Epilogue

EPILOGUE

TYSHAWN

Three months later…

The suit is hot, and we've been standing at the head of the church for what feels like forever, but both Sam and Beth look radiant. I'm able to look past my discomfort for their day of happiness.

I took care of all the best man stuff, but luckily, Sam didn't want a regular bachelor party. Instead, me, Sam, and a few of our friends from Corpin got together and had a night of light drinking and games. It was way better than sweaty people dancing on us and getting shitfaced just for the sake of it. Sam liked it better than dancers, that's for sure.

Scanning the crowd in the church, my eyes snag on Leo, and I smile. He grins back, his dimples showing as he basically undresses me with his eyes.

Before I got to the church, I had to beg Leo not to try to blow me when he saw me in my suit. His hands were fast and nimble as he undid the buttons on my shirt. I had to follow right behind his fingers to redo them, dancing out of his grasp. The only reason he left me alone was because I told him I'd go to the wedding by myself if he kept it up. His growl of displeasure almost had me stripping my clothes off instead of running away. But I had my duty as the best man to uphold.

The pastor snaps me out of my impure thoughts when he asks, "Can we have the rings?"

Quickly, I stuff my hand in my pocket and pull out the ring that Sam had made for Beth. It's nice, three lab-created diamond stones gleaming in a platinum band.

Sam smiles broadly at me, taking the ring from my hand with a pat on my shoulder. Beth's hand shakes as he slides the ring on her finger, her face open in a smile so wide it takes over her face. She's stunning in an off-white strapless mermaid gown with buttons down the back. The tiara that adorns her updo complements her perfectly, making her look like a princess.

After they recite their vows, the pastor announces, "I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride."

They come together, kissing sweetly, looking at each other with all the love they have evident on their faces. The church full of their loved ones erupts in applause and hand in hand, Sam and Beth walk down the aisle together, smiling and waving at those assembled.

We have a good time at the reception. After I give my best man speech, I spend the rest of the time sitting with Leo and people-watching. I get in one dance with Beth before she and Sam decide it's time to leave for their honeymoon.

Their exit couldn't have come fast enough. I think I'm all peopled out.

Right after the happy couple leaves the reception hall, Leo and I take our leave. My phone rings just as I'm getting into the passenger seat. When I'm settled in, I pull it from my pocket and smile when I see Dad's picture on my screen.

Since we went to visit my father all those months ago, Leo and I have been back at least once a month. It's been great seeing him so often. He's always happy we're there, going through a lot of trouble to make us dinner, though he's only fired up the grill one more time since my first visit. It's getting too hot in North Carolina to stand over a grill, he said when Leo asked.

Cynthia has come by every time we've visited. She's a nice, gentle woman—I can see why my father fell for her. I initially loathed to admit it, but my mom would have liked her if they'd met. She treats my father well, and she's welcoming to me and Leo every time we come over.

The wrongful death suit my father filed against the big car manufacturer got about one hundred more plaintiffs, which didn't look good for them if they went to trial, so they settled out of court, awarding each plaintiff between two hundred thousand to two point five million dollars. My father tried to offer me some of the money to get Tessa's up and running, but I told him about the plan to combine it with Leo's coffee shop. Since I didn't need the money for the bakery, he bought me a new car and told me not to complain.

Smiling, I answer the phone, his handsome face popping up on FaceTime. "Hey, Dad."

"Hey, Ty. You look nice. Sam's wedding was today, right?"

"Yep. We're just leaving now. It was really beautiful."

"Tell him congratulations for me, will ya?" my dad says. I nod. "I was calling to see if you'll be back next month. It's Tessa's birthday, and I wanted to know if you'd like to celebrate it here with us."

I raise an eyebrow. "Us? Cynthia too?"

Dad smiles. "It was her idea. I planned to visit Tessa's grave and leave her some flowers, but Cynthia suggested we have dinner to celebrate her life."

Yeah, my mother definitely would have liked her.

