Chapter 23 - The Longest Night
Back at the cafe, Sadi paced the wooden floorboards, her heart trapped in a relentless rhythm of terror and hope. Every shadow cast by the streetlamps outside looked like a harbinger of doom. Tommy sat quietly in the corner, offering quiet words of reassurance that fell on deaf ears.
At precisely 2:00 AM, the familiar low rumble of a car engine echoed outside.
Sadi rushed to the front door, throwing it open just as the heavy rain tapered off into a fine mist. Vincent stepped out from the shadows of the alley. His coat was damp, his knuckles bruised, but his dark eyes were clear, bright, and completely free of the burdens that had haunted him for a lifetime.
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Without a single word, Sadi ran down the steps and threw her arms around his neck, burying her face in his chest as hot tears of pure relief soaked through his shirt.
Vincent wrapped his strong arms securely around her waist, lifting her slightly as he buried his face in her hair. "It's over, Sadi," he murmured, his voice thick with emotion. "The ledger is clean. For good."
