HIS POSSESSION a mafia bl romance

THE CHAPEL 💒 🌚

HIS POSSESSION

Chapter 34; THE CHAPEL

By sunrise, Ethan had already regretted agreeing to this.

Not because he was afraid.

Well

Maybe a little.

Mostly because Adrian had spent the last hour giving orders like Ethan was preparing for war instead of visiting an abandoned chapel.

“Three cars.”

Ethan looked up from his coffee.

“Three?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Security.”

“We’re going to a chapel.”

Adrian glanced at him.

“An abandoned chapel on property connected to my family.”

“That doesn’t make three cars necessary.”

“It does.”

Ethan sighed.

“You know, normal people just say, ‘Let’s go.’”

Adrian’s eyebrow lifted.

“I’m not normal.”

Ethan nearly choked on his coffee.

“At least you’re self aware.”

Adrian’s mouth twitched.

Ethan noticed.

Again.

He was beginning to think making Adrian smile was becoming a personal hobby.

Then Isabella entered the room.

“Are you two finished flirting?”

Ethan nearly dropped his cup.

“We weren’t flirting.”

Adrian calmly picked up his coffee.

“We weren’t.”

Isabella stared at them.

“Of course.”

Ethan glared.

“You’re enjoying this.”

“Immensely.”

Adrian stood.

“We’re leaving.”

Ethan grabbed his jacket.

“Finally.”

As they walked outside, Ethan noticed Adrian’s hand briefly settle against the small of his back.

Not enough to push.

Just enough to guide him toward the car.

Ethan looked at him.

Adrian removed his hand.

“What?”

“Nothing.”

“Then stop staring.”

Ethan smiled.

“You do that a lot.”

“Do what?”

“Touch me and pretend you didn’t.”

Adrian’s expression remained perfectly calm.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

Ethan laughed.

“Liar.”

The chapel was nearly an hour outside the city.

It stood at the far edge of the old De Luca property, surrounded by tall trees and overgrown grass.

The building itself was beautiful once.

Ethan could see that.

White stone walls.

Tall arched windows.

A weathered bell tower.

But time had taken most of its beauty.

The doors were covered in dust.

The windows were broken.

And weeds had grown through the cracks in the stone.

Ethan stepped out of the car.

“This place is creepy.”

Adrian looked at it.

“It used to be beautiful.”

Ethan glanced at him.

“You remember it?”

“I was a child.”

“With Isabella?”

“Yes.”

Something in Adrian’s voice softened.

Ethan noticed.

He always noticed.

“Did you like it?”

Adrian looked toward the chapel.

“She did.”

Ethan smiled faintly.

“Of course she did.”

Adrian looked at him.

“What does that mean?”

“Nothing.”

“Ethan.”

“You just keep talking about her like she was the opposite of you.”

Adrian’s eyebrow lifted.

“She was.”

“She liked music.”

“Yes.”

“She liked this place.”

“Yes.”

“She probably smiled more.”

Adrian stared.

Ethan grinned.

“She did.”

“You’re very irritating.”

“Thank you.”

Adrian looked away.

Ethan caught the tiny smile.

Again.

“Got you.”

Adrian sighed.

Inside, the chapel smelled of dust and old wood.

Ethan walked slowly.

Sunlight streamed through the broken windows.

Adrian’s men spread throughout the building.

Isabella approached the altar.

“Here.”

Adrian followed.

Ethan looked around.

“What are we looking for?”

“A door.”

“That’s reassuring.”

Isabella pointed toward the floor.

“There.”

Ethan crouched.

At first, he saw nothing.

Then he noticed the engraving.

The same symbol.

The De Luca crest.

His fingers moved toward it.

Adrian immediately caught his wrist.

“Don’t.”

Ethan looked up.

“Why?”

“We don’t know what it does.”

“Then how are we supposed to open it?”

“Carefully.”

Ethan pulled his hand away.

“You’re becoming predictable.”

Adrian crouched beside him.

Their shoulders touched.

Ethan suddenly became very aware of it.

Adrian didn’t seem bothered.

He examined the engraving.

Then looked at Ethan’s pendant.

“Give me that.”

Ethan hesitated.

“Why?”

“Because we need to see if they fit.”

Ethan removed the pendant.

Their fingers touched when he handed it over.

Neither moved immediately.

Adrian looked at him.

Ethan looked back.

Isabella cleared her throat.

“Really?”

They separated.

Ethan muttered,

“She needs a hobby.”

“I heard that.”

“Good.”

Adrian placed the pendant against the engraving.

Nothing happened.

Ethan frowned.

“Well, that’s disappointing.”

Adrian turned the pendant.

Nothing.

He tried again.

Still nothing.

Isabella watched carefully.

“Maybe it isn’t the key.”

Ethan shook his head.

“It has to be.”

“Why?”

“Because whoever gave it to my mother wanted it protected.”

Adrian looked at him.

“You don’t know that.”

“I know my mother.”

The words came quietly.

Adrian studied him.

Ethan swallowed.

“She wasn’t careless.”

Adrian nodded.

“I believe you.”

Something about the simple statement touched Ethan.

He looked away.

Then

Click.

They both froze.

Ethan looked down.

