13. Isaac

13

ISAAC

T he rest of the weekend was spent flirting with rich horny men, swimming in the on-deck pool, nude sunbathing, and, of course, sneaking in blowjobs and discreet kisses whenever Isaac and Jared could get away.

It was fun sneaking around, dodging into dark corners, and trying not to get caught by prying eyes. There was an element of naughtiness and danger that made Isaac's heart race every time Jared pulled him into a closet or forced him onto his knees, shielded by only flimsy deck equipment or decorative plants. Having to suck Jared off quickly before they got caught turned their sexual activities into an Olympic sport.

Their fun and games almost came to a crashing halt on their last night at sea when a horny Jared thought it would be a fun idea to feed Isaac a protein shake, while he said his prayers behind a pile of inflatable pool toys. Just as Isaac was downing his salty, sweet goodness, Diesel decided to step out onto the deck to do a little star gazing of his own. Isaac had no choice but to continue swallowing Jared's load while Jared tried to stifle his orgasm by gripping Isaac's shoulders and clenching his mouth shut. Talk about a muffled cry.

Have you ever seen a man holding his breath through an explosive orgasm? Let's just say there's a lot of jerking muscle and clenched fists.

After that close call, they decided to curb their sexual adventures, at least until they figured out what was going on between them.

There was a lot to consider. First off, Jared apparently hated Isaac… or so he claimed. Secondly, what would the guys think? Thirdly, would Matteo even allow his boys to date? Fourthly… they fucked guys for a living…

Argh! Isaac didn't want to think about all the forces working against them. Yes, he thought Jared was hot as hell. Yes, he loved riding his amazing dick. And yes, he fucking loved hanging out with ass-face.

Jesus, what a fucking nightmare.

When they returned to the chateau, Isaac was looking forward to taking a long hot shower, then sneaking into Jared's room for a good long pounding.

Given the size of the man's dick, Isaac was actually impressed that he hadn't pulled a hip or busted a ribcage yet. Wouldn't that be fun to explain to a doctor?

" So, my buddy was fucking me with his monster cock and kind of dislocated my hip. But don't worry, I was still able to bust a nut ."

"I'll come by after I've had a chance to shower and unpack," Isaac whispered to Jared as they all entered the foyer and disappeared in various directions of the house.

Gunnar and Anders, no doubt, were on their way to the kitchen to see what sort of grub was left over from dinner; Teo was eager to get back to his room so he could do a bit of meditating before bed. He bitched the whole way home that people were fucking so loud that he couldn't find his center and spend a few minutes focusing on himself. Diesel? Well, they really weren't sure what Diesel was doing alone in his room. It could be anything from playing his guitar, rubbing one out, or reading a book. The man was so unpredictable.

"Sure thing. I'll see you in a bit," Jared responded, throwing his duffel bag over his shoulder.

"Isaac, I need to see you in my study for a bit," Matteo said, materializing out of nowhere.

Isaac glanced at Jared, then turned back to Matteo. "Sure thing. Let me just drop off my bag."

"Jared, do you mind taking Isaac's things to his room? This can't wait," Matteo said, nodding toward Isaac's bag.

Judging by the concerned look on his face, Isaac's stomach began to sink.

Matteo was never this open with his feelings. The guy had a poker face like no other—unless he was furious and tearing you a new one. Then, that scary Italian anger stepped forth, and all those in his path were murdered.

"Sure thing," Jared answered, taking Isaac's bag from his hand and giving him a quick wink.

"Come," Matteo said, placing his hand on Isaac's shoulder and guiding him up the stairs toward his office.

Once inside, Matteo closed the door behind them and gestured for Isaac to have a seat on the couch. Next to the couch, the fireplace was roaring.

Yes, it might still be warm out, but the large open rooms in the chateau often got chilly. Either that or Matteo wanted to make the room as cozy and welcoming as possible. For what purpose, Isaac wasn't sure he wanted to know.

They were using Matteo's main office located on the second floor of the estate. This was the public-facing office that Matteo used for business meetings and discussions with friends.

The other office was located deep beneath the surface of La Maison , away from prying eyes and nosey guests. That was the office that Matteo used to conduct his more "sensitive" business. It was also where he stored all the confidential files he had compiled on his guests. It was here that Edwin betrayed Matteo's trust and put Matteo and his friends down a dark path.

Matteo walked over to his bar and fixed them both a glass of whiskey.

Shit. This was not looking good .

