16. Chase

Chase was right. Given the level of mistrust his boss felt, Marc refused to meet in person at Matteo's chateau. After a few heated phone calls and some not-so-very-nice exchanges of words, Marc and Matteo finally decided to reach out to Ares—a mutual friend of theirs—who agreed to provide a safe and neutral meeting location.

Ares was a European gun trafficker who had extensive relationships with the criminal underworld around the globe. The man was well-known and well-connected, having worked in the industry for close to thirty years. His reputation was undeniable. People could trust the quality of products he provided, and his shipments were always discreet and delivered within the agreed-upon time period. As any seasoned criminal will attest, timelines and delivery methods need to be adjusted occasionally in order to remain undetected and to ensure secrets are kept. Ares always made sure that whenever there was an adjustment that needed to be made, these updated timelines were communicated and agreed upon by those involved. A man was only as good as his reputation.

The meeting place Ares recommended was a little French restaurant called Mon Petit Amour, located just outside of downtown Paris.

Matteo insisted that Chase travel with him so that he could use Chase as leverage if things went south. Marc and Alex agreed to come together but insisted on being allowed to arrive thirty minutes early so that they could ensure that the restaurant was not a trap and free of listening devices—under the watchful eye of Ares, of course. Ares may have a reputation for being a professional businessman, but Marc also had major trust issues and only trusted one man completely—his husband, Alex. Matteo agreed to such conditions.

It was just after nine p.m. when Matteo's entourage arrived. The only ones allowed into the restaurant were Matteo, Chase, and Levi at the insistence of Marc. All others had to remain outside under the protective care of Ares's men. There is nothing like watching two teams of angry, testosterone-filled men, watching each other from opposite sides of the street, just dying for one man to say the wrong thing so that they have an excuse to fill the other team with bullets.

"It's good to see you again, old friend," Ares greeted as Matteo walked into the dimly lit restaurant.

He walked over to Matteo, hugged him, and gave him a kiss on both cheeks. It appeared that both men had some sort of history together.

"I could have gone a while longer without seeing your decrepit old face," Matteo grumbled back. It appeared that perhaps their history wasn't so cordial.

Ares smiled at the man. "Oh, come on, you wound my lonely heart."

Matteo walked past the man without acknowledging his last comment and headed over to the table where Marc and Alex were standing, waiting for their arrival.

"Gentlemen," Matteo greeted, reaching for Alex's hand first, then shaking Marc's right after.

"Matteo," Marc noted, giving the man a slight nod as he gripped Matteo's hand firmly.

"Hey guys," Chase added, smiling at both of his friends. "This here is Levi. He's been… showing me around." He felt his cheeks flush. He didn't like lying to his boss, but at this point, they didn't need to know that the two of them were boning.

"Now that we got that out of the way, gentlemen, please sit down," Ares announced, taking a seat at the head of the table and signaling for Marc to sit to his right and Matteo to sit to his left. This way, both men could stare each other down, while Ares kept both of their manhoods in check.

"So, how do you two know each other?" Marc asked, nodding between Matteo and Ares.

Chase sat next to Alex and couldn't help but notice the way Ares's lips turned slightly upward before being cast down by Matteo's reply.

"We're old… acquaintances," Matteo answered, eyes burning a hole into Ares's chest.

Their host's eyes narrowed as he returned Matteo's glare.

Clearly, the two men had some unresolved issues. Chase hoped that whatever it was wouldn't affect their investigation.

"Let's just say that I know Matty here a little better than he'd like," Ares responded, his jaw clenching as he spoke. "But before we start." He clapped his hands, and four waiters came out carrying trays of dishes.

Chase watched as the serving staff laid out plate after plate in front of each of them while another server went around the table pouring each of them a glass of red wine. The scene was like something out of the movie The Godfather. Copious amounts of food were set out before them as "The Don" sat at the head of the table, keeping watch. When they were done, all the servers nodded to Ares, then walked out the front door once they were excused.

"I've asked my staff to wait outside with the rest of the goons while we eat dinner and discuss… private matters," Ares noted with a simple gesture of his hand.

"You own this place?" Marc asked.

"Among many other establishments. It's good to diversify your portfolio and spread out your wealth. This way, the authorities won't be able to seize all your money at once. It's harder to seize what they can't find." Ares gave Marc a wink.

