I Saved the Mafia Boss—Now I'm His Obsession. novel Chapter 21

Madeleine

𓎢𓎠𑄻𑄾𓎠𓎡

Was this a joke?

No, not a joke, not funny, not even a little bit.

Because he told me to wait for him. The mystery guy. The one who kept texting me with all those weird, awful messages.

And then Adriano pulled up, out of nowhere.

So what the hell was I supposed to think?

I sat there, stiff in the car seat, and my brain started spiraling like it always does when something doesn’t make sense. Something wasn’t adding up. It still didn’t add up.

My heart was pounding too loud. My hands were cold, even though the car was warm.

Was it him?

Was Adriano the one texting me?

I didn’t wanna believe it. That would be insane. He’s been nothing but kind. A little intense, yeah, but polite. He gave me a job when no one else would. He picked me up from the hospital even when Carlos refused to come. He introduced me to his family and he had been so respectful.

That’s not something a creepy stalker does.

Right?

I peeked at Adriano from the corner of my eye. He was leaned back, one arm stretched casually across the seat, flipping through some thick file on his lap.

Not suspicious at all.

Except... maybe it was.

My stomach churned, tight and sour.

What if that was just an act?

I watched his fingers as they flipped a page and my chest was clenching tighter and tighter.

I felt sick.

Had he been playing me this whole time but why would he?

Was this some kind of twisted game?

“Everything alright?” he asked.

I nodded, “Yeah,” I said, my voice way too high, “All good.”

Liar.

Liar.

Liar.

I forced a smile and gripped my sunflower tote pressed against my stomach and then my phone buzzed.

Then my phone buzzed.

I flinched.

My breath hitched so sharp it almost sounded like a hiccup, and I glanced at Adriano without turning my head. Both of his hands were in front of him, one holding the file, the other circling something in red ink.

I stared at his hands like they were evidence in a crime scene.

He was busy.

My fingers itched, and before I could stop myself, I checked my phone.

1 New Message

Unknown Number

My heart dropped.

My chest tightened, and I hesitated a full second before opening it. The screen illuminated my lap. My thumb hovered, shaking.

Then I read it.

╭───────────────╮

Unknown:

Why the fuck did you get

into the car with him?

╰───────────────╯

I gasped. A real, sharp, embarrassing little breath that punched out of my lungs before I could stop it. My hand flew to my chest.

It wasn’t Adriano. It couldn’t be. He wasn’t texting me. He wasn't even touching a phone.

Across the seat, Adriano’s head turned at the sound. His brow furrowed just slightly, and he leaned forward, file still open in one hand.

“Sunshine,” he said softly, “are you okay? If the workload’s already too much for you, I can always—”

“No,” I cut in too fast. I shook my head and tried to swallow the panic rising up my throat like bile. “I’m okay. Really. Sorry. Just got a text and—uh—it startled me. Just my boyfriend asking if I’m on my way home.”

“Want me to talk to him for you? I'll let him know you’re safe with a stranger?” He winked.

I gave a weak laugh, “No, no, it’s okay. He’s just being protective. I told him I’d Uber home but...”

He nodded slowly, “He’s right to worry. You should never wait alone out there,” he turned forward again, focusing on his file.”

Another message popped up.

╭───────────────╮

Unknown:

You like him, don’t you?

That’s why you left.

I told you to wait for me.

What the fuck are you doing with him?

Are you fucking him, Madeleine?

╰───────────────╯

I swallowed hard, suddenly hyper-aware of how fast the car was moving, how far we were already getting from the restaurant. My stomach turned.

Who was this?

Why did they sound so angry?

And why did they care who I left with?

My eyes flicked to Adriano, trying not to move too fast. He was still holding the file, still underlining something, his brows drawn tight in concentration. He hadn’t touched his phone. Not once.

Another buzz.

I jumped, actually jumped like a startled rabbit.

The phone vibrated against my palm and I looked.

╭───────────────╮

Unknown:

Say something.

You’re quiet all of a sudden.

What, he’s got his hand on

your thigh now? You letting him

touch you, Maddie?