"Here," Matteo said, passing Isaac a glass before sitting next to him on the couch.

Matteo paused for a moment, then turned sideways to face him. Ever the professional, Matteo was still dressed in his Tom Ford three-piece suit and Prada shoes.

The stylish Italian pulled a pocket watch from his vest and then glanced at the time.

Does anyone even own a pocket watch anymore? Isaac thought to himself.

Other than Matteo, the only other time Isaac ever saw a man holding a pocket watch was in movies, and only the kind that were filmed in black and white. They were also usually the ones that he refused to watch.

Yet, somehow, Matteo still managed to make using a pocket watch look stylish as fuck.

"Is everything okay?" Isaac asked, lifting his glass to take a sip. The liquid burned as it slid down his throat, but to be honest, he barely noticed.

Thoughts of the worst-case scenario were running through his head. Was he in trouble? Did someone complain about something he'd done? Why did Matteo look so uncomfortable? Oh God. Perhaps he knows about him and Jared?

He watched Matteo, trying to read his body language. Matteo was facing him, so that was a good sign. At least he knew that Matteo hadn't written him off. Oh God, what would he do if Matteo was pissed that he and Jared were fucking and decided to kick him out of the chateau? Where would he go? What would he do?

Matteo took a sip of his whiskey, then placed it down on the coffee table next to them.

"I'll be honest. I struggled this past weekend trying to decide whether to tell you or not. But in the end, I think you have a right to know."

Isaac's hands began to sweat. What could possibly be so bad that Matteo struggled with telling him?

Matteo picked up Edwin's journal and turned to a page that had been specifically marked. He hesitated for a moment, then ran his hand over the page.

"I have been going through Edwin's journal, trying to identify entries that need immediate attention. Some things noted just can't wait for Chase and his team to investigate and hunt down. I found an entry for a man named Mr. Benjamin Sawyer. From what we can tell, he's a lawyer working out of the Netherlands." Matteo looked up at Isaac for a moment, then decided to continue. "According to this journal, the man runs a fake adoption agency. He meets with couples interested in adopting a baby, finds out what sort of characteristics they are looking for—eye color, hair color, that sort of thing, then has a local gang kidnap a woman with those features and holds her captive until she delivers a baby for them."

Isaac's mouth dropped open. "Oh my God. They're kidnapping pregnant women, then stealing their babies?" He was shocked and couldn't believe that anyone could be so heartless and cruel.

Matteo shook his head.

"It's much more horrific than that. Once they procure the woman, they find a gang member with similar features and let that man rape the woman until she gets pregnant, after which they take the baby when she gives birth."

Isaac's heart stopped in his chest. He suddenly felt sick to his stomach.

Not only were these women suffering the horrors of being kidnapped and held against their will for months, but they were also being violated over and over until they finally got pregnant.

The thought of the pain and horror these poor women were going through made Isaac's blood boil. His grip tightened around his glass as he thought of all the things he wanted to do to this lawyer and his gang of rapists.

He wanted them to suffer. To feel the pain and anguish that those women felt as they were violated and tortured. Monsters like that didn't deserve to live.

Isaac suddenly realized that Matteo was sitting there watching him, no doubt trying to assess the reaction to this horrific news.

"I want to help you take down these fuckers and make them suffer like they're doing to these women," Isaac said through gritted teeth. He was seeing red and wanted nothing more than to beat these fuckers' faces in.

Then, a thought occurred to him.

He looked at his boss with confusion in his eyes. "I don't get it. Why was this case so hard for you to tell me about?"

Sad eyes stared back at Isaac.

"I debated telling you about this case because of who is running the gang that's kidnapping and raping these women."

Isaac was even more confused.

"The man running the gang is known on the streets as The Night Basher, but his real name is Declan Snake."

Blood drained from Isaac's face as his mind left his body. He couldn't breathe. The room went silent, and he was suddenly sitting in a dark room, all alone, knees clutched to his chest.

"Isaac?" a voice called, piercing through the darkness and sending his mind back into his body.

He blinked for a second, not knowing where he was. Then it all came back to him. Matteo. Couch. Safe. He was at the chateau, safe and sound, living the life with his found family.

"Hum?" Isaac asked, forgetting what it was that they were talking about.

"You okay?"

Isaac nodded his head.

"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?" he asked, reaching for his whiskey and taking a large sip. "I'm still confused as to why this would involve me?"

Matteo stared at him with that all-knowing gaze.

