[BL] The Mafia Boss Wants My Body

Chapter 166: A Lifetime of Pain, A Moment of Relief

For a long, suffocating moment, the old man just stood there, stunned into silence.

He finally made a hesitant move to step toward Adrian’s bed, but before he could reach his son, the hospital door swung open.

The nurses stepped inside, bowing respectfully toward Adrian’s father before turning to Maya. "Sir, it is time for the procedure." She then turned to Maya and added, "Both of you need to step out of the room now, please."

Adrian didn’t cry. Even though the confrontation was incredibly triggering and dug up the ghosts of his past, watching his sister stand up for him so fiercely lifted a crushing, suffocating weight right off his chest. For the first time in his life, a deep sense of relief washed over him. He felt protected.

Without another word, Maya and their father turned and stepped out into the corridor.

As Adrian lay on the bed, waiting for the medical team to wheel him into the operating theater, an unexpected strength suddenly surged through his veins. The paralyzing fear that had been gripping his heart for days completely vanished. He wasn’t afraid of the darkness anymore.

Just before they began to push his bed forward, Adrian raised his hand. "Wait," he called out softly to the medics. "Please... I want to speak to someone." His voice cracked as he asked them to call Matteo for him.

Matteo didn’t hesitate. He closed the distance in an instant, rushing to the side of the moving bed and taking Adrian’s hand in his warm grip.

Adrian squeezed back tightly, his bandaged face turning toward the sound of his partner’s breathing. "Baby," Adrian said, his voice carrying a clear, beautiful certainty. "I will see you again. And when I do, we’re going to try again. This time, we’ll try harder, and we’ll do better. Because I’m never letting anything...or anyone break us apart ever again."

Adrian’s father stood a few feet away, listening to every word. The reality of his son’s independent life slowly settled in.

Adrian leaned up slightly and told Matteo to kiss him. Matteo met him halfway, sealing his promise with a deep kiss. After they pulled apart, Maya rushed forward for one last quick hug, and then, with a renewed sense of hope, the medical team wheeled Adrian away toward the bright lights of the operating room.

After the doors swung shut, the silence of the corridor settled back over the family. Adrian’s father turned to Maya, his expression heavy. "Come with me," he said quietly. "We need to talk."

Maya hesitated, fiercely unwilling to leave the corridor, she didn’t want to leave Adrian’s side for even a second. But seeing the uncharacteristic, pleading look in her father’s eyes, her stance softened. She took a deep breath and followed him as they walked down the quiet hallway together.

With the family gone, Matteo turned back to the remaining group. He looked at Mark, Charles, and Frank. "You guys should go home and get some rest. You can come back later."

Mark stepped forward, crossing his arms. "What about you?"

"I’m going to wait right here," Matteo said, his eyes shifting toward the closed doors of the surgical ward.

"Then we’re all going to wait with you," Mark replied, a soft smile breaking across his face as he bumped his shoulder against his twin’s. "Because I know you can’t survive this wait without me."

Matteo looked at him, raising an eyebrow in mild disbelief. "What is actually wrong with you lately? Ever since you got into a relationship, you’ve started being extra sweet. It’s weird."

Mark grinned, leaning in playfully. "I am always sweet and gentle with you. Don’t you like it?"

"Eww, no. Stop it," Matteo muttered, shuddering dramatically. "I don’t like it at all. It makes my skin crawl."

Mark chuckled, but his smile turned teasing as he nudged him again. "Oh, really? Because just a few days ago, someone was saying, ’I want to start a new life without him. I’m so angry with him. There’s no way I’m ever going back to him.’ Hmm... I wonder who that someone was?"

Matteo quickly looked away, a rare flush of embarrassment crossing his features. "I just want that moment to slide away first, okay? I was going through a lot..."

"I was going through a lot," Mark mimicked in a high-pitched voice, laughing as Matteo shot him a glare. "Look, I knew you couldn’t do it. There was no way you were walking away for good, because you love him way too much."

The annoyance faded from Matteo’s face. He let out a soft chuckle, looking at his twin brother with sudden warmth. "Thank you, Mark. For always being there for me."

Mark puffed out his chest proudly. "You’re very welcome. You’re my junior brother, after all. It’s my job to take care of you."

Matteo rolled his eyes. "We are twins, bro."

"I came out first, which makes me older than you," Mark pointed out, tapping his own chest.

"Whatever, suit yourself. I do not care," Matteo replied, a smirk playing on his lips. "But I’m taller than you, so physically, I’m the older one."

"By how many inches, exactly? Don’t start fabricating measurements," Mark said playfully.

A few feet away, Charles and Frank stood side by side, watching the two brothers bicker. Their lighthearted banter was a welcome distraction, cutting through the suffocating anxiety that usually filled a hospital waiting room.

Finally, Matteo’s smirk softened. He turned to Mark and said quietly, "Thank you, big bro. Seriously... for always having my back."

Mark’s playful grin turned into something protective and warm. "You’re welcome, man. Always."

With the laughter fading into a comfortable, supportive quiet, the brothers stood shoulder-to-shoulder, their eyes turning in unison back to the closed doors.

Together with Charles and Frank, they settled in for the long wait, entirely focused on hoping for the success of Adrian’s surgery.

While the others were completely consumed with waiting for Adrian, Tony saw the perfect opportunity to slip away. Iris had been calling him relentlessly for a long time, but Tony had always brushed her off, claiming he was too busy with his duties.

Each time he pressed her over the phone to reveal whatever scheme she was planning, Iris refused, insisting she wasn’t comfortable discussing it over a call and that they needed to meet face-to-face.

Now, with everyone distracted at the hospital, they finally met in a secluded spot.

When Iris laid out the details of her plan, a cold smirk touched her lips. "This time," she began, her voice dripping with malice, "my plan doesn’t involve targeting Adrian or Matteo directly. It’s someone else who will fall into the trap."

Tony raised an eyebrow, keeping his expression entirely neutral. "Who?"

"Since the only person in this world Matteo cares about more than himself is his twin brother, the best move is to kidnap Mark," Iris stated coldly. "In fact, we can go an extra step and severely harm Mark. Just enough to completely shatter Matteo and terrify him, so he’ll be too broken to ever end up with Adrian."

Iris leaned in closer, her eyes flashing with dangerous obsession. "I’m done trying to force Adrian to be with me. But if I can’t have him, I’ll make sure Adrian and Matteo never get their happy ending either. That’s why we’re taking Mark. And you’re going to tell me exactly how to do it, since you’re Mark’s personal bodyguard."

Tony went silent as Iris played her highest card. She turned to him fully, her tone sharp with desperation. "I am willing to give you any amount of money for this, Tony. Just name your price."

Tony didn’t answer right away. He let the silence stretch between them for a tense, heavy moment, studying her desperate expression. Finally, he looked Iris dead in the eye.

"You’re really ready to pay any amount, right?" Tony asked.

"Yes," Iris replied without a second thought. "Any amount."

Tony let out a slow breath and nodded. "Alright. This is exactly what we are going to do."