Epilogue
EPILOGUE
SLOANE
Six Months Later
“ T hank you,” the mother before me says, handing her son the backpack full of supplies I give her.
I beam. “Of course, you’re welcome. My card is in the bag’s front. If you need anything else, please reach out.”
She nods. “We will. Thank you again.”
I nod, turning my attention to the next line. I flick my eyes over to Ardesia and Luca, who are busy getting their own lines down.
Brynne is handing out bags of food, and I smile brightly as I watch Dante leading a group of boys through a few moves of some contrived version of karate.
It’s been two months of planning to get here. I was hired to coordinate the local boys’ and girls’ center, and I quickly thought I had bitten off more than I could chew. However, with the help of two of the five families, I found all the support I needed to get the kids who reminded me of what they needed.
I finally have a job that makes me fulfilled and happy. Not that what I did before left me wanting, but this is where I’ll leave an impact.
The day drags on, and I’m caught up in my office looking at numbers when I look up to find Luca in the doorway, leaning on the frame.
He’s in jeans and rolled up his long sleeves as the day has gone on.
“You ready, beautiful?” he asks.
I nod. “Yeah. I was just looking to see how many came today. I wish we’d have drawn more of a crowd.”
He shakes his head. “My perfect girl. I know what drives you. Trust me, I do, but you’re enough. You did so much good today.”
I close my laptop as he approaches my desk, leaning against the edge beside my chair.
I turn toward him, sliding my hand into his. “I know I am. I just want…” I sigh.
He nods, not needing me to explain. He knows.
“Let’s go get some dinner, hm? Before Dante comes in here and eats us as his meal.”
I laugh, brushing my hand through my hair. “Why is he still here?”
His eyes soften. “Love, they all are. This is your day. We’re here for you. We leave with you.”
Something about it makes my chest fit to burst. I stand and grab my bag, clicking off the light on my desk. I give my office one backward glance, as I often do after a trying day when I need a moment to reflect.
I smile, my heart feeling full.
I once was the girl in line for food or supplies at the local shelters. I’ve come through the clouds to the blue skies beyond, and I’m so grateful to be the one standing in the clouds to help those who need it now.
“Come on, then,” I say, shutting the door to my office. “We’d best feed Dante. I don’t want him starving to death.”
We all leave and file into two blacked-out Suburbans together, The Grim Reaper of New York , his enforcer, and a fallen man of the cloth, with the women they breathe for in tow.
Even though this feels like a happy ending, I know there’s so much darkness lurking through the city that we’re up against. They battle those who take what doesn’t belong to them in the cover of darkness, and I fight against the inky parts of life that children of the city fight to survive—like I once did.
That’s okay, though. We’re up to the task.