Epilogue
HELO
“If you don’t leave, I’m gonna get fired,” Willow giggles against my lips as she leans across the counter at Grovewood Ink.
“Don’t worry, pretty girl. I definitely know a guy,” I say, threading my fingers through her soft hair and pulling her into a deeper kiss. I will never get enough of kissing this woman.
We’ve been married for nearly a year now, an entire year of waking up in a fucking dream come true every day next to this beautiful woman.
I didn’t think it was possible to fall more in love with her than I already was.
But watching her blossom into a life uninhibited by the shadows that haunted her for years has been worth every hardship we experienced to get here.
Willow is the most incredible person I’ve ever had the pleasure to know, and I get to spend forever with her.
The bell above the door chimes, but I don’t pull away. I savor one more taste of her sweet lips before someone clears their throat behind me.
“Don’t let us interrupt,” two college girls stand just inside the door smiling.
“Fine, get back to work. I’ll finish what I started when you get home tonight,” I tell Willow, giving her one more quick kiss before pulling away.
“Hey, don’t forget. Jaxon is video calling tonight at 5.
He says he has something to tell us, so don’t be late.
I’m thinking it has something to do with a certain girl he’s been casually mentioning for the last few months.
” Willow smirks, and I nod. Jaxon’s year in London at art school has slowly evolved into his year spent with Emily, a girl he met in a pottery class.
It must be serious if he’s even considering introducing her to his mom and I.
“Okay, honey. I’ll be there. If you could also be naked when I get home, that would be fantastic, thanks. I love you!” I shout, throwing her a wink as I walk out the door and laughing at the girls blushing as I walk past.
“I would never come up for air again if my man looked that fine,” one girl says quietly, and Willow dissolves into a fit of laughter.
The shop door barely closes before my phone starts ringing. Unknown caller flashes across the screen as I walk into the coffee shop next door. The chances of this being anyone but Arsenio are slim to none.
“Seb, how’ve you been?” I ask, and his dark chuckle echoes through the speaker.
“Helo, I’m getting a little impatient with this cat-and-mouse game.
I know you and Mr. Negan have been working to find the holes in my operation, but my patience has run out.
I need names.” Over the past year, Breaker and I have discovered a coup in the works inside of Arsenio’s organization.
We’ve been working silently to help him eliminate the smaller players, but I know he’s ready to cut the snake off at the head.
I order my black coffee from Vanessa, the owner here, giving her a friendly wave as I pick up my cup and walk back out to the sidewalk.
I watch my wife through the front window as she talks charismatically with the girls checking in next door.
The contrast between every ounce of color she brings into my life and the darkness surrounding my work is so blatant sometimes.
“I can give you the names, but are you really ready to act on that? I’m not questioning you, but this has the potential to obliterate your entire family.
I don’t want to see this end badly for you, my friend.
And I definitely don’t want to see this end badly for me if anyone should catch wind of our involvement together.
” I tell him, thinking of the safety of my wife and my son.
“I need to get away from here. It’s no longer safe for me to stay in Florida.
I’m too exposed, and there are too many uncertainties within my ranks.
As much as I hate to do this, I believe I’m going to call in those favors you owe me.
” Arsenio says, sounding unsure for the first time in all the years I’ve known him.
As I rack my brain, thinking of some way I could help him out of this shitty situation, I’m distracted by Vanessa taping a sign onto the front window of the coffee shop. A sly smile spread across my face as I read the details printed there.
“Seb, can you meet me at my house this weekend? I think I might have an idea.” I tell him, knowing this is a long shot.
“Of course, I can be there in less than 48 hours.” He hangs up without any more conversation.
This might be the craziest idea I’ve ever concocted, but it just might be what saves his ass.
At this point, only time will tell. Before I can talk myself out of it, I walk back inside the coffee shop.
Vanessa looks up from the table she’s wiping down, giving me the same warm smile I’ve seen nearly every day since I moved to Grovewood.
“Hey, Beckett. Something wrong?” She asks, resting her hands on her hips.
“I just wanted to ask you a few questions about the sign you just put up. You have a room for rent?” I ask, and she smiles.
“Yeah! The loft space above the shop. My brother has been staying there, but he decided to follow his heart to LA last week, so I need to find a tenant fast. Why? Are you in the market for a place in town?” She asks, quirking a brow in my direction.
“Me? Definitely not. But I may have a friend who could use a place to stay for a while.”