Chapter 14 - Choosing a New Path
On a crisp autumn afternoon, Dominic drove Sadie back to the diner where her old life had once seemed like an endless loop of misery and exhaustion. The diner was quiet, the bell above the door chiming as they stepped inside. The manager stared in absolute disbelief at the sight of the notorious mafia boss walking calmly through the seating area, carrying a heavy box of Sadie’s personal belongings left behind in the breakroom. Sadie walked up to her old counter, running her hand along the laminated surface where she had spent countless hours scrubbing grease and serving coffee. She realized she didn't belong here anymore—not because she was too good for it, but because her world had expanded into something infinitely larger. Stepping outside into the sunlight, Dominic looked down at her with a gentle, questioning warmth in his muddy brown eyes. “What’s next for you, Sadie? Do you want to go back to school? Open your own restaurant? Name your terms.” Sadie smiled, looking up at him with absolute clarity. “I don't need terms, Dominic. I just want a future where I don't have to dodge flying coffee urns.”
