[BL] The Mafia Boss Wants My Body

Chapter 288: Chapter 288: Take Your Fucking Hand Off Him

His grip tightened around the phone. "This is far from over."

"Understood, boss," the bodyguard replied without hesitation.

Meanwhile, Mark, Tony, and the accompanying bodyguard stepped out of the glass tower and headed toward the waiting car. Although the confrontation was over, the tension in Mark’s shoulders remained.

They climbed into the car, and as the driver pulled away from the building, Tony glanced at Mark through the rearview mirror.

"How did it go?"

Mark leaned back against the leather seat, his expression unreadable.

"Owen is incredibly arrogant and disrespectful," he said calmly. "I gave him a clear warning. If he chooses to ignore it, he’ll pay a price he can’t afford."

Tony nodded grimly. "Understood. So, where to next? Home, or do you still have another client to meet?"

Mark was about to say home. Every instinct in him was telling him to get back to Charles as quickly as possible.

Just then, his phone vibrated in his pocket.

He pulled it out and looked at the screen.

It was a message from one of their biggest clients, a company they had been negotiating with for a major contract. The client was requesting an immediate face-to-face meeting to finalize the deal.

Mark closed his eyes briefly, weighing his options. After a moment, he opened them and held his phone toward the driver.

"No," he said. "Go to this address first. We’ll head home as soon as we’re done."

"Yes, sir," the driver replied, steering the car into the heavy afternoon traffic.

Tony shifted in the passenger seat and looked back at Mark. "Owen is a very stubborn man. He isn’t the type to back down easily."

Mark’s gaze remained fixed on the passing scenery outside the window, his voice dangerously calm. "Then I won’t let this end well for him."

With nothing more to say, the car fell into silence as they made their way to the client’s meeting.

Once they arrived, the meeting ran much longer than expected. One discussion led to another until the afternoon gradually faded into evening, keeping Mark tied up far later than he had planned.

Back at the estate, Charles’s phone finally lit up with a message from Adrian.

Adrian: Hey, let’s meet up. I’m finally free. After Matteo finished his therapy appointment this morning, he insisted that I get myself checked out by a doctor too, just to make sure my stomach was getting better. That took up my entire day. Only after he was satisfied did he let the driver bring me home. After that, he headed out to meet a friend.

Charles let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding.

Charles: Alright.

It didn’t take long for Adrian to notice how brief the reply was.

Adrian: You don’t sound okay. Let’s meet at our usual place.

Charles: Alright. See you soon

As soon as Charles’s last message came in, Adrian switched to his chat with Matteo and sent him a quick text.

Adrian: Babe, I’m going out to meet Charles.

Matteo replied almost immediately.

Matteo: Babe, you only just got home. Are you sure you’re not tired? Why don’t you meet him tomorrow instead?

Adrian smiled as he read the message before typing back.

Adrian: I’m not tired. I really want to see Charles today.

A few seconds later, Matteo replied again.

Matteo: Alright, babe. Just take the bodyguards with you.

Adrian couldn’t help but smile.

Adrian: Alright, Daddy. ❤️

Back at the estate, with the plan set, Charles quickly sent Mark a message, letting him know he was heading out to meet Adrian.

Mark replied almost immediately.

Mark: That’s fine, baby. Just don’t forget what we talked about this morning.

Charles smiled faintly before replying.

Charles: Alright, honey.

Wanting to make it a proper get-together, Charles also sent Frank a quick message.

Frank: I’ll join you both soon. I’m just finishing up a few things at work.

With everything arranged, Charles walked over to his closet and changed into a comfortable yet stylish outfit, trying to push Owen’s threats to the back of his mind.

Once he was ready, he headed downstairs, where the driver and one of Mark’s bodyguards were already waiting for him. Together, they headed to the lounge.

At the same time, Adrian climbed into his own car, both of them making their way to their usual meeting spot.

Adrian arrived first. Stepping into the softly lit lounge, he turned to Matteo’s bodyguards and gave them a firm look. "Keep your distance," he instructed calmly. "Don’t hover over me. Just stay outside or keep a distance."

Not long after, Charles arrived outside the lounge. Before stepping out of the car, he looked at the driver and the bodyguard beside him.

"You two can wait here," Charles said quietly. "I’m just meeting my friends. I’ll be fine."

The bodyguard hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Yes, sir."

Charles stepped out of the car, straightened his clothes, and made his way into the lounge alone.

The moment Adrian saw him, he stood up with a smile to greet him.

The two friends exchanged a warm greeting, and for the first time that day, some of the weight on Charles’s shoulders seemed to lift.

They settled into a quiet booth and placed their orders.

As they waited for their drinks, Adrian leaned forward, his eyes filled with concern.

"How are things going with Mark and Owen?"

Charles didn’t hesitate.

