I Saved the Mafia Boss—Now I'm His Obsession. novel Chapter 20

Adriano

⫘☠︎︎⫘

Sweat dripped into my eye, but I didn’t blink. The sound of flesh hitting flesh echoed through the room. Just bare knuckles wrapped in old tape, no gloves, no mouth guards, just pain and a fucked-up kind of therapy.

Vincenzo’s knuckles cracked against my jaw again, and I tasted copper, fuck, he always hit like a truck. I spat blood to the side and stepped back into him, shoulder-first, slamming into his chest to knock him off balance.

He grinned, all teeth.

“You’re fucking torturing her,” Vincenzo panted, cracking his neck as we circled each other. His bare feet shifted in the ring like a predator stalking prey, only we were both the same breed of monster. “Why don’t you grow a pair and say it to her face instead of playing Phantom of the Fucking Opera in her phone?”

I growled low in my throat and threw a hook at his ribs. “She’d bolt,” I hissed, stepping back, chest heaving, “You didn’t see the look she gave me when she was talking about mob guys like we’re fucking monsters. She’d rather throw herself into traffic than fuck with someone like me.”

He caught my next swing mid-air, palm locking around my fist like a vise, “Then why the hell are you texting her like a lunatic with a hard-on?”

I wrenched my hand free and slammed my elbow into his jaw. He staggered, and I stepped in close, “Because she looks at Adriano like I’m her savior. Her sweet little miracle in a tailored suit. She called me a friend... A friend, Vince.”

I spat the word out like it burned on my tongue. My fists curled at my sides, knuckles already raw and bleeding through the tape.

“You? A friend?” he asked, throwing a jab I barely dodged and laughed, “The psycho texting her at 2am telling her how good she looks scared?”

I let out a dry laugh, “That’s the point. Let Adriano, the charming restaurant owner, be the one she trusts."

I shoved him back so hard he nearly slipped, then drove an uppercut into his gut that made his entire frame buckle. He let out a grunt that was part pain, part rage, but he came back swinging like he was born for this.

Vincenzo ducked my next jab, landed a rough shot to my ribs, then leaned in close, “So what’s the endgame here, psycho? Chain her up in your dungeon until she learns to love the dark?”

I grinned, blood on my teeth. “No chains. I'll have fun with her and then I'll just let her be...”

He barked a laugh, spit red to the side, “Jesus, you sound just like Dad.”

We traded blows again, the sound of fists and breath and sweat echoing off the walls. It wasn’t about the pain anymore.

“What if she found out that you’re the one behind those creepy-ass texts?”

I cracked my knuckles and smiled, “She’ll scream first.”

“And then?”

“Then I’ll kiss her quiet.”

Vincenzo stared at me like he wasn’t sure if I needed a hug or a padded cell.

But I didn’t care. I wasn’t trying to be normal. Normal never got you the girl or anything else in life.

Crazy did.

Vincenzo snorted, shook his head like he couldn’t believe the filth coming out of my mouth, then cracked me hard across the temple with a looping right hook. My vision went white at the edges for half a second. I staggered, tasted blood, wiped it from my brow with the back of my taped hand and grinned.

“But she won't figure it out, though, I'll keep it quiet, clean,” I said, circling him slowly, flexing my knuckles, “Couple of sneaky fucks in the back office, maybe in the wine cellar. Then I’ll disappear. Poof. No more messages. No more Mr. Creepy. She can go back to her tofu and her rosemary oils and that psychotic fucking rescue cat she treats like a soulmate.”

Vincenzo raised an eyebrow, wiped sweat from his nose, “Didn’t you say she’s got a boyfriend?”

“Yeah,” I said with a shrug. “Raphael dug into him. Some health center loser. Works late, drinks cheap whiskey. One of his coworkers, some sneaky little nurse visits his place twice a week. I’m just waiting for proof they’re fucking.”

“And if they’re not?” Vincenzo asked, already knowing I had a plan.

I smiled slow, “You remember that guy Claire used to see? And how we got Mancini out of Allie's life?”

