"You’re really ready to pay any amount, right?" Tony asked.
"Yes," Iris replied without a second thought. "Any amount."
Tony nodded slowly. "Good. Then here’s my price. If we’re going to pull this off, we have to do it right under Matteo’s nose, which ans there is absolutely no room for error. You want Mark? I can hand him to you on a silver platter, but it’s going to cost you ten million dollars upfront."
Iris’s eyes widened.
"Ten million dollars?" she repeated in disbelief. "Are you insane?"
Tony shrugged. "That’s just the upfront paynt, not the full amount."
For a mont, Iris stared at him.
Then a dark thrill flickered in her eyes.
"Ten million is nothing if it ans ruining their lives," she said coldly. "You’ll have the money. Now tell the plan."
Tony leaned in closer, his eyes instinctively sweeping over the area before he spoke. "As you said, I’m his personal bodyguard. I know Mark’s schedule inside and out. Right now, everyone is stuck at the hospital, waiting for Adrian’s surgery to end. They’re exhausted, distracted, and completely letting their guard down."
He tapped his fingers against his thigh, plotting it out seamlessly. "Listen carefully. When the surgery ends, Mark will eventually leave the hospital with Charles, because he’s moved back ho now. But the problem is, I’m always glued to his side. If I’m standing right there, your n won’t have a clean shot. We have to execute this on a day when I’m deliberately not around so it’s much easier for you to grab him."
Iris frowned, leaning in. "And when exactly will that day be?"
"I can’t give you an exact day yet," Tony said. "Mark is still at the hospital, and there’s no way we’re taking him while Matteo is there. Matteo’s security is too tight. If you try to make a move now, you’ll only end up getting your n hurt or killed."
Iris reluctantly nodded, accepting his point.
Tony continued, his tone calm and calculating. "So you’re going to have to be patient. After we leave here, I’m heading straight back to the hospital to check on the outco of Adrian’s surgery. Once things settle down and I have a better understanding of Mark’s routine, I’ll contact you and tell you exactly what the next step is."
A cold smile spread across Iris’s face.
"Alright. I’ll also go and check on Adrian myself, maybe tomorrow. Regardless of whether we’re together or not, he was still my friend, so I can’t just ignore him. Plus, if I show up and act concerned, no one will ever suspect when Mark suddenly goes missing later on."
Tony looked at her, keeping his expression flawlessly supportive. "Yes. You’re very smart, Iris."
Iris’s smile widened, filled with dangerous confidence. "I know."
With their treacherous agreent sealed, the two of them turned their focus back to their drinks. Iris leaned forward, her voice dropping into a businesslike hum as she began detailing exactly how she would structure the massive, untraceable paynt to Tony’s account.
anwhile, back at the hospital, Maya finally returned to the waiting area after her emotionally draining conversation with her father. The hallway was dead quiet, the air thick with anticipation.
Everyone sat in a tense row of waiting chairs, staring blankly at the floor as the hours ticked away. Because the surgery was taking so long, Matteo began to visibly unravel. His usual cold composure was completely shattered, replaced by a restless panic. He paced the floor, his eyes darting to the operating room doors every few seconds.
"Why is it taking this long?" Matteo demanded, turning to his twin. "Mark, it shouldn’t be taking this long."
Mark reached out, grabbing his brother’s shoulder to force him to stop pacing. "Chill, Teo," Mark said softly. "Let’s just focus on praying for the success of the surgery, not counting the minutes it’s taking. Breathe."
They waited in suspense for what felt like an eternity, until the heavy double doors finally swung open.
The doctor stepped out of the surgical ward, pulling down his mask. In an instant, Matteo, Mark, Maya, and the rest of the group rushed forward, crowding around him with bated breath.
The doctor looked at their anxious faces and offered a reassuring smile. "The surgery was completely successful."
The mont the words left the doctor’s mouth, Matteo let out a long, shuddering sigh of relief, his shoulders physically dropping as the imnse weight lifted from his chest.
