23. Matteo

23

MATTEO

T hey had spent the day playing board games, munching on snacks, and listening to Ares complain about every little ailment that afflicted his body, from his sore back—score one for the couch—to this weird clicking in his knee when he bent his leg a certain way. Matteo didn't mind the complaining; at least he wasn't telling him how stupid he was for taking in someone he didn't even know. He wasn't going to apologize for being a good Samaritan.

After dinner, they decided to sit down and watch a movie together. Apparently, Jorge had never seen Die Hard , which, coincidentally, was also Ares's favorite movie of all time. Go figure.

So, it was decided— Die Hard for the win.

Groaning, Matteo tried to ignore the pain in his knees as he straightened up from the tiny shelf that held the random selection of eighties movies.

"Not a spring chicken anymore, are ya?" Ares teased.

"Still younger than your old ass," Matteo retorted.

Ignoring the lot behind him, Matteo threw the old video tape into the VCR—yes, he still hadn't replaced the vintage video machine that had been sitting in the cabin when he purchased the place—and pressed play.

"Dammit," Matteo huffed, pressing stop on the machine when the movie started playing in the middle of the film.

He pressed the rewind button, then waited patiently, crouched on his knees for the video to rewind. "This is one of the reasons people got rid of these damn machines. You never have to rewind DVDs."

Jorge let out a chuckle.

He wondered if the boy had a DVD player at home or if his family was still using a VCR machine as well. Judging by the boy's appearance, Matteo guessed that the family would have prioritized food over luxury items… at least, he hoped they did.

"I'll get us some snacks while we wait." Matteo stood, doing his best to make it seem like his knees were not bothering him— fuck Ares and his cocky half smile —and made his way into the kitchen.

He glanced over his shoulder at the two: Ares sitting in the armchair looking like a grouchy old man and Jorge sitting on the couch, phone in hand, texting away. Was this what married life could have looked like had he and Ares not broken up? His husband lounging in his chair while their son played on his phone, ignoring them like all teenagers do.

But Matteo had that at home—minus the husband. He had a mansion full of sons, all playing on their phones, annoying one another, but always there for each other when it really mattered.

Matteo smiled. He loved his life. Even if he didn't have a partner to share it with. Sometimes, it just took taking a step back to really see the big picture. While Matteo may not have spent this last week away alone, he really needed the time to gain some perspective.

Loving the feeling in his chest, he glanced over at Ares one last time and blushed. The man was giving him a crooked smile —one that said he wanted to do very dirty things to him once they were alone.

Damn it. Why did he still react so strongly to a man who he really should hate?

Turning, he made his way into the kitchen to retrieve some snacks.

The movie was just as good as Matteo remembered. He wasn't sure if Jorge enjoyed it as he seemed to have spent most of his time texting on his phone. Perhaps the boy was sorting things out with his family or friends. Although, the boy did look a little nervous like he was anxious or something.

Earlier in the day, Matteo had called a local contact, hoping to connect Jorge with a local group that might be able to help him find some safer accommodations. He didn't like the thought of the boy returning home to that dangerous environment. His contact said it may take a day or two, but he would call him back with some information. So, for now, they were in a holding pattern.

It was just after midnight when Matteo stood from the couch and stretched.

"Well, I'm going to head off to bed. Jorge, did you want me to make you something to eat before I go?"

Jorge looked up at him with such sadness in his eyes. He shook his head slowly. "No, I'm fine. Thank you, Matteo. For everything. You've been a really nice man."

The boy lifted his gaze ever so slightly before dropping his eyes back to the floor.

"Is everything alright?" Matteo asked, feeling like he was missing something.

The boy seemed on edge these past few hours, texting away on his phone, barely eating any of the snacks Matteo had laid out for them. What teenage boy didn't eat his weight in food? Especially when it contained mounds of salt and sugar.

Was the boy in the midst of planning his great escape? Was this the part where he stole all their stuff while they slept, proving Ares right all along?

Well, if he was going to rob him and disappear into the night, he hoped the boy would at least use the money to help better his life.

"Yes, I'm just tired."

"Okay, well, I'm off to bed. Let me know if you need anything." Matteo turned to Ares. "And thank you also for tonight."

Ares gave him a head nod, seeming pleased with the compliment.

After brushing his teeth in his en suite bathroom, Matteo heard a tiny rap at his bedroom door.

