HIS POSSESSION a mafia bl romance

THE FIRST DOOR🙁👀

HIS POSSESSION

Chapter 33; THE FIRST DOOR

Ethan couldn’t sleep.

Again.

At this point, he was beginning to suspect Adrian De Luca’s house was cursed.

Or perhaps his life was.

He sat on the edge of the guest bed, staring at the pendant resting in his palm.

A key.

That was what Isabella had called it.

A key to an archive that supposedly contained secrets powerful enough to make people kill for them.

And somehow, his mother had left it with him.

Ethan closed his fingers around it.

“Mom, what the hell did you leave me?”

A knock sounded.

Ethan looked toward the door.

He already knew who it was.

“Come in.”

The door opened.

Adrian stood there.

No suit jacket.

His shirt sleeves were rolled up, and his hair looked slightly disheveled.

For some reason, Ethan found that more distracting than it should have been.

Adrian noticed him staring.

Ethan immediately looked away.

“What?”

“Nothing.”

“You were staring.”

“I wasn’t.”

Adrian leaned against the doorframe.

“You’re a terrible liar.”

Ethan looked at him.

“And you’re annoying.”

“Yet you invited me in.”

Ethan rolled his eyes.

“Why are you here?”

Adrian’s gaze dropped to the pendant.

“To check on you.”

“I’m fine.”

“I know.”

“Then why are you checking?”

Adrian was quiet.

Ethan stared at him.

Then slowly smiled.

“You just wanted to see me.”

Adrian’s expression didn’t change.

But his eyes did.

Ethan’s smile widened.

“Oh my God.”

“What?”

“You did.”

“Did what?”

“You came here because you wanted to see me.”

Adrian pushed away from the doorframe.

“Ethan.”

Ethan laughed.

“You’re actually embarrassed.”

“I’m not embarrassed.”

“You are.”

Adrian walked toward him.

Ethan’s laughter slowly faded.

Adrian stopped in front of him.

“Are you finished?”

Ethan swallowed.

“Maybe.”

“Good.”

Silence.

Adrian’s gaze lingered on him.

Ethan became suddenly aware of how close they were.

He looked down.

Bad idea.

Adrian’s hands were resting loosely at his sides.

No weapon.

No intimidating posture.

Just him.

Ethan looked back up.

“Do you ever relax?”

“Rarely.”

“Why?”

Adrian’s expression changed.

“Because relaxing gets people hurt.”

Ethan’s smile faded.

“Is that what happened to Isabella?”

Adrian went still.

Ethan immediately regretted asking.

“Sorry.”

Adrian looked away.

“Don’t be.”

A pause.

“She disappeared because of me.”

Ethan frowned.

“What?”

Adrian sat down in the chair opposite him.

“When Isabella discovered what our father was doing, she wanted to expose him. I wanted to stop her.”

“Why?”

“Because I knew what would happen.”

Ethan listened.

“I thought if I convinced her to leave, she’d be safe.”

“But she wasn’t.”

“No.”

Adrian’s eyes lowered.

“I was nineteen. I thought I could protect her.”

Ethan’s chest tightened.

“And you couldn’t.”

Adrian looked at him.

“No.”

The answer was so simple that Ethan didn’t know what to say.

He sat quietly for a moment.

Then:

“You’re not nineteen anymore.”

Adrian’s eyebrows lifted slightly.

“What?”

“You keep acting like you’re still responsible for what happened to her.”

Adrian’s gaze hardened.

“Maybe I am.”

“Maybe you’re not.”

Silence.

Ethan stood.

He walked over and sat on the edge of the chair beside Adrian.

Adrian looked at him.

Ethan shrugged.

“Don’t look at me like that.”

“Like what?”

“Like you’re trying to figure me out.”

“I am.”

Ethan laughed softly.

“Good luck.”

Adrian’s mouth curved.

It was barely there.

But Ethan saw it.

Again.

Ethan stared.

“You’re smiling.”

Adrian sighed.

“You’re obsessed with that.”

“Because it’s rare.”

“Perhaps you bring it out.”

Ethan went silent.

Adrian did too.

Neither expected that.

The words remained between them.

Ethan’s heart beat faster.

He looked away.

“Don’t say things like that.”

Adrian’s voice softened.

“Why?”

“Because…”

Ethan hesitated.

