The Don's Silent Obsession

Chapter 3: Blood and lies

Ariana POV's

I hid under the table and my breath shook as alarms screamed across the estate, guards ran in every direction, doors slammed.

“Move! Lock every gate!” Someone shouted and I gripped the railing and my hand felt cold, some one tried to kill Matteo and it happened right in front of me.

I stepped down the stairs slowly, and I tried not to shake too much, then I heard his voice.

“Where were you when the bullet came, ah?” Matteo barked at one of his guards.

I stopped behind a tall pillar, hidden.

The guard trembled. “Boss, I swear…”

“Swear to who?” Matteo snapped “You think I trust you? You think I trust anyone here?”

His voice hit hard, it was deep, and angry and I peeked out.

Matteo stood in the center of the hall, his shirt was half open and there was blood on his shoulder and his face looked like stone.

The guard knelt, shaking. “It wasn’t me…”

“Stand up before I change my mind,” Matteo growled.

The guard stumbled up and Matteo stepped close to him, his voice was low and sharp.

“Someone inside this house wants me dead. If it is you… pray I never find out.”

The guard nodded fast and ran off the moment Matteo waved him away and my voice came out small.

“Matteo” And he turned fast, his eyes were cold at first and then he saw me, and his face was calm only a little.

“You heard everything,” he said

“You were yelling,” I answered. “The whole house heard.”

He looked away like the truth annoyed him and his jaw hard, and his hands shook, just a little.

“Do you think I can trust anyone,” he said, “when my own blood betrays me?”

I blinked. “Your… blood? Matteo, what do you mean?”

He didn’t answer, he just walked past me, it was rough and tiring, and for a moment I wanted to touch him, but I stopped myself.

Later that night, the house was calm, I walked into the study and found Matteo with a bottle in his hand, he drank straight from it and his eyes looked red, it was like he was fighting something inside him.

“You shouldn’t drink like that,” I said gently and he gave a dry laugh. “You think I care?”

“You’re hurt.”

He lifted his shirt a little higher without speaking and I froze.

A long scar crossed his chest, it was faint, but deep and like he had been shot there many times.

“You have been shot?” I whispered.

He sat down slowly, it was like his bones hurt. “This is nothing.”

“It’s not nothing.” I moved closer. “Let me help.”

He stared at me and sighed. “Fine.”

He leaned back in the chair and I picked up a cloth and cleaned the wound on his shoulder, my hands shook a bit, but I tried to hide it.

“You’re too soft,” he muttered

“You are too stubborn,” I answered and he almost smiled and his gaze moved to my face and my heart beat fast.

“Ariana,” he said

“Yes?”

His fingers brushed my wrist, and leaned closer without meaning to and I could feel his breath, he looked at my lips, then at my eyes and I didn’t move and he didn’t move and it was like the world held still.

His hand touched my cheek, it was slow and soft and my lips parted without thinking.

The room was calm and he whispered, his voice was low and almost sad,

“Don’t fall for me, Bella Mia, I destroy everything I touch.”

Then the closeness broke and my heart stopped and then Matteo pulled his hand back, it was like touching me burnt him and he stepped away immediately, I wanted to ask why he said that, but he walked past me and picked up the bottle again.

“Go to bed, Ariana,” he said. “It’s late.”

His voice was flat and it scared me more than his anger.

I turned to leave, but I kept looking back at him, but he didn’t look at me even once.

When I reached the hallway, I whispered to myself, “Why does he push me away?”

The night was quiet and I was supposed to go to my room or rest but my feet moved on their own.

I wanted answers and I wanted to know what he hid.

I walked deeper into the mansion, I passed many rooms, and all were dark and then I saw a door, with a black door, it was locked with a heavy chain.

I didn’t know why, but my heart jumped and I walked closer, I shouldn’t, but I did.

I touched the handle lightly, it was cold and the metal felt rough and then I heard it.

A voice, it was a weak one, right behind the door.

“Ariana…”

I froze and my breath stopped and the voice whispered again.

“Ariana… help…”

I stepped back fast and my hands shook and I looked down the hall, but no one was there.

“Hello?” I whispered “Who is there?” But there was no answer, only breathing and it was slow and tiring.

I leaned in and pulled the chain a little and the door opened just a little, but only a crack.

“Ariana… it’s you…”

My heart jumped so hard it hurt and I pushed the door a bit more…

And then a strong hand grabbed it and slammed it shut.

I gasped and stumbled back and Matteo stood behind me.

His face looked like a storm, his eyes burnt and his jaw tightened and his whole body was stiff, like he was holding himself back from shouting.

“What are you doing here?” he said and his voice was low and sharp.

“I… I heard something,” I said “Someone called my name from inside.”

“You imagined it,” he snapped.

“No, I didn’t. Someone was inside that room.”

“Ariana,” he said and stepped closer, “you will never touch this door again.”

“Why?”

He slammed his hand on the door, it was hard and the sound shook the hall.

“Because I said so.”

His mask cracked and I saw fear in his eyes, real fear, it was the first time he looked scared.

I whispered, “What are you hiding?”

He grabbed my arm, and pulled me close, and then looked me in the eye.

“Stay away from this room. I am warning you. If you open it again… you won’t like what you find.”

I swallowed and my voice shook. “You’re scaring me.”

“Good,” he said softly. “Maybe fear will keep you alive.”

He turned and walked away fast, and left me alone with the cold door.

Night fell hard and I went to my room, but I couldn’t sleep and I kept hearing that voice and I kept seeing Matteo’s eyes.

I sat on my bed, and hugged my knees and then a soft knock touched my door and I jumped “Who is it?”

“Ariana… open.”

It was Adrain.

I opened the door a little. “What are you doing here at this time?”

He slipped inside and closed the door behind him and his eyes looked sharp, serious, and almost scared.

“Listen carefully,” he whispered, “You have to stay away from Matteo.”

“Why?” I asked.

He leaned close. “Whatever he is hiding in that basement… it is connected to your brother’s death.”

My chest tightened.

“What?” My voice cracked. “My brother died in an accident three years ago.”

Adrain shook his head. “No, Ariana. It wasn’t an accident.”

My blood turned cold and I stared at him without breathing.

“What do you mean?” I whispered

He looked me str

aight in the eyes.

“Matteo knows what really happened.” and everything inside me stopped.