs shook his entire body.

Every breath came in broken, desperate gasps. The nightmare still felt terrifyingly real, the freezing darkness, the suffocating silence, and the horrifying feeling of dying alone.

"Matteo..." Adrian choked out, his voice hoarse and trembling. He buried his face against Matteo’s neck, his tears soaking into his skin. "I... I couldn’t breathe. I was trapped... I was choking, and no one came. I kept trying to call your name, but nothing came out. I died in there, Matteo... I died, and you couldn’t find me."

"Hey... hey," Matteo murmured, tightening his arms around Adrian. His hand continued rubbing slow, comforting circles over Adrian’s back as he held him close. "None of that happened, baby. It was just a nightmare. You’re here with me now. You’re safe."

But Adrian shook his head violently, pulling back just enough to look at him. His eyes were wide with lingering terror, and his breathing remained fast and uneven.

"No," he said, his voice breaking. "You don’t understand. Every time I have a dream like this... something bad always happens afterward." He swallowed hard, his eyes shining with fear. "This wasn’t just a nightmare, Matteo. It was a warning." His voice trembled. "I know something terrible is going to happen."

Matteo searched Adrian’s terrified face, his own heart tightening at the certainty in his voice.

For the briefest moment, unease flickered through him.

But he quickly buried it beneath a calm expression.

Adrian was already terrified. The last thing he needed was to see even the slightest hint of fear reflected in Matteo’s eyes.

Matteo gently cupped Adrian’s face again, brushing away the tears with his thumbs.

"Babe, hey, look at me," Matteo said softly, offering a warm, reassuring smile. "It’s just a dream. Or... let’s think about it this way. You’re probably just anxious because I’m leaving for my trip in the morning. You’re stressed, baby. Your mind is just playing tricks on you."

Adrian stared at him for a moment before his eyes filled with hurt. He pushed Matteo’s hands away.

"No!" he shouted, shaking his head. "That’s not it! You don’t understand!" His voice broke as tears rolled down his cheeks. "I’m scared, Matteo... and you’re not listening to me."

Before Matteo could stop him, Adrian threw the covers aside and climbed out of bed.

"Baby—"

Adrian ignored him.

He stormed out of the bedroom, his bare feet padding across the cold marble floor. Reaching the living room, he dropped onto the large sofa and curled into himself, hugging his knees tightly to his chest.

He buried his face in his arms, his shoulders trembling.

"I’m so scared..." he whispered into the silence.

A moment later, the soft sound of approaching footsteps broke the silence.

Matteo walked over to the sofa in the corner of the bedroom.

He didn’t try to force Adrian back to bed. Instead, he quietly knelt beside the sofa, lowering himself to Adrian’s level. Gently, he reached for Adrian’s cold, trembling hand and held it in both of his.

"I’m sorry, baby," Matteo murmured, his voice heavy with regret. "I’m sorry." He lowered his gaze for a brief moment before looking back at Adrian. "I shouldn’t have dismissed your fear. I shouldn’t have told you it was just a dream when I could see how terrified you were." He gave Adrian’s hand a gentle squeeze. "Please don’t shut me out."

Adrian remained curled up on the sofa, his forehead resting against his knees. His shoulders stayed tense as he stubbornly refused to look at Matteo.

Matteo leaned closer and pressed a lingering kiss to Adrian’s neck before burying a gentle kiss in his hair, letting his lips linger there for a moment.

"Please talk to me," he whispered. "Tell me what happened in your dream. Tell me everything." His thumb gently brushed over Adrian’s knuckles. "I want to understand."

Hearing the sincerity in Matteo’s voice, Adrian’s anger slowly began to fade, leaving only the fear that still gripped his heart.

Slowly, he lifted his head.

"It was... it was this pitch-black room," Adrian began, his voice cracking. He gripped Matteo’s hand back, clinging to it like a lifeline. "There were no doors, no windows—just darkness. And there was food on a table. I started eating it, but... but then I started choking. The food got stuck in my throat, and I couldn’t breathe. I tried to scream your name, Matteo. I tried so hard, but no sound came out. I was suffocating in that dark room for hours, completely alone. And... and nobody found me. I died there, all by myself, knowing you couldn’t reach me."

A fresh tear slipped down Adrian’s cheek. "It felt so real. It felt like a warning that if you leave, I’m going to lose you, or something terrible is going to happen to me and you won’t be there to save me."

Matteo’s heart clenched painfully.

Without a second thought, he climbed onto the sofa beside Adrian and pulled him firmly into his lap, wrapping both arms tightly around him until there wasn’t the slightest space left between them.

"Listen to me," Matteo said softly, his voice steady against Adrian’s ear. "Nothing is going to happen to you. Do you hear me? You are my everything, and I will protect you with everything I have."

His tone remained calm, but every word carried quiet conviction. "I’ll have more guards stationed around the estate while I’m away. There will be eyes on you every second I’m gone."

He paused briefly before adding, "And from now until I get back, only Selene will prepare your meals. Bella and Valery will be the only ones allowed to help her. No one else is to go anywhere near your food. Do you understand?"

Adrian nodded obediently. "Okay, baby."

A faint smile tugged at Matteo’s lips.

"Good." He gently stroked Adrian’s cheek with his thumb. "The moment my business is finished, I’ll come straight back to you, okay?"

Adrian nodded again, his expression finally beginning to soften.

"Okay, baby."

He gently pulled back just enough to cup Adrian’s face, his unwavering gaze locking onto Adrian’s frightened eyes.

"This is my promise to you," he said. "As long as I can still breathe, no one will lay a hand on you. I’ll always find my way back to you."

Hearing the quiet certainty in Matteo’s voice, the icy fear gripping Adrian’s heart slowly began to melt away.

He let out a long, shaky breath before wrapping his arms tightly around Matteo’s neck, holding on as though he never wanted to let go.

Safe in Matteo’s embrace, the frantic pounding of his heart gradually slowed.

Matteo held Adrian close, but his own mind refused to settle. His first instinct was to cancel the trip altogether, but he knew Adrian would never allow him to throw away such an important business meeting because of a nightmare.

For a brief moment, he considered taking Adrian with him instead.

But he quickly dismissed the idea.

He didn’t know what awaited him at his destination, and he couldn’t risk exposing Adrian to dangers he couldn’t predict.

Here at the estate, Adrian was protected by layers of security Matteo had built himself. Guards patrolled the grounds day and night, every entrance was monitored, and everyone who stepped onto the property was carefully vetted. Surely, no one would dare harm Adrian under Matteo’s own roof.

No.

The safest choice was to leave Adrian here, finish the business as quickly as possible, and come straight back home.

Adrian rested his head against Matteo’s chest as Matteo continued stroking his back in slow, soothing motions.

"It’s okay, baby," he whispered. "I’ve got you."

Comforted by the steady rhythm of Matteo’s heartbeat, Adrian finally drifted back to sleep, his fingers still clutching the front of Matteo’s shirt.

But sleep never returned to Matteo.

He lay awake in the darkness, staring silently at the ceiling.

Then, without warning, a chilling thought crept into his mind.

What if home isn’t safe?

What if the danger isn’t out there... but already here?

His brows drew together as the faces of everyone who worked for him flashed through his mind one by one. The bodyguards. The maids. The kitchen staff. The security team.

Who would dare betray me?

Who would be foolish enough to risk their life?

Matteo slowly shook his head, dismissing the thought almost as quickly as it had come.

It was impossible.

No one in this estate would be reckless enough to betray him.

When morning finally arrived, Matteo wasted no time...