“Because I’m starting to believe you.”

Adrian stared at him.

Then his hand moved.

Slowly.

He took Ethan’s wrist.

Ethan looked down.

Adrian’s thumb rested against his pulse.

One beat.

Two.

Three.

Adrian felt it.

Ethan knew he did.

“Your heart is racing.”

Ethan pulled his hand away.

“Maybe because you’re invading my personal space.”

Adrian’s eyes darkened.

“You want me to move?”

Ethan looked at him.

He should have said yes.

Instead—

“No.”

The word came out quietly.

Adrian didn’t move.

Neither did Ethan.

The space between them seemed to disappear.

Adrian’s hand lifted.

His fingers brushed Ethan’s cheek.

Ethan’s breath caught.

Adrian leaned closer.

Slowly.

Carefully.

Ethan didn’t move.

Their foreheads touched.

Ethan closed his eyes.

And then

A knock sounded.

Ethan jumped back.

Adrian’s jaw tightened.

Isabella’s voice came through the door.

“Sorry.”

Ethan covered his face.

Adrian looked toward the door.

“What?”

“The pendant.”

Adrian’s expression changed.

“What about it?”

“I think I know where the first door is.”

Ethan immediately stood.

Adrian rose too.

They followed Isabella downstairs.

She was waiting in the study with an old leather case.

She placed it on the desk.

Ethan stared.

“What’s that?”

“Something I took before the fire.”

Adrian’s eyes narrowed.

“From Father’s house?”

“Yes.”

She opened it.

Inside was a collection of old papers.

Maps.

Photographs.

Documents.

And one small metal plate.

Ethan stepped closer.

The plate had an engraving.

A symbol.

The same symbol etched onto his pendant.

His heart stopped.

“That’s it.”

Isabella nodded.

“The first door.”

Adrian picked up the plate.

“Where?”

Isabella looked at him.

“Under the old chapel.”

Ethan frowned.

“There’s a chapel?”

Adrian’s eyes remained on the symbol.

“On the De Luca property.”

“Of course there is.”

Isabella ignored him.

“The archive isn’t beneath the main house.”

Adrian looked up.

“Then where?”

“Under the chapel.”

Ethan stared at the pendant.

“How do we open it?”

Isabella’s eyes moved toward him.

“That’s what we need to find out.”

Adrian immediately shook his head.

“No.”

Ethan looked at him.

“No?”

“You’re not going.”

Ethan’s expression hardened.

“Excuse me?”

“You’re staying here.”

“Why?”

“Because I said so.”

Ethan laughed.

“Oh, absolutely not.”

Adrian’s eyes narrowed.

“Ethan.”

“You don’t get to drag me into this and then lock me away when things become dangerous.”

“I am trying to keep you alive.”

“And I’m trying to find out why people are trying to kill me!”

Adrian stepped closer.

“So let me handle it.”

“No.”

“Ethan.”

“No.”

Their eyes locked.

The room became silent.

Isabella slowly stepped backward.

She knew that look.

Neither of them was going to surrender.

Ethan’s voice dropped.

“If that pendant belongs to my family too, then I’m coming.”

Adrian stared at him.

“You’re impossible.”

“And you’re controlling.”

“You’re reckless.”

“You’re arrogant.”

“Stubborn.”

“Insufferable.”

A pause.

Then Adrian’s mouth twitched.

Ethan’s eyes widened.

“Did you just”

“Tomorrow.”

Ethan stopped.

“What?”

“We go tomorrow.”

Ethan blinked.

“You’re agreeing?”

“I’m not agreeing.”

“Then what are you doing?”

Adrian picked up the pendant and placed it back into Ethan’s palm.

“Keeping you where I can see you.”

Ethan’s heartbeat skipped.

Adrian walked away.

Ethan stared after him.

Isabella watched him.

Then smiled.

Ethan noticed.

“What?”

“Nothing.”

“Why is everyone in this family like this?”

Isabella laughed.

And for the first time since this nightmare began, Ethan laughed too.

But neither of them noticed the small light blinking beneath the leather case.

A signal.

Someone was listening.

And somewhere outside the gates, a phone screen lit up.

THEY FOUND THE FIRST DOOR.

The reply came almost immediately.

LET THEM OPEN IT.

End of chapter 33 🖤