[BL] The Mafia Boss Wants My Body

Chapter 101: Even Blind, I’d Know You

The One His Heart Recognizes

With tears in his eyes, he leaned in slightly, his lips brushing softly against Matteo’s. "I forgive you, Matteo," he murmured against his lips. "Truly... from the bottom of my heart, I forgive you."

As tears slipped freely down his face, Adrian kissed him, sealing his forgiveness with a love deep enough to soften the darkest parts of the past.

As their kiss deepened, a soft rumble broke the moment.

Adrian’s stomach growled audibly.

They both pulled back, exchanging soft, relieved smiles.

"Let me call the maid to set the table," Adrian said with a light laugh, wiping at the tears still clinging to his eyes.

They stood and walked to the dining area, taking their seats together as the maid served breakfast.

Midway through the meal, Adrian’s phone began to buzz insistently.

It was Iris.

He glanced at the screen, his expression hardening, and declined the call.

It rang again almost immediately.

He rejected it once more, but the calls kept coming, one after another, relentless.

Matteo watched him, his brow furrowed. "You should probably pick it up," he said quietly.

Adrian exhaled sharply and swiped the green icon. "What is it, Iris?"

Her voice came through desperately. "Adrian? Please... you have to come to my house right now. I... I can’t move my legs. I feel terrible, my head hurts. I need someone here with me."

Adrian didn’t hesitate. "Call your father. Or anyone from your family. I’m busy."

"But you’re my fiancé!" she countered. "Soon we are—"

Adrian cut her off, ending the call before she could finish, and set the phone face down.

"Just ignore her," he muttered to Matteo.

Matteo reached across the table, his gaze fixed on Adrian. "When are you going to tell your father you’re not going to marry her?"

"Soon," Adrian sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Just a little more time... please."

Matteo nodded slowly. "Okay, babe."

Meanwhile, back at her house, Iris’s fragile act vanished the moment the call ended.

A scream ripped from her throat as she swept everything off the table, glass crashing and shattering across the floor.

"Adrian," she spat, her eyes blazing with fury. "Just watch... I will destroy you."

She snatched up her phone and dialed Tony.

"We need to meet. I have a plan."

"Alright," Tony replied, his tone clipped. "I’m busy right now, but I’ll make time to see you before the week is out."

Back at the house, Adrian picked at his food, his thoughts racing. He wanted to fight back, but his father was a problem. Even if he told him everything Iris had done, it would likely be dismissed, brushed aside to preserve peace between the families.

Still, Adrian refused to let it go.

He began to plan, quietly mapping out a way to make Iris answer for the kidnapping, one that didn’t depend on his father’s approval.

After breakfast, they spent a quiet, grounding hour together before Matteo’s phone rang, a call that demanded his immediate attention.

Matteo stood to leave, leaning down to press a lingering kiss to Adrian’s forehead.

"I have to go," he said softly. "But I’ll make the arrangements for tonight. My men will come pick you up when it’s time, and I’ll send you the location so you can invite your friends."

"Alright," Adrian murmured, his eyes following him as he left.

After Matteo left for work, the house felt unusually quiet.

By nightfall, his men arrived as promised. Adrian had already shared the location with Frank and Charles, so he slipped into the car, a quiet excitement settling in his chest.

The venue was an upscale lounge, somewhere between a refined bar and a high-end club, filled with ambient lighting and soft, pulsing music.

Frank and Charles arrived shortly after, and the three of them quickly settled into a private booth. Matteo had already told Adrian he’d be arriving later, so they ordered a round of drinks and got comfortable.

Adrian felt a deep sense of relief wash over him. From his sister’s initial confrontation to the lingering presence of Iris, everything had finally been settled. Now that Maya knew about him and Matteo, he felt as though a massive weight had been lifted from his chest. This night was his victory, a moment to truly celebrate their new beginning.

He let himself relax, drinking more than he usually did. The happiness was intoxicating, giving him a rare sense of boldness.

"Adrian, take it easy," Charles cautioned, watching him pour another glass. "Don’t drink too much, you know you can’t handle alcohol."