"And how do you know they won't say anything?" Matteo asked, nodding toward the door. Always the cautious man.

"Because I pay them well," Ares said, reaching for his glass of wine. "I use this place to talk private business all the time, and they all know that if they say anything, they will end up face down in the Seine. So far, no one has said anything." Ares smiled. "Now, a toast. To working together as civilized men and not letting the sins of the past keep us from returning phone calls when friends reach out," Ares toasted, giving Matteo a side-eyed look that didn't go unnoticed by the group.

"Santé," they all responded, raising their glasses before taking a sip.

"Now! Sorry for bringing out all the food at once, but I didn't want us to be interrupted. For the main course, we have a lovely coq au vin, which is chicken braised with wine, mushrooms, and bacon. Delicious if you ask me. Then we have a mushroom risotto because I know how much Matteo loves the risotto here." Another awkward pause and glance in Matteo's direction. "Then we have your standard veggies, green beans, and salad with olive oil and vinegar—that's how we older Europeans make salad dressings for you young things," he explained, glancing over at Levi and Chase. "Then, for dessert, I have some lovely macarons we can all share over coffee. I was told that macarons were your favorite," Ares finished, looking over at Alex. Judging by the smile on Alex's face, the rumor appeared to be true.

"Yes, they are! But how did you know…" Alex trailed off, his smile diminishing slightly.

Ares simply shrugged his shoulders, then took another sip of his wine. It appeared that Ares had done his homework as well.

"Thank you, Ares, this is a lovely meal," Marc offered, reaching for his fork.

"If you don't mind, I'd like to get down to business," Matteo barked, glancing between Marc and Ares.

"Always in such a rush," Ares noted, shaking his head.

"I'm sorry, but I would like to know why this asshole tried to steal from me?" Matteo growled, glaring at Marc.

Chase watched as Marc sat there calmly, staring at Matteo from across the table. There was something eerie about the way Marc just sat there, watching him. It was as though he were calculating his moves as the man spoke. Working his way through every possible scenario before he finally decided on how he was going to destroy the handsome man sitting before him.

Chase swallowed hard, waiting for the big guys to duke it out. Marc was the boss, so Chase would wait for instructions.

Raising his fork to his lips, Marc took a bite of his perfectly braised chicken in no rush at all. "Mmm, this is delicious, Ares. Thank you again for this wonderful spread."

Next to him, Alex picked up his glass and took a sip of wine, trying to contain his laughter.

Across from him, Matteo's eyes narrowed. Apparently, patience was not one of the Italian's superpowers.

"Six months ago, I came into possession of a certain journal written by an unknown individual. Inside the book are names and details of some very personal and private information that, if made public, could be very damaging to the individual named. Hidden within these pages are also the names and descriptions of certain acts that can only be described as heinous and require immediate attention," Marc began.

"What sort of heinous acts?" Matteo asked. Chase couldn't help but notice the difficulty he was suddenly having swallowing.

"Rape, murder, kidnapping. Crimes that cannot be allowed to continue and deserve to be punished," Marc responded, calm and collected as always.

Sometimes, Marc's demeanor worried Chase. The man appeared borderline psychotic at times. He seemed to know the difference between right and wrong but didn't always show human emotions very well—sometimes he was calm and collected, then other times he would go off the rails if angered. Alex, it seemed, helped to keep Marc in check. Alex was the only one who appeared to have any control over Marc and his emotions. Chase had only known them for a few months, but the love and devotion Marc showed Alex was like nothing he had ever seen before.

"And you think that I am the author of this journal?" Matteo asked, eyes still locked on his accuser's.

"That is what we are trying to figure out. We hoped to conduct our investigation discreetly, but then you went all caveman and tried to dismember my investigator," Marc shot a look over at Chase, who gave a sheepish smile.

There was no greater failure than being caught during an undercover operation, especially when you were hired because of your investigative skills.

"Psht. It wasn't that bad," Matteo let out a breath, glancing briefly over at Chase. "The boy barely has any bruising."

That comment didn't sit right with Chase. There was more than a little bruising left on his skin. He decided it was probably better for everyone's nerves if he kept his sarcastic comments to himself. He glanced up at Levi and gave a slight smile.

"And you suspect me because of some logo you found in the book?" Matteo asked, looking more than annoyed with the assumption.

Marc nodded.

"Can I see the book?" Matteo asked, reaching over a bowl of nicely prepared salad.

