EPILOGUE
SALT
Four months ago, we had quite a surprise when Bashir and Fred moved just a few houses down from us, and a month later, Roman and Evan followed.
A miracle happened in their lives too, and both got pregnant. They’re incredibly happy, and we spend a lot of time together, our friendship flourishing.
Bashir and Jordan are staying home for now so it’s not too crowded. Roman has the flu, so he’s not here, but Eliano, Fred, and Senu are. They’re gathered by the hospital crib where our tiny newborn son lies, still without a name.
Yes, without one!
Because we have a list of forty names and cannot choose a single one, dammit.
"He looks so much like his father," Fred says, glancing at Eliano, but Senu immediately protests. His own belly is so swollen he looks like he could give birth at any moment himself.
"And I think he takes after Salt," he says, sending me a warm look.
"I would really hope so," Eliano offers with a smile, his eyes fixed on our little one. "He will be a looker."
I watch my wonderful alpha from the bed, my eyes half closed.
"He’s a newborn. Everything can still change," I say, amused.
Senu lifts the baby, kisses his forehead, and pulls him close. Fred peers over his shoulder with a smile.
"My first nephew," Senu says proudly, then looks back at me.
We exchange a knowing smile.
Ever since we moved to Union, Senu has been coming to see me almost every day, except on his doctor appointment days. So I have my brother with me again, the way we used to be, the way I always wanted. And it’s bliss!
I was so afraid our paths would split, but they didn’t. We are solid and thriving. On top of that, we both have our True Mates; everything is simply perfect.
"Do you remember when we were kids," Senu says, his voice full of emotion, "and we used to draw our future sometimes? I remember drawing four kids for myself, and you always drew three. Back then we did not even know which genders we would manifest at puberty. We both hoped we would be omegas."
Eliano looks at me. "Really? Omega? And three kids?"
I puff out my lips. "After this delivery, I changed my mind. One is enough. Probably." Then I add dryly, "Okay, maybe two, but that’s the absolute max."
"I have a feeling sooner or later you’ll talk him into that third one," Senu says with a grin, looking at Eliano, who replies,
"Who knows. As I like to say, dream big."
"You’ll be the one giving birth to them, asshole! My crotch would not survive that," I grumble, pretending to be offended, though the expression does not last long. A smile wins as I watch Senu holding my son and Eliano leaning over them, staring at the tiny face.
I smile. I cannot help it.
I have been smiling a lot lately. What a personality shift for me. I am filled with pure happiness, as if it flows in my veins.
The last six months have been truly wonderful and so kind to us.
Ennio contacted Eliano a few hours after that short phone call.
He presented him with a very interesting offer.
The Ferro family had quietly bought a fairly well-known press agency some time earlier through intermediaries.
They wanted media that would present the family in a more favorable light, or at least a neutral one.
Ennio wanted someone there who could gently suggest article ideas that showed the actions of the new capo in a positive way.
So Ennio offered Eliano a position there. We talked about it briefly, including the moral side, since Eliano always wanted to be an investigative journalist, not a paid mouthpiece for the mafia, but in the end, Eliano said he wanted to give Ennio a chance as the new capo.
As it turned out, he didn’t have to force any fake praise into his articles, because Ennio introduced such positive improvements within the mafia that Eliano could write favorable pieces with a clear conscience.
On top of that, Eliano reconnected with his brothers, Mauro and Luca, and from time to time we would meet them for family dinners.
Their broken family slowly healed after Rocco’s death.
Also, the accounts belonging to Eliano and Mauro were unlocked by Ennio just a few hours after that first conversation, and we knew then that we would be able to afford to buy a house in Union.
Three days after Rocco’s death, when it was officially confirmed by the authorities, Blue Lowen reached out and told us we could join the Beta Activation Follow-Up Program. In exchange, we’d allow a team of betas to monitor my health at a small research facility in Union.
We were honestly relieved we didn’t have to buy the house on installments. We could just pay for it outright.
Someone might ask why we still wanted to be part of the crazy program after everything that happened.
The answer was simple. Even though Tanner was sentenced to death for his crimes, I was still a convicted felon.
However, thanks to Eliano’s connections, I was granted a retrial.
My sentence was reduced to fifteen years, thanks to the Ferro family’s sharp, ‘creative’ attorneys.
They built a temporary insanity defense, and the judge agreed to run the sentences for all four shootings concurrently.
That made me eligible for parole after nine years, especially with my participation in the Second Chance program working in my favor.
I still had to wear an ankle monitor, though. The judge’s condition was clear: I could only move within the boundaries of a single designated property.
Union qualified as one property, technically the entire lot remaining under the authority of BA Follow-Up.
Because of that, I was free to move around the whole tiny ‘town’.
I could go to the stores, the preschool, the kids’ playground, a restaurant, a small club, and of course see a doctor.
