Epilogue

EPILOGUE

ARES

" I don't get it. I thought you said you were checking on business," Matteo commented, looking annoyed as shit.

The man was fucking gorgeous, even when he was angry and impatient.

"We are," Ares responded, not bothering to explain any further.

A frustrated groan escaped Matteo's lips as he stared at Ares with a confused look on his face.

"So, what are we doing in a ceramic factory?"

"Checking on business," Ares repeated, knowing that he was getting on Matteo's last nerve. It was so fun to annoy him sometimes.

"You're insane."

Ares chuckled.

"Here." Ares picked up a ceramic figure of a chubby woman carrying a jug on her head. It was your typical souvenir, one that you might pick up at a local shop or a vendor in a market.

"It's not really my taste," Matteo noted, eyeing the offensive object in Ares's hand.

"Snob," Ares joked before tossing the ceramic figure onto the concrete floor.

The figure split open, revealing padding and a box inside. Ares knelt down and picked up the box.

"What the…" Matteo began, intrigued by the hidden item.

Ares opened the top, revealing a box of ammunition.

"Bullets?" Matteo asked, looking over at Ares.

"Yup. The dolls contain bullets. We've stashed pieces of the guns hidden in the packaging of boxes and crates. I find it best to hide items in different locations so that if the shipment gets checked, hopefully, the authorities won't discover all the items being smuggled."

"That's actually pretty smart."

Ares smiled. Hearing that sort of praise coming from Matteo warmed his heart. While he might not be the brightest bulb in the batch, Ares liked to think of himself as pretty clever. He was operating a multi-million-dollar business after all.

It only took two months after her husband's death for Mrs. Zitti to agree to sign over his business dealings—for a hefty sum of cash. Ares didn't mind. He knew that he would recoup the losses within the next two years. Having access to the Italian market and gun-packaging facilities such as this ceramic factory provided Ares with a new option for smuggling guns. The key to success was to diversify. He liked to use different methods and channels to distribute his products. This way, he was less predictable and not so easy to track.

Ares placed the box of ammunition down on the conveyor belt, nodding for one of the workers to take care of the mess he'd created. That was what he paid them for, wasn't it?

Turning his attention back to the Italian hunk standing next to him, he couldn't help but smile.

Over the last few months, Matteo had been making more of an effort to join Ares on business trips, using the excuse that he needed to get away from all the chaos at the chateau. But Ares knew the truth. Matteo didn't like being away from Ares for too long. It was sweet really. Ares would never tell Matteo, but he secretly hated being away from him as well. That was just too… sappy for them.

"Ready for dinner?" Ares asked, taking Matteo's hand in his. This was another new development.

Ares no longer cared who knew about his relationship with Matteo. Yes, there was still an element of danger with people knowing the truth, but it was no different than the risks that his hetero counterparts faced in the same situation. Ares just made sure that they had added security and that they were always vigilant.

"Yes. I'm starving. Where are we going for dinner?"

Smirking, Ares began walking with Matteo toward the door. "Venice," he finally answered, opening the car door for Matteo.

An hour and a half later, they touched down in Venice—yes, they took Matteo's private jet.

They stopped briefly at a luxurious hotel to quickly change into suits… because Ares was taking them to some fancy-ass dinner where formal evening wear was required. That was just how Ares rolled when he was treating his man to a special evening.

"Here, put this on," Ares said, passing Matteo a Venetian mask. The mask had been handcrafted by one of Ares's contacts specifically for this occasion.

"Jesus, this is gorgeous," Matteo gasped, turning the mask over in his hands, admiring the fine details and colors only a master craftsman could achieve.

"I had it specially made for you. What do you think of mine?" Ares lifted his mask to his face and waited for Matteo's reaction.

"It's so you," Matteo said, chuckling at the devil mask that Ares wore. Except instead of a terrifying, evil grin, Ares had asked for a twisted, perverted smirk that represented the horny little devil he had trapped inside his strapping young body.

Grasping Matteo's hand, Ares helped his man from the car, taking a moment to admire how deliciously handsome Matteo looked in his perfectly fitted Armani suit. Ares had to hand it to himself; he really did know every square inch of his lover's body.

"We're seeing an opera?" Matteo asked, glancing up at the large poster outside the theatre.

"I know how much you love to keep me cultured," Ares answered, caressing Matteo's hand with his thumb. "Now, let's head inside before we're late."

Once inside the elegant opera house, they were escorted to a large theatre where several small tables were set up, all with perfect views of the stage.

Ares pulled out one of the chairs and waited for a shocked Matteo to finally trust him enough to take a seat.

"I'm starting to think you have been replaced with one of those pod guys. Voluntarily going to an opera, opening my door, and now pulling out my chair… what happened to the horny man-beast who bent me over his car hood and fucked me ten ways from Sunday?" Matteo asked, still eyeing Ares skeptically.

Ares's face turned red, and he gave a nervous laugh.

"Come now, don't tell me you are shy all of a sudden?"

He took a quick look around the room, hoping no one overheard their adventures in Matteo's garage. It was one of the moments where Matteo's ass looked so fucking good in the dress pants he was wearing, Ares could not help himself. He threw Matteo face down over the hood of his car, yanked his pants down around his ankles, then fucked him until Matteo couldn't take anymore.

