[BL] The Mafia Boss Wants My Body

Chapter 299: Chapter 299: More Important Than Business

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.

Before Adrian even woke, Matteo went downstairs and called an emergency meeting, summoning every employee in the estate- the bodyguards, maids, kitchen staff, gardeners, chauffeurs, and the entire security team, to the grand entrance hall.

They gathered in neat rows, the room falling into complete silence the moment Matteo stepped in.

Standing before them, Matteo’s presence alone was enough to suffocate the room. His expression was cold, his gaze unwavering.

"Listen carefully," he said, his voice calm but carrying an unmistakable edge. "From this moment forward, security around the estate is doubled. No outsider is to come anywhere near these gates without my direct approval."

His icy gaze swept across every face before continuing.

"While I’m away, Adrian’s safety is your highest priority."

A heavy silence settled over the room.

"If even a single hair on his head is harmed..." His voice dropped to a chilling calm. "Every one of you will answer to me."

"Do I make myself clear?" Matteo asked.

"Yes, Boss," the staff replied in unison, lowering their heads.

Among them, Bella lowered her gaze as well, carefully hiding the bitterness and hatred twisting inside her.

"Everyone may leave," Matteo ordered. His eyes shifted toward one person. "Selene, stay."

Once the others had filed out, leaving only the loyal head chef behind, Matteo turned his full attention to her.

"While I’m away, Adrian’s meals are your responsibility," he said firmly. "No one prepares his food except you. Bella and Valery may assist you, but no one else is to touch a single ingredient. Is that understood?"

"Yes, Boss," Selene replied without hesitation.

Matteo questioned her carefully about the kitchen’s security, the storage rooms, and everyone who had access to the food supplies. Only after he was satisfied with every answer did he dismiss her.

He then headed back upstairs.

When Matteo stepped into the master bedroom, he found Adrian already awake, lying quietly beneath the covers. He looked unusually small against the large bed.

Matteo climbed onto the mattress beside him and gently gathered him into his arms. Leaning down, he pressed a soft kiss into Adrian’s hair.

"Good morning, baby," he murmured.

Adrian looked up at him and managed a faint smile.

"Good morning."

Matteo gently brushed a few strands of hair away from Adrian’s forehead.

"Have you been awake long?"

Adrian shook his head lightly.

"No. I only woke up a little while ago."

Matteo studied him for a moment. Even the way Adrian answered was different. His voice was quieter, his smile forced, and the fear from the nightmare still lingered in his eyes.

He pulled Adrian a little closer and pressed a gentle kiss to his temple.

"You don’t have to worry about anything, baby," he murmured. "Everything is under control."

Adrian gave a faint nod.

"Okay."

But Matteo couldn’t ignore the heartbreaking change in him.

The bright, playful sparkle that had always lit up Adrian’s eyes was gone, replaced by quiet fear and lingering anxiety.

The sight made Matteo’s chest tighten.

He tried to keep the conversation going, asking Adrian if he wanted breakfast, whether he had slept a little after the nightmare, and if he was feeling any better.

Adrian answered every question with only a word or two.

"I’m okay."

"Maybe."

"Not really."

The replies were quiet and empty.

Before long, Matteo ran out of things to say.

An uncomfortable silence settled between them.

Adrian slowly turned onto his side, his back facing Matteo. He simply lay there without another word.

Matteo watched him for a long moment, his heart aching. He wanted to comfort him, to make the fear disappear, but for the first time in a long while, he didn’t know how.

Finally, he quietly slipped out of the bedroom.

Standing alone in the hallway, he pulled out his phone.

His thumb hovered over the screen.

One call.

That was all it would take to postpone the high-stakes merger.

Business could wait.

Adrian couldn’t.

Matteo stared at the screen for a long moment, torn between duty and the promise he had made to protect the man he loved.

In the end, he made his decision.

A few minutes later, Matteo stepped back into the bedroom with a casual smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes.

"Hey, pretty. Good news," he said lightly. "The trip was just canceled from their end. Something came up, so they’ve pushed the meeting to next week. Looks like I’m staying home after all."

Adrian slowly sat up, his eyes fixed on Matteo’s face.

There was no relief in them.

Only a quiet, searching look that seemed to see straight through him.

"Don’t lie to me, Matteo," Adrian said softly.

Matteo’s smile faltered.

"Did you just go outside and cancel the trip because of me?"

The lie died in Matteo’s throat.

