Chapter 39: Chapter 39: Break , But Don’t Leave
"It’s like your boss just found his boss," Mark murmured to Tony, his eyes dancing with amusent. "Or should I say, your friend finally t his match."
Tony remained silent for a long beat before finally glancing at Mark. "You seem really pleased about your brother finding a lover."
Mark t his gaze, his smile widening. "Is it not interesting?"
"I’ve looked into him," Tony said, his voice turning cold and professional.
Mark’s smile faltered slightly. "Why?"
Tony smirked. "You’re asking why? What if he’s a spy? What if he’s a plant?"
"And?" Mark challenged. "What did you find?"
Tony looked straight at Mark, his expression turning grim. "You can’t let them be together. It’s going to break Teo in the end. Do you even know who that man is? He’s—"
"If you know who he is," Mark interrupted, his voice suddenly cold enough to stop Tony mid-sentence, "then you should keep your mouth shut."
"Shut?" Tony repeated, incredulous.
Mark nodded slowly, his eyes shifting back to where Matteo and Adrian were standing. "Yes. Shut it."
Tony watched Mark for a mont, a look of realization crossing his face. "Sotis I wonder if you’re really any different from him."
Mark’s smile returned, sharper this ti. "I’m not different from him. That’s why we’re twins."
Tony shook his head. "He ruined his—"
"Say no more, Tony," Mark cut him off again. "I only care about my brother’s happiness. That’s all that matters to . I care about who he chooses, not who he doesn’t."
Tony looked at Mark, finally understanding the unspoken warning behind the words. "You always support him," Tony remarked. "Even when he’s dead wrong."
"I support him in everything," Mark said. "Because if I don’t, he’ll do it anyway. My job is to guard him when it matters. And as for him," Mark gestured toward Adrian, "I really want him for Teo."
Tony opened his mouth to argue, but Mark raised a hand, the gesture final and authoritative.
"Listen to , Tony. I know you too well," Mark said, his voice dropping to a dangerous tone. "If the truth cos out before my brother tells Adrian himself, I’ll know it was you. You’re the only one capable of it."
A brief pause. "So control your emotions ... or I will."
Tony’s expression hardened. He went deadly silent, giving a stiff, single nod before turning his gaze back to the crowded floor.
On Matteo’s side, Adrian had just warned him not to drag him away.
The threat hung in the air, sharp and final.
Matteo’s fingers flexed, and slowly, he forced himself to let go. He took a rough breath, his pride clashing with the desperation rising inside him.
Matteo spoke first, his voice controlled. "Let’s talk outside."
Adrian looked at him, unimpressed. "Ask properly."
Matteo went quiet. For a mont, he just stood there, looking at him.
Then his expression shifted.
"...Please," he said softly.
A small pause.
"Let’s talk outside."
Adrian didn’t move.
Matteo’s gaze softened further as he held his eyes.
"...Please."
Adrian studied him for a long mont, seeing the genuine agitation in Matteo’s eyes. "Fine," he said.
As they stepped out of the pulsing heat of the club, the cool night air of the parking lot hit them sharply and soberingly.
Mark glanced at Tony. "Walk
out," he said. They followed at a distance.
Nearby, Charles and Frank hurried out as well, their faces tight with worry, making sure Adrian was safe.
The parking lot fell into a tense silence.
Matteo’s bodyguards spread out, forming a wide periter of privacy, while Mark, Tony, Frank, and Charles watched from behind, like spectators to sothing they couldn’t look away from.
Adrian spun around before Matteo could even draw breath to speak. "What do you take
for?" he demanded, his voice cracking the silence.
Matteo didn’t answer. He stood like a statue, his dark eyes locked on Adrian’s face.
"Do you think I’m a toy?" Adrian shouted, stepping into Matteo’s space. "Sothing you play with when you’re bored, only to go back to your dirty habits the second you’re done with ? Is that all I am to you?"
Matteo stood frozen, the weight of his secrets and his pride clashing behind his eyes.
"Say sothing!" Adrian shouted.
Matteo struggled, his throat tight. He didn’t know what to say.
When he finally spoke, his voice ca out low and strained.
"Can we just go ho?" he asked. "We can talk when we get back... please."
Adrian let out a jagged, bitter laugh, shaking his head. "You’re sick. You’re actually sick."
