[BL] The Mafia Boss Wants My Body-Chapter 36: The Truth He Can’t Tell

He leaned back slightly, completely unfazed. "I’m hot as fuck."

Adrian stared at him for a second, then burst out laughing.

Matteo watched him, his usual composure slipping as a quiet laugh escaped him too. He reached out, pulling Adrian into his side, his expression softening as he gently tilted Adrian’s face up to meet his.

"As long as you’re smiling, I’m happy," Matteo said softly, "I’ll keep saying it until you believe me. I’ll do whatever it takes to keep you this way... to make sure you can be yourself."

A brief pause. "I’m not giving up on you, Adrian."

Adrian looked at him, his heart fluttering slightly. "Why are you suddenly talking so sweetly?" he teased. "Is it because I was talking to someone else... are you that possessive of me?"

Matteo didn’t deny it. "I mean every word," he said quietly. "I like it when you laugh at my jealousy. I like it when you tease me."

His gaze softened slightly. "Keep smiling, baby... I’m satisfied."

"How did you even become a mafia boss?" Adrian asked, shaking his head. "You’re literally jealous of everything."

Matteo looked at Adrian, a faint smile on his lips. He held his gaze for a moment before leaning in and capturing Adrian’s lips in a quick, firm kiss.

"You ask too many questions."

"Because I want to know you," Adrian murmured.

They spent the rest of the drive trading playful barbs until the car slowed in front of Adrian’s studio. "I’ll be back tonight to pick you up," Matteo stated.

"Pick me up for what? I’m not sleeping at your place tonight," Adrian said.

Matteo smirked. "You can’t say no. Remember our deal? Besides, you should want to be with me. As I said, I’m hot as fuck."

"You’re delusional," Adrian laughed, stepping out of the car. "You’re not that hot."

"Liar," Matteo called out as the door closed. "I’ll see you after work."

"Alright," Adrian replied.

As the car drove off, Matteo’s expression changed. The playfulness faded, replaced by something colder and heavier.

"Head back to the main estate," he told the driver.

When he arrived, he went straight to Mark’s wing. He passed the servants coming out of Mark’s room. They bowed as they greeted him.

He reached the door, knocked once, and stepped inside.

Mark was sitting by the large window, staring out at the grey afternoon sky.

"You’re back," Mark said without turning around.

"Yeah," Matteo replied, his footsteps quiet on the wooden floor.

Mark sighed, shifting his gaze from the window. "I was just about to head downstairs to handle a few things.

Matteo took a seat across from him, his eyes drifting back to the window.

Mark studied Matteo for a moment. He could tell something was wrong. "What’s wrong?" he asked.

Matteo stayed silent.

After a pause, Mark spoke again. "Do you want to talk about it?"

Matteo exhaled slowly, running a hand through his hair before looking at Mark.

"I’m mad at myself... for everything I’ve done in the past," Matteo said quietly.

Mark looked at him, listening.

Matteo continued, "I know I can’t erase what’s happened. But now I’m stuck in it... and I can’t even fight my own feelings anymore."

Mark frowned slightly. "What’s going on, Matteo? Just tell me."

Matteo hesitated for a moment, then spoke. "I went through Adrian’s wife’s diary."

Mark’s expression changed. "You what?"

"There was a lot written in it," Matteo said. "Most of it... was about Adrian. The way he thinks, the way he feels... everything."

He paused, his expression hardened. "He’s... a really good person, Mark. Too good for me. I shouldn’t keep him... but I want him anyway."

Mark leaned back, confused. "What are you trying to say? I thought he was falling for you."

"No," Matteo said sharply, a flicker of pain crossing his face. "Adrian isn’t falling in love. He’s just confused. I found out he’s not really loved at home. Aside from his sister and a couple of friends, he has no one. Before I came into his life, it was just... routine. Work, home, loneliness, over and over again."

He let out a quiet breath. "I’m not special. I’m just... there. Filling a space that was already empty. And now he’s getting comfortable, not because he loves me, but because I’m there for him."

He paused.

"It’s not love, Mark... It’s just the void."

"So, are you giving up on him?" Mark asked.

"No," Matteo said quickly. "I’m not giving up. I’m just... terrified. Mark, I’m scared to touch him. We’ve only had sex once." 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

He looked away. "After that... we still get close. We touch, we mess around... but I don’t go that far again. I don’t know what will happen when the truth comes out."