He held Adrian’s gaze for a few seconds before letting out a slow, defeated sigh.

Walking back to the bed, he sat beside Adrian and gently took both of his hands in his own.

"I had no choice, babe," Matteo admitted softly. "I couldn’t leave you like this. You’re far more important to me than any business deal or merger. Even if I got on that plane, I wouldn’t be able to focus. I’d spend every second worrying about you."

Adrian lowered his head, guilt filling his eyes.

"I’m sorry," he whispered. "I’m just... scared. I keep asking myself what I did wrong. Why would anyone want to kill me? Why would anyone want me gone?" His voice trembled. "I’m sorry, baby. I never meant to affect your work. It’s just... my dreams always mean something. I..."

Before he could finish, Matteo gently placed his thumb against Adrian’s lips, stopping him.

"Babe, stop," he said softly. "You have nothing to apologize for. You’ve done absolutely nothing wrong, and I understand why you’re scared."

He gently stroked Adrian’s cheek with his free hand.

"The decision has already been made. The trip is canceled, and I’m staying here with you. End of story." He offered Adrian a reassuring smile. "Don’t blame yourself for the choice I made. No one forced me to do this. I chose to stay because you’re the most important person in my life. Do you understand?"

Adrian stared at him for a long moment.

Slowly, the tension left his shoulders, and the fear in his eyes softened. A genuine look of relief finally appeared on his face.

"Alright, baby," he said quietly.

Matteo smiled, relieved to see even a small change in Adrian’s expression. Wanting to distract him and lift his spirits, he leaned in and asked with a playful grin,

"Would it make you feel a little better if I cooked all your meals while I’m here?"

Adrian’s eyes softened, and a faint but genuine smile returned to his lips. "Yes."

"Alright," Matteo chuckled. "But you have to remember, I’m still a beginner. I don’t know how to make many fancy dishes yet."

Adrian shook his head. "I don’t care," he whispered as he wrapped his arms around Matteo’s neck. "I’ll eat absolutely anything you make for me."

Matteo smiled warmly. "Deal."

He leaned forward and captured Adrian’s lips in a slow, tender kiss. Adrian melted into him, returning it without hesitation, and for the first time since the nightmare, the fear in his eyes faded, replaced by the quiet comfort of knowing Matteo wasn’t leaving his side.

From that morning on, Matteo kept his promise.

He stayed home, taking over the kitchen and preparing every meal himself. Adrian remained by his side, happily acting as his enthusiastic assistant. They laughed together, stole kisses over simmering pots, and moved around the kitchen with an easy rhythm that made them look like an ordinary couple instead of a mafia boss and the man he loved.

The kitchen maids watched from a respectful distance, exchanging amused smiles.

For a while, the mansion felt peaceful again.

But as the days passed, Matteo began noticing small changes.

At first, they were almost too subtle to mention.

Adrian was changing.

He agreed to everything Matteo suggested without his usual dramatic protests. He stopped arguing altogether. Whether it was about food, bedtime, or the smallest everyday decision, Adrian simply accepted it without a word.

Instead, he would simply smile, nod, and quietly do as he was told.

Matteo found himself watching Adrian more and more.

It wasn’t that Adrian looked unhappy.

It was the opposite.

He was becoming... unusually quiet.

Too quiet.

The lively, mischievous man who always filled every room with laughter and endless chatter was slowly disappearing, replaced by someone calm, obedient, and strangely withdrawn.

Matteo couldn’t explain why, but every instinct he possessed told him something wasn’t right.

By the following day, the change had become impossible to ignore.

The playful, stubborn spark that made Adrian who he was seemed to have vanished. Normally, if Matteo teased him, Adrian would puff out his cheeks, cross his arms, or throw a pillow at him before bursting into laughter.

Now...

Adrian simply smiled and agreed with whatever Matteo said.

It wasn’t just with Matteo, either.

Adrian had become unusually gentle with everyone in the mansion. He thanked every bodyguard by name, spoke to the maids with quiet politeness, apologized even when he hadn’t done anything wrong, and treated everyone with an almost unsettling kindness.

At first, the staff thought he was simply in a good mood.

Matteo wasn’t so sure.

Adrian’s kindness no longer felt natural.

It felt... different.

On the third night, as they were settling into bed, Matteo decided to test the uneasy feeling growing inside him.

He stopped scrolling through his phone, slipped it onto the bedside table, and looked over at Adrian.

"Babe, can you grab my laptop from the desk?"