I could walk through the park and the wooded area they owned, even visit the stretch of beach at the edge of the grounds. Not bad, right?
Eliano hasn’t fully unchained me yet, but he’s set me on the path to it, for sure.
And my prospects look good!
In about nine years, when our kids are older, I’ll be able to leave Union for good, and the whole process of ‘unchaining’ me will finally be over.
Another cool thing happened.
The mental healing we got from our fated bond actually surprised us with this extra layer.
Eliano finally came to terms with his past in martial arts!
He just accepted the brutal training as part of his old life and moved on from the anger and pain.
The result was unexpected. When one of our neighbors, who’s got two kids from his previous marriage, asked him to teach the boys some basic martial arts, Eliano, to my surprise, said yes.
Word spread fast when the other folks in Union heard about it.
The Follow-Up team jumped on the idea of a martial arts club for people of all ages.
They gave us a room next to the gym, and after thinking it over, Eliano agreed to run a few sessions a week for anyone who wanted to practice.
At first, I was almost in shock that he just went for it, but it was yet another piece of proof of how far our healing had gone.
Eliano had finally turned his trauma into strength, something that could actually give him satisfaction as he started to help teach the kids in Union and also the younger alphas who were curious about martial arts.
The side effect was almost predictable. Eliano’s status in Union shot up.
People saw how good he was, and he immediately got ‘promoted’ to top alpha.
His natural, strong energy made him a born leader, and growing up in the mafia taught him how to handle other high-testosterone alphas like it was second nature.
And here we are today, in the Union’s small hospital, and I just cannot believe it all turned out so beautifully.
Meanwhile, Senu hands our son to Eliano.
"So what about his name? You have to pick something eventually. I had my kid’s name planned from the very first day I realized I was pregnant," he mutters with playful disapproval.
Eliano looks comical, so big and solid, with the tiny baby almost disappearing in the hollow of his shoulder.
He sighs. "We have too many options on the list. Our heads are spinning. For now, we just call him Baby."
Eliano walks over to my bed and places the little one in my arms. Then he leans down and kisses my temple.
"Thank you, Salt." Then he hesitates, and something soft flashes across his face. "You know, in that booth at Fate’s Choice, it all started with one word. Your yes. Now there is us. And now there is him."
I quickly wipe away a treacherous tear that sneaks into my eye. I glance at Senu, then at Eliano, and finally at our son.
Real family. I have a family now. I may not be completely free yet, but I am free in my heart. They are my small world, and that’s enough.
"Yeah. A bumpy beginning for us, for sure, but the shitty part is over, and now it’s fucking beautiful." I sigh. "Today is one of the good days, Eliano. Let’s hold on to it. Let’s remember it."
"There will be more, Salt. More good days ahead," he whispers, threading his fingers through mine.
We both look at our son’s face.
Then he turns his head, searching for milk, and lets out a loud, scratchy protest as he bumps into my hospital gown.
Eliano bursts out laughing. "I’ve got it! I finally know what we should name him. I can already tell he’s going to have his dad’s temperament."
I raise my brows.
"Hey, I really hope it’s a top-notch choice, because we have been dragging this out forever, so it has to be something that finally makes sense."
"Salt and Pepper! The best combo."
Damn, how the hell did that not occur to me sooner? It’s brilliant in its simplicity. I glance at him, blinking in shock.
"Oh, wow. True. Ha! That actually makes sense!" My mouth spreads into a wide grin.
"Perfect sense," Eliano says with a matching smile, his eyes meeting mine as little Pepper latches onto my nipple.
Eliano leans closer and gently brushes his hand over my cheek, deep tenderness in his eyes.
A while ago, gestures like that would’ve made me cringe a little, but now I’ve learned to accept them and even enjoy them.
Love swells in my chest, and my True Mate answers my silent wave of warmth with one of his own, the way only bonded fated mates can communicate with each other.
"And you know what?" he whispers. "Salt and Pepper… It would actually make a great tattoo design! A solid choice for a first tattoo."
"Definitely!" Senu claps his hands, and Fred enthusiastically nods.
"Well, being a tattoo artist’s husband, it’s about time I got a tattoo of my own," Eliano sighs, looking at me warmly. "Do you happen to know an artist who’d be willing to take my ink virginity?"
It’s too much. I start giggling, and little Pepper lets out a tiny huff of protest.
"I might have someone in mind!"
We both keep chuckling like idiots, for no reason really, simply because we are… immensely happy.
And then I say it, "Ti vogghiu beni, assai." (I love you, so much.)
Yeah, I’ve been working on my Sicilian for the last six months!
Eliano’s face glows like a million suns as our hands entwine. "E iu a tia." (And I love you.)
The long road behind me fades into shadows. An even longer one stretches ahead, full of light, bringing me closer to freedom with every passing day.
Eliano and Senu both look at me; they’re radiant and joyful too, and I can’t wait to walk it with them.