Epilogue

Mills

— Five Years Later —

“Where do you want this, dear?” Beast said as he carried three huge boxes behind the counter.

Jena handed a teenage girl her chocolate muffin and turned to Sebastian.

“Just put it in the back, I’ll take out what we need later.”

It was almost closing time. Andrea, one of her employees, was cleaning the last tables before leaving for the night.

It turns out Jena really was a good entrepreneur. She just needed a bit of extra cash for marketing and promotion.

Three years after opening, this was one of the most succesful coffee houses in the city. Not only because of the taste —and they really made a difference in that area— but also the vibe.

They held open mics every Wednesday, comedy shows on Saturdays. Thursdays were quiet nights and a cool Jazz band played every Friday.

Mills and Sebastian helped dealing with suppliers, and she always included them before deciding something big, like setting up a franchise or not.

Not yet. We said that this was just for fun, it’s not like we need the money.

They sure didn’t. They flipped some houses, mansions, most of them, then invested more heavily in real state. Their net worth was nearing hundred million dollars. Life was good.

More than good. It’s perfect.

The door opened, she looked up, thinking Mills had arrived, but it was a young, bald guy with heavily tattooed arms.

He looked so familiar.

Where have I seen you before?

“Good evening,” Beast said, and the man nodded, walking up to the counter.

“Babe,” he continued, “do you want to check the coffee beans? The boxes felt kind of light, I don’t know if they sent us everything we ordered.”

“What? Really?”

Jena walked into the inventory room while Beast handled the cashier. Both of her men knew the in and outs of her business.

“Black coffee, please,” she heard the tattooed man say. Beast turned around to make it.

“How about a carrot pie with that?”

The man made a noise, thinking about it, then said “sure.”

She counted all the sealed bags of beans. It was all there.

Where have I seen that man before?

“Busy night?” Beast asked.

Jena turned to see the man shrugging, his tattoos… where—?

Fear coursed through her veins. It was him. Him.

The man who escaped from her coffee shop five years ago. The only one who made it out alive.

Her heart began to race, every hair on her body raising in fear, she stopped breathing.

He was Enrico Saliani’s bodyguard. And now he was here. She wanted to warn Beast, but fear took a hold of her, she was paralyzed.

“Here you go,” Beast said after taking the man’s cash and giving him change.

“No, it’s fine, keep it,” he told him and turned around.

The man eyed her. She was helpless, crouching a few feet away from him. She knew he saw the fear in her eyes.

“New shipment?” The man asked, Beast never stopped looking at him. Beast doesn’t know who he is.

“I—” she began saying.

“Straight from Italy,” Beast replied.

“Cool,” he said taking a sip of his coffee, “it’s great, thank you.”

Beast nodded, a smile never leaving his face.

Jena was still on the edge. Beast offered her his hand.

“You’re shaking,” he said.

“I—”

The man opened the door just as Mills came into the café.

“Hey,” Mills said, dressed as sharply as ever, wearing a suit and a tie. He looked like a hot shot lawyer from a TV show.

Tattooed guy turned to let him through and walked away into the night.

“Are you guys ready?” Mills asked, walking to the counter.

“That man…” Jena whispered, “he—”

“The one that got away,” Mills said with a smile.

“The one… You recognized him?” Jena asked.

“We never forget any face,” Beast replied, cleaning the counter.

“Can’t afford it.”

“But, isn’t it dangerous to—?”

“No,” Beast replied, “he was shitting his pants.”

“How do you know?”

Beast smiled, “he was trembling, trying hard not to speak, trying to appear normal, his whole body stiff, didn’t make eye contact. I even sold him a carrot pie, I knew he wasn’t going to say no.”

Mills laughed, “you evil motherfucker.”

“It was an easy sale—”

“But guys—”

Beast put his arm around her, “you’re safe, honey, don’t worry about it.”

“Besides, he’s out of the business now.”

She stared at Mills her eyes full of questions.

He just shrugged, “you don’t think we got to where we are just because we’re lucky, right?”

“No loose ends,” Beast said.

She was almost trembling now. She didn’t want the past to come breaking into their perfect lives.

“Are you going after him?”

“That’s in the past, babe.”

She breathed out loudly, still afraid.

“Honey,” Mills said, “have we ever lied to you?”

She shook her head.

“That man is a teacher now, after his brush with death, he changed his life for the better. He knew he wouldn’t get another chance.”

“How do you know?”

“No loose ends.”

“I thought you—”

“We never left anyone alive? We’re not monsters.”

She smiled.

“He’s doing okay, we won’t see him again. He wants to forget.”

“It’s just us now,” Beast said, “forever.”

She took a deep breath.

“Okay.”

They were telling the truth. They were different men now. They took her all over the world, showered her with gifts, and most importantly, love.

And oh my God, the love making.

It had only gotten better through the years.

The boys were insatiable. They could never get enough of her, and neither did she. It was like a mutual addiction.

The door opened again, it was the man again. He stood at the doorway, his eyes shifting around.

“Spit it out,” Mills said, completely calm.

“I just… I just wanna say—”

The words got caught up in his throat.

“Yes?” Mills followed.

“I’ve changed. I…”

He wiped tears off his eyes.

“I’ve got a wife… and two kids! Please—”

“We know, Jimmy,” Beast said, “twins.”

The man stiffened when he heard his name.

“Don’t worry. The past is the past. Have a good life.”

He nodded, looking down.

“Thanks,” he said, “thank you.”

She could see him smiling, grateful for this opportunity. The two men who destroyed the biggest mafia families in Chicago forgave him. He looked at them for the last time, gave them a nod, and walked away, his gait more relaxed. As if They lifted a huge weight off his shoulders.

“Do you want to get something for dinner?” Beast asked.

The past was gone, forever. Her men had changed, no more violence, no more hate, no more pain.

“Sure!” She replied, “What’s on your mind?”

Beast held her hand as they walked outside the shop.

“What about kebabs?” Mills asked.

Jena laughed, leaning her head on his shoulder.

“I was thinking the same thing.”