He turned to walk away, his heart heavy with the realization that he was a fool for trusting a Matteo. But before he could take three steps, Matteo’s voice rang out with cold authority. "Stop him."
The bodyguards moved at once, stepping in to block Adrian’s path. No weapons were drawn, but their presence alone was enough, solid and unmoving.
Adrian spun back, anger flashing across his face. He marched up to Matteo and, with a sound like a gunshot, his palm connected with Matteo’s cheek.
The sound was sharp.
The force of the slap sent Matteo’s head snapping to the side.
A sharp gasp rose from behind them. Frank and Charles froze, stunned, while Tony looked like he’d just watched sothing impossible happen.
No one slapped Matteo and walked away from it.
"Let
go!" Adrian shouted, shoving Matteo’s chest with both hands.
Matteo didn’t react. He didn’t lift a hand to his burning cheek. He just stood there, watching as Adrian’s eyes grew glassy with frustrated tears.
"Rian, don’t cry," Matteo murmured, his voice suddenly breaking. "You’ll hurt your eyes."
Adrian froze, his breath hitching. "What... what did you just call ?"
"Rian," Matteo repeated, his gaze softening into sothing raw and vulnerable. "I was wrong. I’m terrible at finding the right words, especially right now. But please... can we just go ho?"
Adrian looked at him.
Matteo’s voice softened. "I don’t want to see you cry, Rian... please."
Adrian stared at him, his defenses starting to crumble. The na Rian hit him harder than anything else. "The last ti anyone called
that... It’s been almost four years," he choked out.
The tears finally slipped free, trailing down his cheeks.
"Don’t cry, babe," Matteo said softly, stepping closer. His thumb brushed gently under Adrian’s eye, catching a tear. "I can’t rember the last ti I cried, but if you keep going, I think I’ll cry with you. I was stupid. I was cruel. Can you forgive ? Just co ho and let
make it right."
Adrian looked at Matteo, seeing the sincerity in his eyes the he was being gentle, like a man begging for a second chance.
"You hurt ," he murmured.
"I’m sorry," Matteo apologized.
They held each other’s gaze for a mont.
Then Matteo leaned in gently, his lips eting Adrian’s in a soft kiss. When he pulled back, he rested his forehead against Adrian’s.
"Shall we?"
Adrian gave a small, shaky nod. "Yes."
In the distance, Mark watched his brother with a surge of pride—Matteo was finally learning how to feel.
"Wow," Charles muttered, rubbing his eyes. "That almost got ."
"We should head out too," Frank said, leaning against their car. "He’s in good hands for now."
Tony, however, watched them with quiet bitterness, his expression hard as he said nothing.
Matteo carefully cleared Adrian’s tears, brushing a stray hair behind his ear with a tenderness that seed impossible for a man who lived by the gun. He took Adrian’s hand, lacing their fingers together, and led him to the car.
As they reached the door, Matteo glanced back at Harry, about to tell him to bring Mark, but he saw the whole group watching. His eyes t Mark’s. Mark gave a simple, knowing nod: I’m fine. Go.
Inside the car, the tension remained, but the anger had shifted into sothing else. Adrian sat against the far door at first, but Matteo didn’t allow the distance. He moved across the seat, gently resting his head on Adrian’s shoulder.
"You’re heavy," Adrian murmured, though he didn’t push him away.
"Then rest on ," Matteo replied, pulling Adrian into his arms. "Don’t keep your distance. Not tonight."
Adrian finally gave in, leaning into Matteo’s chest. As the car sped toward the estate, Matteo’s hand moved gently through his hair, slow and steady, the motion quiet as the city lights blurred past outside.
After a mont, Matteo spoke softly. "What do you want to eat?"
Adrian didn’t move. "I’ll eat after you tell
why you did that."
Matteo exhaled. "I’m sorry."
Adrian huffed quietly. "I may not see very well... but that man sitting next to you didn’t stand a chance beside . He was just wearing sothing revealing. If I dressed like that, I’d be ten tis more attractive than he could ever dream of being."
Matteo gently lifted Adrian’s chin. "You don’t have to dress like that to attract . Everything about you already does."
Adrian smacked his chest hard.
Matteo winced. "Babe... stop."
Adrian rolled his eyes. "You’d better be ready to answer all my questions. Because I need to know why you did it."
Reviews
All reviews (0)