Fighting back tears, I say, "Yeah, Dad. We'll be there."

"Great. We'll be at Tessa's favorite Greek restaurant on her birthday at eight o'clock. How does that sound?"

"Sounds perfect. I'll see you then."

"See ya. Tell Leo I said hello."

Leo pipes up as he starts the car. "Hey, Jermaine. I'll see you soon."

I hang up and place my hand on Leo's thigh, his quads feeling hard and tight. Someone has been killing it at the gym lately. "What did you think about the ceremony?"

Leo shrugs. "It was nice. I've never been to a wedding before, so I didn't know what to expect."

Even almost eight months after we met, it's strange to realize Leo didn't have a normal life. He didn't really have friends until he moved here and met June from what he told me. It makes sense that he's never been to a wedding.

"That's pretty much what all weddings I've been to are like. Sam and Beth kept it simple, which is great."

We slip into silence as we pull up to the condo so we can get changed. The suit is nice, but I'm not used to wearing one, and the shirt is pinching at my throat.

Leo pulls me against his body, kissing down my neck. "After you change, we need to stop by the coffee shop and bakery. Then I have a surprise for you."

I'm confused, since he was so intent on getting my clothes off before we went to the wedding, but now he wants us to leave? What is he up to?

I don't question him though—I just take a quick shower, since I was sweating under those lights, and step into the bedroom. Leo has a pair of black joggers and a black T-shirt laid out for me.

Again, I don't ask questions. When I'm dressed, I meet Leo in the living room, and we head to the bakery.

Tessa and Ray's Bakery and Beanery has been busy since we opened our doors three months ago. After I hired a few recent graduates from the local culinary school, we hit the ground running. It took them no time to learn and memorize my recipes and get them displayed in their cases.

June suggested we hold a grand opening, which built up a lot of buzz for the desserts I baked. On opening day, the line was almost out the door. I had to step into the back a few times so I could cry in private, knowing people were loving the recipes my mother and I perfected.

Word got out about my recipes statewide, so much so that I had to build a website so I could ship orders. Even though it's only about a month old, it's doing well, giving me another avenue to have people tasting our food. I thought it would be hard to have an online presence, but with the help of the two bakers I work with, it's been easy, and we've been busy on that front too.

The regulars at Ray's already loved what was on the menu initially, but they went crazy the first week I baked the pirog. I had so many requests for it that I made it a permanent part of my menu. I still get teary eyes when I see it listed on the product board. He probably wouldn't say it, but if Ivan was around, I think he'd be proud.

Even though I only knew Ivan for a matter of months, I still think about him often. Our conversations in his last days were a comfort for me. The situation wasn't the same, but being there for him gave me closure for my mom's death. I wished I was there with her in her last days, but that wasn't to be since she never regained consciousness after her accident. Being there for Ivan and taking care of him healed some part of me, even though his death broke my heart.

I find myself smiling whenever I see the butterfly knife on my nightstand.

Every time we go to the cabin, I think about Ivan and how he would regale me with tales of Russia and how he grew up. Ivan lived an interesting life. If I was an author, I would have loads to write about him, though it would have to be marketed as fiction. No one would believe half the shit he told me, but he wasn't lying. I even heard about a few high-profile kills on the news he told me about, namely a prime minister being shot and killed about fifteen years ago that is still unsolved.

I'll miss our talks for sure, but it opened the door for Leo to tell me about some of the kills he and Ivan did together. His story about he and Ivan sniping a group of sex traffickers before any of them knew what was happening was riveting. They worked together so seamlessly when they killed the couple in London, which spoke to their ease with being partners.

Though he doesn't admit it, I know Leo misses Ivan too. One day when I asked if he wanted to take a case alone, he said he was waiting to see what Ivan had for him, then got quiet, a tight expression on his face. He may not feel normal emotions, but I know Ivan's death is still fucking with him. Leo misses the old man exponentially more than I do. All I can do is be there for him.