"We will be moving him to a private recovery room shortly," the doctor explained, raising a hand to manage their excitent. "But you won’t be able to see him right away. The nursing staff and I still need to attend to him and run post-op checks once he’s settled. We will let you know the mont you are allowed inside."
Everyone nodded frantically, completely compliant now that they knew he was safe. "Alright. Thank you, doctor."
A few minutes later, the doors opened again, and the dical team wheeled Adrian out on a gurney, heading straight down the corridor to his assigned recovery room.
Once inside, the doctor leaned over the bed as Adrian slowly began to stir from the anesthesia. His eyes were still covered with fresh, clean dical dressings.
"Adrian, can you hear ?" the doctor asked gently, checking his vitals.
Adrian gave a weak, groggy nod against the pillow. "Yes..." he whispered, his throat dry.
"Good. Do you feel any sharp pain or severe pressure behind your eyes right now?"
"No... just a dull ache. And I’m really tired," Adrian murmured.
"That is completely normal and exactly what we want to hear. The pressure has stabilized beautifully," the doctor noted, writing it down on his chart. "I want you to keep your hands away from your face and just focus on resting, alright?"
Adrian gave another faint nod, already drifting back into a safe, dically induced sleep.
Satisfied with his condition, the doctor and the attending nurses finally stepped out of the room, closing the door softly behind them. Maya imdiately stepped forward, her eyes pleading. "Doctor, can we please see him now?"
The doctor nodded kindly. "Yes, you may go in. But please, keep it quiet and allow him to get as much rest as possible."
The doctor gave permission, and the heavy tension eased. They pushed the door open and stepped into the quiet recovery room.
Adrian was lying propped up slightly against the pillows.
Even though his vision was entirely locked in darkness, his senses were sharply dialed into the room. The second the door clicked shut, he tilted his head toward the sound of the approaching footsteps. He didn’t hesitate. A weak, raspy tone tore from his dry lips.
"Baby...? Co here."
Matteo didn’t think twice. He bypassed everyone else in the room, his long strides crossing the distance to the bedside in an instant.
"I’m right here, Rian," Matteo murmured.
He lowered himself onto the edge of the bed and caught Adrian’s trembling hands. He lifted them gently and pressed a lingering kiss to his knuckles.
"How are you feeling, baby?" Matteo asked softly, his large thumb tracing comforting, repetitive circles over the back of Adrian’s hand. "Are you in pain? Tell ."
Adrian exhaled shakily, his shoulders easing as Matteo’s warmth grounded him. "My head feels heavy... and it aches a little behind the bandage," he murmured faintly. "But I’m okay. Knowing you’re here makes it better."
Matteo’s chest rose with restrained emotion. He lifted a hand and gently brushed a stray lock of hair away from the edge of Adrian’s dical dressing, his touch light and careful, as though handling sothing fragile. "Sorry, baby," he murmured. "I’m right here. We’re going to share the pain, okay?"
Adrian gave a small nod. "Okay, baby."
Matteo leaned closer, resting his forehead gently against Adrian’s unbandaged cheek. "You did so well. The surgery was a success, do you hear ? You’re safe now."
Adrian gave a small, fragile smile beneath the gauze, his fingers tightening around Matteo’s hand. "Don’t leave," he whispered.
"Never," Matteo murmured, pressing a kiss to his cheek. "I’m right here. Just rest, baby. I’ve got you."
Adrian nodded weakly against the pillow. "Alright, babe."
Standing a few feet back, Maya leaned closer toward Mark, keeping her voice in a low, amazed tone. "I never knew your brother had this side to him. It’s really surprising."
Mark smiled softly, his eyes reflecting a deep warmth as he watched the couple. "Yes, he does. And it’s all thanks to your brother for bringing that part out of him."
Maya smiled, a sense of peace settling over her as she looked at Matteo and Adrian holding onto each other.
The hours slipped away quietly, and finally, night fell over the hospital. Right on cue, Tony arrived...
User Comments
0 comments from readers