The words came pouring out.

He told Adrian everything, how he had finally opened up to Mark about all his fears, how he confessed that he had been terrified Mark would leave him because of the video, how he explained how deeply Mark’s past treatment had hurt him, and how Mark had apologized, begged for another chance, and promised he would never leave him because of the video.

He also told Adrian how Owen refused to let go and continued threatening him, even going as far as threatening to send the old video to his parents.

Adrian stared at him in complete disbelief. "What kind of person does something like that?" he said, shaking his head. "You two have been over for as long as I can remember. It’s not like Mark stole you from him. What the hell is wrong with him?"

Just then, the waitress arrived with their drinks, placing them gently on the table with a polite smile before quietly walking away.

Charles let out a weary sigh, staring down at the glass in front of him. "I’m just so tired, Adrian. I regret ever meeting someone like him. All I want is for him to leave me alone."

Adrian reached across the table and gently squeezed Charles’s hand. "Don’t worry, Charles. Everything is going to be alright."

They continued talking, completely losing track of time. One hour passed, then another. Charles couldn’t stop venting, finally letting out everything he had been carrying inside for so long. At the same time, he found himself smiling as he told Adrian about the changes Mark had been making. He spoke about the little things Mark had started doing, things he would never have done before, all to make Charles feel loved, safe, and reassured.

Adrian couldn’t help but smile. "I’m really happy for you," he said sincerely. "And don’t worry about Owen anymore. You’ve got Mark beside you now. Everything is going to be okay."

A genuine smile finally appeared on Charles’s face, some of the weight on his heart beginning to lift.

As the conversation settled into a lighter mood, they both reached for their drinks.

Then, without warning, a shadow fell across their table.

Someone had stopped beside them.

Charles looked up.

Owen.

He stood there with an arrogant smile, looking directly at Charles.

"Hi," he said, his voice smooth with quiet mockery.

The color immediately drained from Charles’s face. His hand trembled around his glass, and his entire body stiffened.

Adrian, however, didn’t flinch. His expression hardened instantly.

"W-why are you here?" Charles asked, struggling to keep his voice steady. "I told you to leave me alone."

Adrian remained perfectly still, saying nothing at first. He simply fixed Owen with a cold, piercing stare before briefly glancing at Charles, silently reassuring him that he wasn’t facing this alone.

Owen completely ignored Charles’s question, his eyes never leaving him. "Can we talk outside?"

Adrian cut in before Charles could answer. "About what?" His voice was calm but unyielding.

Owen slowly turned his head toward Adrian, irritation flashing across his face.

"I’m not talking to you."

Adrian let out a faint, humorless chuckle.

"Of course you wouldn’t dare talk to me like that," Adrian shot back, leaning back in his seat with absolute disdain. "Because you know you can’t try that nonsense with me. So don’t come over here acting like you can order people around. I don’t give a fuck who you are."

Owen’s lips curled into a sickening smile as he fixed Adrian with an unblinking stare. "Mr. Adrian, you should watch the way you speak to me. I’ve heard plenty about you, that you’ve got a sharp mouth and no respect for anyone. But don’t try that with me."

Adrian let out a cold scoff. "You must’ve completely lost your mind," he said. "Who the fuck do you think you’re talking to? Get your filthy mouth off my name, you pathetic bastard."

"I’m not here for you, Adrian," Owen said coldly, dismissing him with a wave of his hand. "So sit there, keep quiet, and behave like a good boy."

Adrian’s eyes narrowed. "Who the hell are you to tell me what to do?"

Completely ignoring the warning, Owen reached across the table and grabbed Charles’s wrist.

"Let’s go outside," he ordered. "Now."

Adrian’s eyes flared with fury.

"Take your hand off him."

Owen didn’t even acknowledge him. Instead, with his free hand, he snatched the glass from in front of Charles and emptied its contents over Charles’s head, soaking his hair and clothes.

Adrian didn’t wait a second.

Acting on pure instinct and fury, he grabbed his own full glass and hurled its contents straight into Owen’s face.

The cold drink splashed across Owen’s face, dripping from his hair and soaking the front of his expensive shirt. He staggered back a step, sputtering in shock before erupting in fury.

"How dare you?!" he roared.

"Take your fucking hand off him!" Adrian shouted, slamming his empty glass onto the table as he shot to his feet and stepped in front of Charles.

In the very next second, the atmosphere inside the lounge changed completely.

Seeing Owen grab Charles and refuse to let go despite Adrian’s warning, Matteo’s bodyguards reacted without hesitation. They closed the distance in a flash.

Before Owen’s bodyguards could even react, Matteo’s bodyguards closed the distance in a flash. One of them pressed the cold barrel of a black pistol firmly against Owen’s temple.

"Step back," the bodyguard ordered...