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“A lot of things need to be fixed,” said Sebastian. “And they will be. Rest assured, everything my son did will be undone. And then some.”
He leaned in and said something to the Colonel, who smiled. The man patted him back on the shoulder in an oddly familiar way only the oldest of friends could know.
“Now, if you’ll please excuse a couple of old soldiers,” Sebastian said politely, “we’re about to launch an assault on the bar.”
I laughed, sweeping one arm at the array of colorful bottles. “Be careful, sirs. You’re outnumbered.”
“Wouldn’t be the first time,” Bosche winked, as they turned away.
Epilogue
JENNA
It was one thing to set up your ex almost-father-in-law with a well-placed phone call, but that’s exactly what I’d done. It had taken some work, some research, and the cashing in of a few old favors. Not to mention the implied good-will of an old connection we apparently shared.
Still, I made it happen.
Getting Luca’s ex-commanding officer to Montana had been a bit trickier, but no less important. The difference was, Luca didn’t have to cash in any favors. The Colonel respected him enough to have traveled anywhere on the planet he might’ve been needed, which spoke volumes about faith, loyalty, and the kind of soldier Luca had ultimately been.
We’d left the restaurant shortly after Elijah had, although we never ran into him. And that was a good thing, because I’m not sure he would’ve made it home. Watching my three paramours beat my sadistic asshole of an ex-boyfriend into a bloody pulp might’ve been enormously satisfying, but it also went against everything we’d just accomplished:
We’d beaten Elijahwithouthaving to beat him.
Instead, the guys took me to another restaurant to alleviate our hunger, before whisking me back to the house to satisfyothermore primal needs as well. Across the entirety of the house they made love to me in spectacular fashion, dragging me from bed to bed until I was swollen, dripping, and satisfied beyond my wildest dreams.
And my dreams, I had to admit, had been pretty fucking wild lately.
The next day dawned bright and brilliant with a clear blue sky; perhaps symbolic of what came next. Because after Sebastian Strong and Colonel Bosche spent a heartfelt reunion trading war stories and drinking their faces off? Things happened fast after that.
Realfast.
It took only two days before news came that the restaurant could open again, with every town inspector’s blessing. Aegean’s third unofficial grand opening was received by so many people the takeout lines formed waiting groups in the parking lot. Pop-ups were set up that offered hot chocolate and free coffee, while the tables themselves were so packed that not one was ever empty.
A good part of the rush was made up of curious customers returning to find out what had happened. But the rest was due to an ad campaign run invisibly in the background. Sebastian Strong had paid some marketing firm to create a multi-pronged ad-blitz, as one way of apologizing for his son’s behavior. It sent people from all walks of life straight to the restaurant, and ensured Aegean would be mobbed straight through Christmas and into the new year.
But that wasn’t all. In fact, not even close.
For one, Luca’s permit problems disappeared practically overnight. The stop work order was immediately lifted, and the general contractor he’d hired showed up with so many subs the next day the property resembled one of those 24-hour home makeover reality shows. There were landscapers and masonry workers, sculpting the property and walkways front to back. More carpenters than you could assign work to. More roofers than were necessary. Everything got done andthensome, over the course of just a few days. Painters came in to finish out every room of the house. A kitchen designer drew up plans for the most gorgeous cabinets and countertops, which arrived in record time along with high-end stainless steel appliances that must’ve cost a small fortune.
All of it was courtesy of Sebastian Strong, of course. A man who didn’t know the meaning of small when it came to fortunes.
Best of all, Elijah was no more. His house was emptied the very next day, the exotic cars in the driveway towed to who the hell knew where. The FOR SALE sign went up a day or two later. Passing it every day was the sweetest part of my ride home.
Finally, it wasn’t until January that the lawyers arrived with a ton of unexpected paperwork. They sat down at our new kitchen table and filled it with folders and official-looking documents, all of which Tyler spent hours signing and co-signing.
As it turned out, Sebastian Strong hadn’t just given Tyler his business back to him. He’d given him the building too, eliminating the overhead burden of ever having to pay rent again.
And Tyler didn’t just own the restaurant, either.
Thanks to Elijah trying to screw us over, he now owned the whole damn strip mall.
“This is nuts…” Tyler murmured, as the lawyers finally left. “I still can’t believe it.”
He was still staring down at the closing papers, not fully comprehending what just happened.
“What’s so hard to understand?” Jay smiled, popping the cork from a bottle of wine. “You’re the boss now.”
“He was always the boss,” I elbowed Jay.