Marc reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a ratty leather-bound book. He passed it to Matteo, never taking his eyes off the man.

Shifting in his chair, Matteo carefully flipped open the cover and stared at the tiny emblem hand-drawn in the top right corner. Judging by the expression on his face, the logo was definitely his.

It was a small drawing. A top hat in a circle. Very simple and easy to dismiss as a random doodle. It wasn't until Marc suggested googling top hat logos that they were able to find a similar-looking logo. The only difference was that Matteo's had the words LaMaison de M splashed across the front in fancy lettering.

It was a discreet logo. Fancy and elegant, while not giving away any of the actual activities that occurred at La Maison de M.

Chase watched as Matteo began slowly flipping through the pages, reading through each entry and grimacing at the ones that detailed horrific acts.

After ten minutes, the man closed the book and placed it down on the table next to his plate. He lifted his glass and downed the rest of his wine. He was clearly disturbed by what he had just read.

Clearing his throat, he looked up at Marc.

"Well, it appears that I am partially responsible for the information contained in this journal."

Across from him, Levi dropped his fork in his plate, startled, and turned to face his friend and mentor.

"The names and information contained in these pages were gathered by me—well, not all the information, but some. You see, the real source of my wealth and power is information. I use La Maison de M to get close to people and collect information from them. Personal secrets, corporate secrets, things they would never tell another living soul. It's amazing how much men open up when they are in the throes of passion with a handsome naked man beside them. I collect this information, then use it to expand my own wealth and influence, making investments in companies I know will be expanding or ensuring that certain individuals are placed in the right companies at the right time. It's like playing chess—always having to be three moves ahead of your opponent.

"The other reason that I collect this information is for the safety of my boys. I conduct extensive background checks on each person before they are granted access to LaMaison. If I find any information that I feel will be a danger to my boys, I decline their application, and they are denied access to my club."

"What sort of information?" Alex asked.

"Anything that would suggest that the man might be trouble. For instance, if they are an abusive alcoholic or prone to violence. The last thing I want is to leave one of my boys alone with a guy who has anger issues while he's been drinking heavily."

"So why would you grant access to a murderer or a kidnapper?" Marc growled, temper flaring.

"I wouldn't. I've only had two instances where I suspected that someone might be involved in such a heinous crime, and both times, I had my friends in law enforcement look into the guys."

"Bull shit. There are a lot more than two heinous crimes in that journal," Alex shot back.

Matteo turned and glared at the young man.

"Drug trafficking or cheating on someone's spouse, I don't give a shit about. People can do what they want or make money however they please so long as it doesn't affect my boys or my business."

"So, then you did write the journal," Marc noted.

"No. But I think I know who may have," Matteo said, glancing over at Levi.

Levi looked back at him, confused.

"A few years ago, I had a boy working for me named Edwin. He was a young man who had an alcohol and substance abuse problem. I got him off the streets and helped get him clean. I kept him close as I feared that he might fall back on old habits, but I didn't realize how my actions were being perceived in his mind. To him, we were becoming a couple.

"One night, he came to me with this grand idea that we should be using the information we collect about our guests to blackmail the wealthier ones. I explained to him that we were not criminals, and that was not how I did business. He said he understood and dropped the issue." Matteo looked over at Levi before he proceeded. "Then, one night, he snuck into my room and tried to force himself onto me, convinced that we were a couple and belonged together. When I refused him, he told me I'd be sorry, and then he ran off from the mansion. That was over three years ago."

"So you think that this Edwin is the person who wrote this journal?" Chase asked, finally joining the conversation.

"I'm guessing so. He must have done his own research as well because some of this information I have never seen before, including Mr. Peabody being a suspected kidnapper. I knew the man was eccentric and a bit of an odd one, but nothing ever led me to believe that the man was dangerous or a kidnapper, for that matter."

"What can you tell us about this Mr. Peabody?" Chase asked.

Matteo glanced over at Levi. "Well, the man was a history professor I believe, lived alone, was a quiet, shy type of man. He liked to visit La Maison once every few months. He was very reserved and liked to just spend the evening chatting with Levi. He never tried anything sexual; he just liked to chat and hang out like they were the best of friends." Matteo turned toward Levi for any additional information.

"Yeah, he's pretty much a kitten. He likes it when I sit with him and act like we're best of friends. He has a thing for fantasies and likes to make up pretend scenarios every time he visits."