Isaac realized too late the mistake in his words. Matteo never said that this involved him, just that it was difficult to share with him.

"Because Declan Snake is your older brother."

Isaac's back began to sweat, and his hands began to tremble.

"Nn… No, he's not. I'm an only child."

Matteo moved closer to Isaac and took his hand in his. "You may have changed your last name, but I've known the truth about you and your family and the real reason that you ran off since the day that I took you in."

Of course, he did. Matteo knew everything. There wasn't a man alive who was able to keep secrets from this man—except for Edwin, apparently.

"Wh… what do you mean?"

It was a futile attempt. What was the point in denying the truth? The man clearly knew all about him and had known for years. But, still, a part of him was having difficulty admitting the truth to himself.

"I know that your father passed away when you were very young and that you and your older brother went to live with your uncle after that. Your brother was not a very nice kid. He fell in with a rough crowd, did some very bad things, then got thrown in prison, leaving you alone with your alcoholic uncle—the man who continued to physically abuse you until one day, he decided to pimp you out to his friends in exchange for cash for booze. I also know that you killed that man in self-defense and then took off and were living on the streets until I eventually found you." Matteo rubbed Isaac's hand in his. "And I don't judge you for anything that you did. In fact, I think you are very brave for having survived such conditions and still turned out to be the exceptional young man that you are today."

Hearing Matteo's kind words, Isaac couldn't help but fall in love with the man even more. It wasn't a love that one would share with a romantic partner, but a love of respect and adoration. Here was a man who opened his heart and his home to someone he didn't even know, giving Isaac the help that he needed and a chance to better his life. Without Matteo's kind heart and generous nature, Isaac wasn't sure where he'd be.

But with all the love came back all the pain.

Isaac leaned forward and wrapped his arms around the man he thought of as a father. Slowly, all the painful memories flooded back into his mind. The abuse, the pain, the betrayal, the fight to survive alone on the streets. It was all too much for him.

He leaned into Matteo's warmth and tried to lose himself in his strength.

"Don't worry, my boy. You're safe now."

Yes, he was safe here with them… but what about all those women? What about the women who hadn't been taken yet? How safe were they?

Isaac peeled himself away from his rock and wiped away some of his tears. Anger returned in full force.

"What is it you need me to do?"

Matteo looked at him hesitantly. "No. I think it's probably best if we leave you out of this one."

Isaac shook his head. No. His brother needed to be stopped. He couldn't be allowed to continue this horrific scam of kidnapping, rape, and abduction.

"Not going to happen," Isaac said, sitting up straighter and looking Matteo straight in the eye. Matteo needed to see his strength and resolve, or else he wouldn't allow him to participate in his brother's capture.

Isaac stared as Matteo struggled with his decision. "Well, we don't know where your brother is running this operation. We know it's somewhere in the Netherlands, but not sure where."

"So, how do I help you find the guy?" Isaac asked, still unsure how he could be of any use tracking down his brother.

"You speak to your uncle."

Isaac's blood went cold. His heart stopped in his chest, and his mind began to pull itself away once again.

He closed his eyes and tried to calm himself.

He wasn't a kid. That sick fuck didn't hold any power over him anymore. Yet, why was the mere mention of his name sending him into a panic attack?

He took a few deep breaths to calm himself, then opened his eyes to respond.

"I haven't seen that bastard since he left me at that house with those guys. I have no idea if he's still alive or drank himself to death."

"Actually, six months after you came to live here, your uncle was arrested for smuggling heroin."

Isaac's mouth dropped open.

"He became a smuggler?"

Matteo shrugged his shoulder. "That's what the evidence against him suggested. Then amazingly, each time his parole came up, he was caught smuggling heroin into the prison—once again, that's what the evidence suggested."

The smirk on Matteo's face said it all. There was no heroin or smuggling. There was simply a man who had fucked with a member of Matteo's family.

Isaac smiled.

"Good. I'm glad that asshole is suffering." Staring into his glass of whiskey, Isaac gathered up the courage to ask. "What is it you need me to do?"

"Go to the prison and see your uncle. Perhaps he's been in contact with your brother since his release from prison and knows his whereabouts. That might give us the information we need to locate and take down these guys."

He hated the idea of seeing his uncle once again. Staring into the face of the man who sold him like a worthless object when he was just a child.

Then he thought about all the women who had also been violated. His being uncomfortable around his uncle was worth the pain if it helped to free these women and put an end to this horrible nightmare.

"I'll do it."