╰───────────────╯

I shrank into my seat a little, clutching the strap of my bag tighter.

"Madeleine?"

My head jerked up. Adriano was watching me now, brows pulled slightly together, concerned.

"You look pale again. Talk to me."

I forced a smile. It hurt to pull my mouth into that shape.

“Just... just a headache,” I said, and even I didn’t believe me. “I think I’m just tired.”

He frowned, “We’re almost there,” he said softly. “You’ll be home soon.”

Home.

Was I even safe there?

I gripped the edge of my tote bag, fingers digging into the sunflower-stitched fabric like I could hold onto it and pretend none of this was happening.

Another buzz.

I didn’t even look this time. I just stared straight ahead, heart crashing against my ribs like it wanted out.

Adriano shifted beside me, glancing toward the road, and all I could think was—

Would he be angry I wasn’t answering fast enough?

The car rolled to a stop. I reached for the door handle, eager to get out, to breathe air that didn’t taste like panic but Adriano’s voice stopped me.

“Wait.”

Before I could ask why, he was already out. I watched through the window as he came around the front of the car and then my door opened.

He stood there, tall and one hand holding the door like a gentleman, “Let me,” he said softly.

I blinked up at him, caught somewhere between nerves and disbelief. My fingers froze around the strap of my bag.

He didn’t rush me. He just stood there, his body angled slightly to block the wind, the streetlight behind him,

“Come on, Sunshine,” he said, voice low. “I don’t bite...”

I let out a weak laugh, and put my hand in his as I stepped out. And when he finally stepped aside to let me pass, I felt his eyes on my back the whole way to the door.

I bolted up the stairs two at a time, the key shook in my hand as I jammed it into the lock, fingers slipping once, twice, before the door finally gave way.

Carlos was at his night shift. He wouldn’t be home until almost seven a.m.

I was alone.

And somehow, that made it worse.

The second the door shut behind me, I locked it. I stood there in the dark for a moment, just listening.

Silence.

And suddenly I wasn’t sure which scared me more, being alone... or the thought that maybe I wasn’t.

I sank down onto the couch. My fingers trembled as I unlocked my phone, the screen lighting up my face in the dark.

One unread message.

╭───────────────╮

Unknown:

There are consequences

of not listening to me.

╰───────────────╯

That was the last thing he’d sent.

I stared at it for a long time. Read it once, then again, then again.

There are consequences of not listening to me.

My throat tightened.

And then, like a sick reflex, my mind flashed back to the photo he sent me before. The one of my dad... standing outside his workplace.

╭───────────────╮

Me:

Please, don’t hurt my family.

╰───────────────╯

╭───────────────╮

Unknown:

You say that like you think I won’t.

╰───────────────╯

My throat clenched. A soft cry slipped out, muffled into the palm of my hand.

╭───────────────╮

Me:

Please. I’ll do anything.

╰───────────────╯

╭───────────────╮

Unknown:

Will you? Because it’s hard to tell.

╰───────────────╯

He wanted me to prove it.

I blinked, hands trembling as I typed.

╭───────────────╮

Me:

I won’t get in his car again. I swear.

╰───────────────╯

╭───────────────╮

Unknown:

Not good enough.

Beg me.

Like you mean it.

╰───────────────╯

My stomach dropped.

My thumbs hovered above the screen.

╭───────────────╮

Me:

Please. I’m begging you.

I’ll do whatever you want.

Just don’t hurt my dad.

╰───────────────╯

The reply came fast as if I had all of his undivided attention right now.

╭───────────────╮

Unknown:

Show me you mean it.

╰───────────────╯

My hands trembled.

╭───────────────╮

Me:

What do you mean?

╰───────────────╯

╭───────────────╮

Unknown:

Get on your knees.

In front of a mirror.

Underwear only.

I want to see you beg properly.

╰───────────────╯

My stomach turned.

Every word sank in like ice water. He didn’t just want to scare me, he wanted to own me. He wanted to make me choose between my dignity and someone I loved.

And somehow, he knew what I'd choose.

My hands were shaking so badly I could barely type.

╭───────────────╮

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