6. Matteo

6

MATTEO

L etting out a huff, Matteo deleted the information he had just typed into the report on his laptop. He was behind on La Maison's paperwork and needed to get this shit done.

In addition to the boring-ass report he was currently working on—why didn't he just give the damn report to someone else to finish?—his lawyer was also pestering him for information on a new company Matteo was looking to invest in.

Thanks to new information obtained by Diesel, Matteo was looking to invest in a small Portuguese company that made ceramics in a tiny village just outside of Lisbon.

Diesel had been entertaining the lawyer who was brokering a deal between the company and a large home décor company with several stores located all across Spain and Portugal.

Diversify.

That was the key to keeping his money growing. Don't invest all your money in one industry. The world could change overnight. Look at what happened with the Covid pandemic. Online retailers made a killing, while brick-and-mortar shops flatlined. People in business around the globe learned one valuable lesson: if you want your money to grow, invest in different sectors.

Laughter cut through Matteo's attempt to focus, causing him to glance up in the direction of the disturbance.

Off to his left, Levi was acting out some sort of encounter he had had with one of the guests, an act that had Isaac laughing uncontrollably.

Next to Isaac lay Teo, head resting in Isaac's lap, as Rafael appeared to be giving Teo a foot massage on his office couch. How all three of them fit on that small-ass couch was a mystery to Matteo.

On the floor a few feet away, Jared was doing push-ups shirtless while Diesel helped him with his form. Because, of course, that was normal behavior for guys in their twenties.

Sitting across from them were Gunnar and Anders. Gunnar sat in Matteo's large reading chair next to the fireplace while Anders sat on the floor between Gunnar's legs, his back pressed up against the bottom of the chair. Those two never seemed to go anywhere without the other.

Separation issues?

Staring at the group of young men who had somehow become his family, Matteo couldn't help but smile at the relaxed domestic scene unfolding before him.

Here was a group of guys who never would have met out in the wild, yet through tragedy and circumstance, they were all brought together, forming a bond like no other.

They shared in each other's pain, working together to help one another deal with whatever emotional scars or addictions they suffered.

The more he watched the group of animated characters just "hanging out," the more suspicious he became.

Why were they all just lounging around in his study? There was a whole mansion full of cool things to do… yet here they were… just sitting around… just… chilling…

Something was up.

"Okay, what's going on?" Matteo asked, leaning back in his chair and folding his arms across his chest.

The group fell silent, slowly turning their guilty faces toward Matteo—all those except Diesel. He never looked guilty. His face was always set to… trouble .

They all sat there in silence, not saying a word.

"What did you do?" Matteo asked.

Nothing.

"Who are you hiding from?"

Still nothing.

Matteo exhaled. This was getting them nowhere.

"Levi? Why are you all in here?" Matteo knew that Levi always had trouble lying to him. Levi respected Matteo way too much for that.

Always go for the weakest link.

"Umm, no reason. W-we just thought we'd all come and hang out in here for a bit. Enjoy the fire and all." He motioned toward the fireplace, looking guilty as sin.

Whatever this was… he didn't have time for it. Clearly, no one was injured or in pain. All of their limbs seemed to still be attached, so as far as he could tell, they were just being… weird .

Needing to concentrate and get his work done, he felt annoyed. He was already having trouble focusing with all the bullshit swirling around inside his head; he didn't need a bunch of man-children playing around at his feet.

Okay, that was mean.

Perhaps the anniversary of his parents' death was hitting him a little harder than usual this year.

Still… he didn't have the heart or the patience to listen to their distracting laughter and games. He wasn't in the mood. He needed some space to think.

Picking up his laptop, he began walking toward the door when he noticed eight little puppies standing up as well. His eyes drifted over to the gang of blushing young men currently playing the statue game.

Stand there all you want. I see you moving.

"And where are you boys going?"

Jared scratched the back of his head, eyes searching every corner of the room for an answer. His biceps bulged as he waited for an answer to come. "Umm, nowhere?"

Matteo took another step toward the door, then stopped when he noticed eight large shadows moving in unison.

He turned around, annoyed. "Okay, what's with the separation anxiety?"

Levi stared down at the floor while Isaac began playing with the bottom of his shirt. It was Diesel who finally gathered the balls to speak.

"We're worried about you, M. You haven't been yourself these past few weeks, and we just wanted to make sure that you're okay."

Matteo's heart melted. These boys, who were not his biological children, cared. They knew something was wrong with their "father" and wanted to make sure that he was okay.

How many biological dads could say that their twenty-something children showed this level of care?

"That, and we kind of miss spending time with you," Levi added sheepishly from the back of the group. The look in his eyes tugged at Matteo's heartstrings.

Okay, he'll admit that he may have missed a few family breakfasts these past few weeks. Choosing instead to lie in bed, staring up at the ceiling and wondering what he was doing with his life.

Given all the changes that have taken place over the past few months, coupled with his parents' pending anniversary, Matteo had started questioning some of his own personal life choices.

Was he having a mid-life crisis?

No, he didn't think so. He hadn't bought any new cars lately or started dating a man half his age… well, he did fuck two the other night… Yeah, but that was just sex. Blowing some steam and emptying his balls. It meant nothing.

A reflection, perhaps? On his views and the current direction of his life. Was he happy?

Seeing so many of the young men he had protected find their special someone and seem so excited about their futures made Matteo want to reevaluate the protective wall he had erected around his heart. Was it time to start taking down the bricks one at a time?

Staring at all their concerned faces, Matteo suddenly felt guilty. He had committed the cardinal family sin—he had been neglecting his family.

He walked toward the group of worried young men and gave them all a reassuring smile.

"You don't know how much it means to me to hear you all say that. And I'm fine. Just like all of you, sometimes I have a few down days where I like to just be alone with my thoughts and not bring down the mood of the Maison . I'm sorry that I've been a bit distant lately, but seriously, I'm okay. You all mean so much to me, and I'm touched that I mean so much to each of you. But seriously, I'm fine."

Giving them another gentle look, he turned and walked back toward the door, then stopped.

"How about we all go out for dinner tonight?"

Everyone's faces lit up—well, everyone except for Diesel—he was way too cool for excitement.

"Okay, go get ready, and I'll meet you all out front at eight."

"I'm getting steak," Jared announced, excited as he ran past Matteo.

"Tofu stir-fry for me," Teo added, walking out of the room next.

"Chicken fingers for me," Isaac chirped, leaving the room.

One by one, the guys exited the room until it was just Matteo and Levi left.

Levi stared up at Matteo with his mystic violet eyes, letting Matteo know he saw through him. "Are you sure you're going to be okay?"

Matteo wrapped his arms around the boy. "Yes, I just need a little space to sort through some things rolling around inside my head. But thank you for checking in."

"FYI, if this is one of those mid-life crisis things where you begin worrying about getting old and losing all your hair, don't be. You're still our sexy daddy who everyone wants to fuck, and you already own at least eight sports cars that are parked in the back of the mansion. So, please don't buy any more cars… unless they're for me."

Matteo couldn't help but laugh. "When you're as rich as I am, you don't age. So keep making me money so that I can remain young and beautiful forever. Deal?"

"Deal." Levi wrapped his arms around Matteo's waist and gave him a hug.

"You guys coming? Jared's getting hangry," Isaac shouted before letting out a squeal. Lord only knows what Jared did to the poor boy.

"Let's go before Jared starts cock-slapping Isaac again," Matteo joked, waiting for Levi to step ahead.

With that, they left Matteo's office. His reports could wait another day.