Blu and June come to listen to some of the stories too, both of them as riveted I am.

Over the past few months, June and I have gotten closer, texting and calling each other often when he isn't in our condo or I'm not up at theirs. We spend a lot of time baking and talking. June is now a professional at making the red velvet cupcakes and the homemade icing.

"You need to stop feeding me, or I'm going to have to buy new clothes," he told me a few days ago.

I chuckled, sliding the cookies into the oven for Blu. "You can always join me and Leo at the gym."

"Ugh, no. Blu already makes me run on the treadmill. That's good enough."

I smile as I pull on my pants. They're a little snug around my waist, but I'm not sure if it's because we've been in the gym and gaining muscle or because the calories have been getting to me. I tell myself I'm going to stop making as many sweets on my off time. Blu will have to come into the coffee shop to get his cookie fix.

Stopping in front of him, I hug Leo around the middle. "Okay, I'm dressed. What now?"

"To the coffee shop, then to your surprise."

"What's the occasion for this surprise?" I ask, looking out of the window of the car, watching the world pass me by. Since Ivan died, I've been trying to enjoy the little things more.

"It's because I love you. Does there need to be another reason?" he asks with a wry smile.

"That's a good enough reason for me, baby."

Leo only stops at Tessa and Ray's for a moment, tacking up the new schedule since they like to have a printed copy after sending out the electronic one. It's Leo's week to oversee the day-to-day stuff with the bakery and coffee shop, so he has to be on it.

Once that's done, he takes me to the abandoned building I was looking at to start Tessa's, and I bounce in my seat with excitement. He must have vetted someone that needs to be off the streets, and I'm more than ready for it. On a whim, I slid Ivan's knife in my pocket before we left the condo, and now I'm glad I did. Tonight is the night I use it on someone.

Leo helps me out of the car, dragging me to the door. "Remember that case you were ranting about two months ago? That guy who killed his family and was let off due to lack of evidence?"

A flash of anger overtakes me, and I fist my hands at my side to stop them from shaking. Joey Wells. Killed his wife and three kids and confessed to the crime but recanted when he got to trial. Then his confession was inadmissible anyway because he wasn't read his Miranda rights. There was no evidence against him other than his confession, but we hacked into the police department's server and read it. There's no way he wasn't guilty.

But the jury couldn't see what we saw, and they let him walk. We won't make that same mistake.

"I remember," I say through gritted teeth as we step into the building.

Leo makes a sweeping motion when we step into the break room that I saw him when he killed that child molester. Zip-tied to a chair is fucking Joey Wells.

Smiling, I walk over to him, looking at his slack face. "How did you get him here? We were at the wedding all day."

"June and Blu. They left only a few minutes ago. This one is all yours."

I'm surprised they didn't stay. June and I have been vetting a few people that we want our psychopaths to kill, Joey being one of them. I guess since this is my surprise from Leo, they'll just join us on the next one.

"You're not going to start with torture?"

Leo shakes his head, picking up a black bag and dropping it at my feet. My kill kit. "Nope. This one is yours. Me and Ivan taught you all we know. Now you get to use that knowledge." He bends down and kisses me lightly. "You can do it, kotenok."

I wrap my arms around his neck and kiss him deeply, stroking my tongue over his. I can't wait to get him home. Leo palms my ass, pulling me against him, his hard cock poking my belly. Looks like Leo feels the same. My hand drifts down to his dick, rubbing over the material. "When we get home and out of the shower, I want your dick in me. Understand?"

Leo smiles, kissing me hard. "Go on, kotenok," he mutters against my mouth. "Let me watch you work."

With one more kiss, I turn to Joey, who's just coming to, his breathing changing as he raises his head slowly.

Standing in front of him, I smile and reach into my pocket. Joey's eyes widen when I flick the butterfly knife open.

"Hey Joey," I say as he gazes at me, chest heaving and eyes peeled wide. "Let's begin."

THE END