Before he could say a word, the waiter arrived to take their drink order. Shortly after that, the man returned with their drinks, followed by a plate of antipasto .

"The show will begin in a few minutes," the waiter noted before disappearing into the darkness around them.

"Are you sure this is a good place? It doesn't seem like there are a lot of other people here."

Ares glanced around the room, taking note of the handful of people sitting at neighboring tables. Each person was dressed in a perfectly tailored suit, complete with a stylish bowtie and a colorful Venetian mask.

"I'm sure this place is great. Have you known me to ever slum it?" Ares smirked, waiting for Matteo to respond with some sort of witty retort.

"It's funny. The guy sitting at that table over there has the same blue-colored hair as Isaac."

Ares looked over at the table Matteo was watching. "Sounds like someone is missing their children."

Matteo's eyes narrowed as he gently kicked Ares under the table.

"Just for that, I'm making you bottom tonight when we get back to the hotel."

A man sitting at the table next to them jerked forward, practically spitting his champagne on the gentleman sitting next to him.

Ares chuckled. "Like that's ever going to happen."

While Ares would try bottoming if Matteo ever asked him to, he got the sense that Matteo loved getting fucked by him too much to ever miss an opportunity to have himself impaled.

"Do you find it strange that all the other guests in this place are men as well?"

Glancing around, Ares shrugged. "It's Venice. It's practically a wonderland for gay men. Throw in a Venetian mask and booze, and it's basically gay heaven."

Now it was Matteo's turn to chuckle. He took Ares's hand as the lights in the room dimmed.

The music started playing, and the actors stepped out on stage.

The opera was magical. Even though the performance was in Italian, the music and the emotions made the story easy to follow.

Stealing a glance at the love of his life, Ares watched as Matteo discreetly wiped a tear away. Halfway through the performance, they both decided to remove their masks. Ares preferred it that way. The beauty of the man sitting next to him should never be hidden from the world.

"God, I love you," Ares whispered, catching a smile from Matteo as he mouthed the words back.

As the songstress completed her last solo, she gracefully stepped off the stage and began walking over to their table.

Eyes wide, Matteo stared up at the woman decked out in full costume and wearing the biggest wig Ares had ever seen.

The woman held out her hand and waited for Matteo to take it.

Matteo glanced over at Ares, looking terrified and confused.

"Go on. Take it," Ares encouraged.

Swallowing hard, Matteo took the diva's hand and allowed her to guide them both to the front of the table.

The woman bowed, then took a step back, eyes drifting over to Ares.

Heart pounding in his chest, Ares stood up from the table and reached into his pocket. He pulled out the tiny satin box that had been burning a hole in his pocket since they left the hotel.

A gasp escaped Matteo's lips.

Getting down on one knee, Ares reached up and took Matteo's trembling hand.

The room fell silent.

"Matteo. Love of my life. Before I met you, I was a shell of a man. I was lost and hurting and only saw the world in shades of gray. Ever since that day you came plowing into me during that rainstorm, I have been seeing nothing but colors."

Ares opened the box and held the ring out on full display.

"Matté, you're the most kind and generous man I have ever met. I would love nothing more than to spend the rest of my life showing you just how special you really are. Matteo Sabarino, will you marry me?"

Dropping down to his knees, Matteo took Ares's face in his hands. "There's no one who I would rather spend the rest of my life with than you. Of course I'll marry you."

With those magical words, Matteo leaned in and kissed Ares.

All around them, the room erupted in whistles and cheers. Everyone clapped, while some clinked their crystal glasses with their dinner knives.

Ares lost himself in the passion of his fiancé's lips.

"Way to go, Daddy A!" someone shouted a few feet away.

Matteo's body stiffened against his.

Slowly, Matteo pulled his lips away, shifting slightly to see over his shoulder.

Standing there, with the biggest smile on his face, was Isaac.

"What the?" Matteo asked, watching as the man standing next to Isaac removed his mask as well.

Jared.

Ares couldn't help but smile as Matteo glanced around the room dumbfounded. One by one, each of the other guests removed their masks.

Levi, Chase, Diesel, the twins, and even the little traitor who had wormed his way into their lives stood there, smiling at Matteo.

"You're all here!"

"I couldn't let the second most important day of your life happen without including your family. I know how much they mean to you." Ares stole a glance over at his brother, who was standing at a table with Levi and Chase.

"You are just…" Matteo trailed off.

"Amazing? Perfection? Easy on the eyes? A demon in bed?" Ares felt the wind get knocked out of him as Matteo gently punched him in the stomach.

"Yup, he's definitely bottoming for Daddy M tonight," Diesel noted, picking up his whiskey and taking a swig.

The room laughed.

Brilliantly, Ares had purchased all the tickets for tonight's performance so that they could enjoy their celebration in private… and as a family.

Looking at all the smiling faces, Ares couldn't think of a better way to spend his life. He had the most perfect man by his side, a brother who loved him, and a room full of adult man-children who would go to war for him if he ever asked.

This was family.

This was love.

The End.