Did Ares really think they were going to fuck with the kid right across the hall?

Matteo opened the door, ready to tell Ares off when he saw Jorge standing there.

"Sorry, se?or , but can I speak to you?" His voice was so low and with his broken English, Matteo had to struggle to hear him.

"Sure, come on in."

The boy walked into the room and stopped just before the bed. He glanced around the room as if taking in his surroundings.

"You're not what I was expecting," the boy said, staring hard at his feet. He held his hands in front of him and played with his fingers nervously.

Matteo took a step forward, then thought better of it. He didn't want to scare the boy, and it appeared that Jorge was struggling with something. The sound of the television from the living room could be heard as Ares flipped through the channels.

"What do you mean?" Matteo asked.

The boy looked up, eyes wet and glossy.

"He said that you were a very bad hombre and that you kidnapped and raped young boys."

Matteo's mouth dropped open.

"What?" he gasped.

"I was supposed to be the bait. Once I found out where you were staying, I was supposed to text them your location. Then they would come here… and…" Jorge's gaze dropped to the floor once again. The boy's shoulders began to bob.

Was he crying?

"And what?" Matteo asked. His stomach was in knots, and his heart was pounding.

This was a setup. A ruse to get access.

"We need to leave," Ares barked, barging into Matteo's room and throwing open the closet door.

"What? What are you doing?" Matteo asked, confused as shit.

The boy just stood there quivering, clutching his phone.

It beeped.

The boy shut his eyes tight and refused to look at his phone.

"I'm sorry," he whispered, slowing opening his eyes and looking at Matteo once more. "He lied to me."

A growl escaped Ares, drawing Matteo's attention.

Inside the closet, Ares banged open the back panel and pulled a black duffel bag out of the wall.

"What the?" Matteo started, watching as Ares pulled a gun out of the bag and zipped the duffle bag back up. "Holy shit! Where did you?—"

"We need to go. The kid led them straight to us," Ares barked, giving the kid the stare of a thousand deaths.

Throwing the bag over his shoulder, Ares grabbed Matteo's wrist and pulled him hard toward the bedroom door.

"Wait!" Matteo yelled, pulling his arm free from the madman's grip.

"There's no time!"

Bang!

An explosion erupted at the front of the cabin, followed by the sound of the front door crashing in.

Fuck!

Startled, Matteo threw his hands over his ears, subconsciously trying to shield himself from all the chaos and noise erupting around them.

Behind them, the bedroom window exploded, showering them with shards of broken glass. Matteo felt a piece slice his cheek.

Madness erupted. Shouts, bangs, crashes. Glass shattered, furniture smashed. Everything felt erratic.

Ares grabbed Matteo by the arm and began pulling him into the hallway. Without thinking, Matteo reached out and grabbed Jorge as well, pulling him along in the process.

They ran into the spare bedroom, where Ares quickly shut the bedroom door behind them without a sound. Raising his finger to his lips, he motioned for them all to remain silent. Without waiting for a response, Ares quickly pulled them both toward the closet and threw open the door.

"What are you doing?" Matteo whisper-growled, stunned when he saw Ares lift a trapdoor hidden in the floor of the closet.

Without warning, Ares's calloused hands grabbed hold of Matteo and shoved him toward the hole in the ground.

"Go, now! Climb!" Ares ordered, pointing toward a ladder that led into the darkness beneath the cabin. In his hands, Ares cocked his gun as shots erupted in the living room.

Men's voices were heard shouting instructions in Spanish as footsteps charged toward the spare room.

"Now! Go!"

Matteo grabbed Jorge, forcing him down the ladder in front of him.

The boy looked panicked and scared.

"Go, go, go," Ares blurted, pulling the closet door shut behind them before scrambling down the ladder and pulling the hatch closed above them.

Darkness filled the space around them.

From the bottom of the ladder, all three stared up at the trapdoor, illuminated by tiny slivers of light that crept in through the small spaces in the floorboards.

Above them, feet scrambled across the bedroom floor, desperately searching for their targets. Curses were exchanged, followed by the sound of men charging in and out of rooms.

It appeared that whoever was after them had not noticed the trapdoor hidden in the closet.

Thank fuck.

Matteo let out a sigh of relief.

A flame ignited before them. Ares stood there, holding a lighter.

"This way," Ares growled, glaring at the boy as he walked past him.