“Yeah,” Vincenzo muttered.

“Exactly. What we did to them?” I said, tapping my temple. “That blueprint still works. It doesn’t matter if the guy’s clean. I’ll make him cheat. Plant a few things, leak a couple texts, stage a scene she can’t unsee. I’ll break it down for her, frame by frame, and just when she thinks she can’t breathe, then there I am. Adriano to the rescue. Shoulder to cry on, drink in hand, maybe a soft fuck if she’s desperate enough.”

Vincenzo shook his head, half laughing, half disgusted, “You’re gonna destroy her whole relationship just to get your dick wet?”

I gave my head a shake, frowning, “Nah. It’s not just the sex. Don’t get me wrong, I want her but she’s... soft. Fun shit aside, she deserves better. And that boyfriend of hers?” I scoffed, “Guy’s a fucking loser. If anything, I’m doing her a favor. She just doesn’t know it yet. She’ll thank me when she finally gets off for once in her life.”

Vincenzo whistled low, “You’re a twisted motherfucker,” he said, cracking his neck, “I used to play mind games with Claire, sure but at least she knew it was me. I didn’t hide in the shadows like some creepy fuck getting off on her confusion.”

“You wanted Claire to be yours forever,” I said, chest heaving, fists still twitching for another round. “I don’t want Madeleine like that.”

Vincenzo raised a brow but said nothing, waiting.

“I’m not trying to marry the girl. I’m not trying to ruin her dreams or shit on her sunshine-and-smoothie life,” I went on, “She helped me when I was dying. I’m just... helping her back, in my own way.”

I smirked.

“She gets to keep the job. She makes her money, pays off her tuition, becomes Dr. Sunshine or whatever the fuck. I don’t want her thinking some asshole boyfriend is the only reason she can chase that vet degree.”

I paced a little, still wired from the fight.

“If I don’t tell her who I am, she keeps working. She keeps her peace. She gets to believe in good people. And I—” I looked up, grinning at him, “I get what I want. Her. On my terms. Adriano gets to be her nice, safe boss... and her friend.”

I licked blood off my teeth.

“And the anonymous? He can fill every hole that sorry excuse of a boyfriend’s gonna leave behind,” I said, “Emotionally and physically...”

𓎢𓎠𓎟☠︎︎𓎟𓎠𓎡

╭───────────────╮

Unknown:

I’ll see you at closing.

Don’t make me come find you.

╰───────────────╯

I hit send and leaned back in my chair, eyes locked on the surveillance feed from the break room.

There she was, my little sunshine, frozen mid-bite, her fingers trembling as they clutched her phone like it might detonate.

She wore fear so beautifully, like pearls on her throat.

And I was hard as fuck watching it.

I flexed my bruised knuckles, still aching from sparring with Vince and smirked to myself. One text. That’s all it took to crack her open like a soft little egg.

I stood, buttoning my jacket slowly. Navy blue, custom cut, pressed clean like I hadn’t just been in a blood-slick ring an hour ago. No limp. No blood. No trace of the monster.

Just Adriano, everyone’s favorite charming, calm boss.

I walked down the corridor, the kitchen staff lifted their heads as I entered, some straightened their backs, others gave quick nods or nervous smiles.

“Evening, everyone,” I called out as I passed through the kitchen, “Everything running smoothly?”

Chorus of “yes, Mr. Capone” and “all good, sir” echoed back.

I gave them my best smile, easy and charming.

I didn't fucking care for any of it, I was already at the door to the break room.

“Evening, everyone,” I said as I pushed open the break room door like I just happened to swing by.

The whole room shifted, their eyes settled on me and widened and Madeleine jumped in her seat.

My gaze swept the room, like I was here to check on morale, make sure the staff felt seen, heard, taken care of.

That’s what a good boss did, right?

But all I was really doing was watching her squirm.

“Madeleine,” I said, “Everything alright? How was your first day here with us?”

Her head jerked up so fast I thought she might sprain her neck. She scrambled to her feet.

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