Adrian laughed, already a little tipsy, his face glowing. "Relax! My baby’s coming later. He’ll take me home... even if I’m drunk."

Charles chuckled, shaking his head. "Alright, fine. If you’re so sure your ’baby’ is coming to take you home, then no problem. But what if he doesn’t show up?"

"Then my friends will take me home," Adrian declared.

Frank snorted, stretching back in his seat. "Don’t count on me. I can barely carry myself, talk less of you. If you overdo it, you’re crashing on the bar floor."

Charles laughed, giving Frank a light nudge. "Relax, I’ll handle it. I’ll carry him if I have to."

Adrian grinned at Charles. "See? That’s why you’re my favorite."

Frank rolled his eyes. "Good. I don’t care about being your favorite anyway."

As the hours slipped away, the conversation flowed easily between them. They drank, talked, and laughed, the atmosphere warm and familiar.

Adrian finally opened up, about everything. Even Maxwell, a topic they hadn’t touched since that day.

It felt... relieving. Healing, in a way, is to have his friends there, listening without judgment.

And eventually, the weight he had been carrying didn’t feel quite as heavy anymore.

Late into the night, the club entrance stirred as Matteo finally arrived, moving toward their table with calm, predatory grace.

His men were already inside, scattered around the club, keeping their distance as they watched over Adrian. They stayed off the table, blending into the crowd, giving him the freedom to enjoy time with his friends while quietly ensuring his safety.

Frank and Charles were the first to see him. Adrian’s back was turned to the door, blissfully unaware.

"Oh, look," Frank teased, nudging Adrian. "Finally, your ’baby’ is here. We can breathe again; it’s been nothing but ’my baby this’ and ’my man that’ all night long."

Matteo reached the booth and slid into the seat beside Adrian. He leaned in, pressing a soft, lingering kiss to Adrian’s cheek before settling back. He gave a slight, acknowledging nod to the two friends, who instinctively straightened their posture in his presence.

Adrian, though quite tipsy, sensed a shift in the air the moment Matteo sat down. He turned slowly, his eyes hazy and unfocused as he looked at the man beside him.

"Baby..." Adrian murmured, his words slightly slurred. "Where have you been? I’ve been waiting for you."

Matteo remained silent, his eyes fixed on Adrian.

"Why aren’t you saying anything?" Adrian asked.

His fingers reached out, tracing the sharp line of the man’s jaw in that familiar, intimate way he always touched Matteo. But as his hand lingered, his expression faltered.

He blinked, his brow furrowing as he studied the face in the dim light.

"Uh-uh," Adrian whispered, pulling his hand back as if burned. "No. This isn’t Matteo. You aren’t my man." He narrowed his eyes, his voice trembling with sudden realization. "You’re Mark. Where is my baby?"

"It’s me," Matteo said, his tone mocking. "I’m your baby now. What are you saying?"

"No!" Adrian insisted, stumbling as he tried to pull away. "You’re Mark! You are not him! Where is Matteo?"

He turned his gaze back to the man, panic slowly creeping into his expression. Mark, who had been sitting perfectly still, finally broke character.

"Damn," Mark muttered, a smirk spreading across his face. "I really thought you wouldn’t notice."

Frank and Charles exchanged a look.

"Wow," Frank muttered under his breath.

Charles leaned closer, still staring. "How did he even know?"

Frank shook his head slowly. "I have no idea. Even we with perfect sight couldn’t tell that wasn’t Matteo."

His gaze shifted back to Adrian. "And he..." Frank added quietly, "he has night blindness... and still figured it out."

Charles let out a soft breath, clearly stunned. "Damn... so this is love. Even when he’s completely tipsy, his heart knows exactly who his man is."

A beat passed. Charles shook his head in disbelief.

"Where is Matteo?" Adrian asked again.

Before Mark could respond, the entrance doors swung open.

The atmosphere in the lounge shifted instantly, turning heavy and charged.

Matteo stepped inside, his presence commanding enough that, one by one, every head in the room turned.

The aura was different.

Completely different from when Mark stepped in.