The pendant had shifted.

A thin line appeared across the stone floor.

Adrian immediately stood.

“Everyone back.”

The floor began moving.

A section beneath the altar slowly slid aside.

Dust rose.

Ethan coughed.

When it cleared, a narrow staircase appeared.

Leading down.

Into darkness.

Ethan stared.

“That’s definitely not creepy.”

Adrian looked at him.

“Stay behind me.”

Ethan sighed.

“Of course.”

Adrian stepped onto the first stair.

Ethan followed.

Adrian turned.

“Ethan.”

“What?”

“Behind me.”

“Fine.”

Ethan moved closer.

Adrian stared.

“That’s not behind me.”

“It’s close enough.”

Adrian’s eyes narrowed.

Ethan smiled innocently.

“Move.”

“No.”

For a second, Adrian looked like he might argue.

Instead, he shook his head.

“You’re going to be the death of me.”

Ethan’s smile faded.

He wasn’t sure Adrian realized how serious those words sounded.

The staircase seemed endless.

The deeper they went, the colder the air became.

Ethan’s hand brushed the wall.

Stone.

Old.

Damp.

He suddenly felt Adrian’s hand close around his.

Ethan looked down.

“What are you doing?”

“Keeping you close.”

“I can walk.”

“I know.”

“Then”

A loud sound echoed through the tunnel.

Ethan jumped.

Adrian immediately pulled him against his chest.

His arms wrapped around Ethan.

“Easy.”

Ethan’s face was pressed against Adrian’s chest.

He could hear his heartbeat.

Strong.

Steady.

But Ethan’s own heart was anything but.

“What was that?”

Adrian looked into the darkness.

“Probably nothing.”

Ethan pulled back.

“You don’t believe that.”

“No.”

“Wonderful.”

Adrian’s hand remained around his waist.

Ethan looked down.

“You’re still holding me.”

Adrian looked at his hand.

Then at Ethan.

“Yes.”

Ethan waited.

Adrian didn’t release him.

“Are you planning to?”

“Not yet.”

Ethan’s breath caught.

Adrian’s gaze lowered to his mouth.

The tunnel suddenly felt too small.

Too warm.

Too quiet.

Ethan whispered,

“Adrian…”

“Yes?”

“You shouldn’t.”

Adrian’s eyes lifted.

“Shouldn’t what?”

Ethan didn’t know.

He only knew he didn’t want him to stop.

A voice echoed from below.

“Adrian.”

They froze.

It wasn’t Isabella.

It wasn’t one of his men.

Adrian’s expression changed instantly.

He pushed Ethan behind him.

The voice came again.

“You’re late.”

Adrian’s hand moved toward his weapon.

“Who are you?”

A quiet laugh echoed through the darkness.

Ethan’s stomach tightened.

Then a figure appeared at the bottom of the staircase.

A man.

Tall.

Older.

His face partially hidden by shadow.

But Adrian recognized him.

Ethan knew because every muscle in Adrian’s body went rigid.

“Impossible.”

The man smiled.

“That’s what your father said too.”

Ethan looked at Adrian.

“Who is he?”

Adrian didn’t answer.

The man’s eyes moved toward Ethan.

Then toward the pendant in Adrian’s hand.

His smile widened.

“So.”

He stepped into the light.

“She finally gave it to you.”

Ethan’s blood ran cold.

Adrian’s voice became deadly.

“Don’t you dare talk about her.”

The man’s smile disappeared.

“Then perhaps you should ask your sister why she kept you alive.”

Ethan froze.

Adrian’s expression changed.

“What did you say?”

The man stepped backward.

And suddenly the lights went out.

Complete darkness.

Ethan felt Adrian’s hand grab his.

“Don’t move.”

Then came the sound of a door slamming somewhere below.

And footsteps.

Running away.

Adrian swore.

“Stay here.”

Ethan tightened his grip.

“No.”

Adrian looked at him.

“I’m coming.”

“Ethan”

“I’m not staying behind while everyone keeps talking about my life like I’m not involved.”

Adrian stared at him.

Then sighed.

“Fine.”

Ethan blinked.

“Fine?”

“Stay close.”

Adrian pulled him forward.

They descended the final steps.

At the bottom was a massive stone chamber.

But the man was gone.

Only a wooden door remained.

And carved across it were four words:

WHAT WAS HIDDEN REMAINS.

Ethan stared.

“What does that mean?”

Adrian stepped closer.

“I don’t know.”

Ethan looked at him.

For once, Adrian wasn’t pretending.

Then Ethan noticed something.

A small metal slot beneath the words.

He looked at the pendant.

Then at Adrian.

“Maybe we’re supposed to open it.”

Adrian’s expression hardened.

“Maybe.”

Ethan reached for the pendant.

Adrian caught his hand.

“Not yet.”

Ethan frowned.

“Why?”

Adrian looked toward the darkness behind them.

“Because we’re not alone.”

Ethan’s blood turned cold.

A slow clap echoed through the chamber.

Once.

Twice.

Three times.

Then a familiar voice spoke from the darkness.

“Very good, Adrian.”

Ethan froze.

Adrian turned.

And Isabella stepped out of the shadows.

End of chapter 34 🖤