The group looked at Levi, confused.

Levi proceeded to explain.

"During one visit, he wanted to pretend that we were going to spend Christmas together in London, so we spent the evening discussing what sort of sights we would see during our trip. We even discussed what sort of presents we should buy for our friends and families. It was a sweet conversation. I really find it hard to believe that he would kidnap anyone. What for? I get the sense that he's a lonely man and just wants someone to talk to."

Turning to face Chase, Matteo tilted his head slightly. "In the stables, you specifically asked me about Peabody. Why?"

"He's the case I'm investigating."

"Why? What leads you to believe that any of the horrible things Edwin has written about in that journal are true? I can only vouch for the things that I have recorded myself. How do you know that these are not lies created by a psychotic little prick who was looking for a quick and easy cash grab?"

Ares sat at the head of the table, enjoying a mouthful of risotto. He was a handsome man in a rough, rugged sort of way. It was clear that life had been tough on the guy. Chase didn't know much about the man or his history, but it was clear that everything he had, he had to fight for to get. Those deep-set hazel eyes hid many secrets, many of which the living were not privy to. He didn't seem to give a shit about Marc, his assumptions, or his research methods.

The rest of the table turned to Marc and waited for him to explain.

"Two weeks ago, we came across a posting on the dark web from a man looking for his sister. He claimed that she went out on a date with a man with a rose tattoo on his left wrist but never returned home that evening. Your journal right there mentions that Peabody had a rose tattoo on his left wrist. Also, the age and description available seem to match the suspect in the man's post. So, we're hoping to find out where Peabody lives and rescue this guy's sister," Marc explained.

Matteo threw his arms up in the air quickly. "Hold up! You're not going to go around harassing my clients, accusing them of crimes that some crack-pot ex-druggie with an alcohol problem wrote down in a book somewhere. My guests expect privacy and confidentiality as part of their stay. There is no way in hell I'm giving you their address so you can go and accuse them of something that they did not do."

"So, you want to turn a blind eye and let these monsters go? Let them continue to kidnap and murder people, all so that you can continue to fill your pockets with hundred-dollar bills?" Chase shouted from his end of the table.

The room fell silent.

"That's not what I'm saying, dipshit. I'm saying, stop being a shoot first-ask questions later dumb-ass American, and stop to think about things first. We can work together to discreetly investigate the names in this journal to determine whether the accusations made in these pages are true or just the ramblings of a sick kid." He held the journal up as he ranted. "If these accusations turn out to be true, then we can take matters into our own hands." Matteo's eyes darkened. There was something to be said about Italians and their tempers.

"I can accept that," Marc chimed in after not saying a word for quite some time. "How do you propose we go about collaborating on this investigation?"

Matteo looked between Levi and Chase. "Well, I think Levi should help Chase with this case. He's the one most familiar with Mr. Peabody and can provide background and additional details as he sees fit. But I want to be very clear. These investigations must be kept extremely confidential, and no one must know that you are investigating them or that I have provided you with any of their personal information. If any of this gets out, I will be ruined, and my business will be destroyed. While I might take advantage of the information I have available as a result of my business, La Maison de M provides an essential service to many of my guests who cannot be themselves in the real world and use our services as a way to help them be who they truly are meant to be. I do not want to impact that relationship with my guests in any way."

"That sounds fair," Marc added.

"And the next time you go around giving people information about me and my business, you might want to give me a heads up first, Ares. I don't appreciate the constant backstabbing."

Ares's body froze. His eyes went wide, and he appeared caught off-guard by the sudden assault on his integrity. His mouth opened in retaliation, but he seemed to change his mind at the last minute.

The master arms dealer resumed cutting his chicken and shoveling it into his mouth without looking up at his guests.

The rest of his guests continued to enjoy their meals, making small talk and recanting stories of various travels and experiences. Ares told tales of his experiences in Austria and how he met the royal family once while at an opera. Alex was enthralled and asked a million questions about Europe and customs and such. Who would have guessed that the blond-haired social butterfly was so cultured?

Marc and Matteo continued to watch each other suspiciously, ready to attack if the other so much as sneezed.

Chase, on the other hand, kept playing a game of "catch the purple-eyed deity staring at me" and then winking when his cheeks blushed red from being caught. Working with the blushing dancer was going to be a fun and interesting time, to say the least.