Matteo stood up and began pacing the room. "Adrian almost found out about the diary this morning. I had to tell my men to move it right away. When he couldn’t find it later... he broke down. He wasn’t even sure what he’d seen, but he kept searching for it as if his life depended on it. If he finds out I have her things... if he finds out how much I know..."

Matteo stopped, looking at Mark with a look of pure fear. "I don’t know what to do. I’m sincerely confused, and for the first time in my life, I am terrified of losing someone. I can’t lose him, Mark. I won’t survive it."

Mark leaned forward, his expression softening. "I’ll be real with you, Matteo. You’re my brother and my best friend. We tell each other everything. Deep down, you already know exactly what to do... you’re just scared of the outcome."

Mark paused, letting his words sink in. "You can tell him the truth, but it comes with a choice. Either he walks away... or he stays. And you can’t guarantee he’ll stay."

He exhaled softly. "If he leaves, at least the truth is out. But if you really love him, if you truly want to keep him... then you should tell him the truth. None of this was planned. It just happened."

Matteo shook his head, gripping the arms of his chair. "No... I can’t. I can’t do it. He’s still hurting, Mark. He’s still breaking... still grieving. How can I tell him the truth right now?"

"Then you have to stop feeling guilty," Mark said calmly. "If you’re not going to tell him, then you have to live with it. Either you tell him... or you let it be. Keeping your distance and being afraid to touch him isn’t protecting him. It’s just delaying what’s going to happen anyway."

Matteo sank back into his chair, looking more troubled than Mark had ever seen him.

The silence in the room felt heavy.

"I’ve never seen you like this before," Mark said quietly. "I know you love him. This isn’t just liking anymore... It’s something deeper. But if you want to keep him, and not let this secret destroy you two, then now is the time to tell him what really happened that night."

He paused. "Once it’s out... at least you’ll know you did your part to make things right."

Matteo stared at the floor for a long moment. "I’ll think about it," he said quietly, but the uncertainty was clear on his face. He wasn’t sure he was ready to lose the only peace he had ever found.

He stood up and looked at Mark. "We’re going out tonight. My men will come get you. You’ve been inside too much... let’s just go out, chill a bit, clear our heads. You’ll be with me, you’ll be safe."

Mark smiled, "It’s fine. Just take your time and don’t rush it. If he’s meant for you, he’ll stay. If not... You have to let it go."

"Thank you," Matteo said, his voice thick with emotion.

With a final nod, Matteo turned and left Mark room.

That night, Matteo went to pick Adrian up from the studio. When he arrived, Adrian told him to come inside.

Matteo stepped out of the car and walked in.

The studio was quiet. Everyone had already left. It was just Adrian, standing in front of a canvas, focused on a portrait.

Matteo paused, watching him for a moment.

"Still working?" he asked.

Adrian didn’t look away. "My birthday is in a few days," he said. "Every year, I draw them."

Matteo frowned slightly. "Them?"

"My family," Adrian replied softly. "My wife... my son. Every year, I draw them again."

He continued painting.

Matteo’s chest tightened as he looked at the portrait.

It was a woman... and a child.

Beautiful. Alive. Loved.

But gone.

Matteo stood behind him, his eyes traveling over the canvas. He frowned slightly, noticing the boy in the painting. "You said your son was three... but in this portrait, he looks older."

Adrian smiled faintly, the expression fragile and heartbreaking. "Yeah... I let him grow in my drawings. It feels wrong to leave him the same forever."

He paused, then added softly, "Every year, I draw them... and I make them older. Because as I grow, they should be growing too. In my head, they’re not frozen in time... they’re still living with me."

Matteo felt a sharp pain in his chest. Looking at Adrian, so clearly broken, yet trying so hard to seem normal, it was too much to take. The grief in the room felt alive.

Taking a breath, Matteo asked the question that had been burning in his throat since he left Mark’s room. "If you ever found the person responsible... the one who took them from you... Would you ever forgive them?"

Adrian finally stopped, his hand trembling as he lowered the charcoal. "When I woke up in the hospital a week after the accident... everything was gone. The police found no trace of the other driver. No witnesses. Nothing. It was like they never even existed."

He turned to look at Matteo, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. "If I ever get the chance, I wouldn’t even scream. I would just ask... why? Why did they have to take my happiness away from me? You ask if I would forgive them?"

"Yes," Matteo said quietly. "Would you?"