Conman

Epilogue: Endgame

The crisp morning air filled the room as Monty stood by the window, gazing out over the expansive gardens of Mr. Archer's mansion. The sun was just beginning to rise, casting a soft golden glow over the landscape. It had been months since he had walked away from his life as a detective, months since he had chosen a different path—one that he hoped would balance the scales of his father's wrongdoings.

The decision hadn't been easy. When Beau had challenged him, asking if he truly believed that bringing them to justice would change the world, Monty had been forced to confront the harsh reality. Beau was right. The system was far from perfect, and the rot went much deeper than just a few conmen. But Monty couldn't ignore his principles. He had always believed in justice, in doing the right thing, even when the world seemed to conspire against him.

He glanced over his shoulder at the sound of soft footsteps. Beau entered the room, his expression calm but laced with the weight of everything they had been through. He was dressed casually, his shirt sleeves rolled up as if ready to tackle the day ahead. The tension between them had eased in the months since the revelations, but the shadows of their past still lingered, unspoken yet ever-present.

"Thinking again?" Beau asked, his voice gentle as he approached.

Monty nodded, offering a small smile. "Always. It's hard to turn it off."

Beau leaned against the windowsill, his gaze following Monty's out over the gardens. "You did the right thing, you know. With the money. Those kids... you're giving them a chance. A real chance."

Monty exhaled slowly, his shoulders relaxing. "I hope so. It feels like the least I can do."

Beau turned to him, his expression softening. "You've done more than enough, Monty. You've always been someone who fights for what's right, even when it's messy. I admire that.

Monty chuckled, shaking his head. "And here I was, thinking you'd never approve of my decisions."

Beau's smile was small but genuine. "I've always approved of you, Monty. Even when we were on opposite sides, I respected your convictions."

The room fell into a comfortable silence, the kind that came with understanding and acceptance. But just as Monty began to feel the calm settle over him, his phone buzzed on the table. He picked it up, frowning as he read the message.

"It's from the prison," Monty said quietly. "Aria... she's asking to see me."

Beau's eyes darkened slightly, but he nodded. "Are you going to go?"

Monty hesitated for a moment before replying. "Yes. I think I owe her that much."

The prison was cold, sterile. Monty walked through the narrow corridors with a sense of unease, his mind racing as he approached the visitation room. Aria had been convicted for her involvement in the disappearance and death of the teenage girl, and Jax and Leo had been charged as accessories. The trio had once been a tight-knit unit, bound by shared secrets and a life of deception. Now, they were all paying the price.

When Monty entered the room, he found Aria seated at the table, her once-vibrant features now dulled by the harsh reality of prison life. Her eyes, however, were still sharp, still defiant.

"Monty," she greeted, her voice colder than he remembered. "I didn't think you'd actually come."

Monty took a seat across from her, searching her face for any sign of remorse. "Why did you want to see me, Aria?"

She leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms. "I've been thinking... about everything. About how it all ended. You got your justice, didn't you? You and Beau, living in that mansion, while we rot in here."

Monty shook his head, his tone firm. "This isn't about justice, Aria. It's about consequences. We all made choices, and we have to live with them."

Aria's lips twisted into a bitter smile. "You're still the same, Monty. Always trying to be the hero. But what if I told you... that there's more to this story? That Mr. Archer wasn't the only one pulling the strings?"

Monty's eyes narrowed. "What are you talking about?"

She leaned forward, her voice dropping to a whisper. "There's someone else out there, Monty. Someone bigger than all of us. Jax, Leo, and I... we were just pawns in a much larger game. And that game isn't over."

Monty's pulse quickened, a familiar sense of dread creeping up his spine. "Who?"

Aria's smile widened, but there was no warmth in it. "You'll find out soon enough. But be careful, Monty. Not everything is as it seems."

Back at the mansion, Monty relayed Aria's cryptic message to Beau. They sat together in the dimly lit study, the weight of Aria's words hanging between them.

"Do you think she's telling the truth?" Beau asked, his brow furrowed in thought.

Monty sighed, rubbing his temples. "I don't know. But something about the way she said it... it felt real. Like there's more we don't know."

Beau was silent for a moment, then he reached out, placing a hand on Monty's shoulder. "Whatever it is, we'll face it together. We've come this far—we're not backing down now."

Monty looked into Beau's eyes, finding the strength he needed in the depths of his partner's unwavering gaze. "You're right. We'll get to the bottom of this. But no matter what happens, Beau... I don't want us to lose what we have. Not again."

Beau's expression softened, and he pulled Monty into a tight embrace. "We won't, Monty. I promise you, we won't."

As they held each other, the world outside continued to turn, full of uncertainty and danger. But in that moment, Monty and Beau found solace in the one thing they knew for sure—each other.

Across town, in a secluded warehouse, a figure sat in the shadows, watching a row of monitors displaying live feeds of various locations. The figure's face was obscured, but his presence was commanding, exuding an aura of power and control.

One of the monitors showed the entrance to Mr. Archer's mansion, the camera zooming in on Monty and Beau as they stood together in the study.

"Let the game continue," the figure muttered, a slow smile spreading across their lips. "It's only just begun."

The screen flickered, the image dissolving into static before the monitor went dark.

Love lives on.

***

Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. The views and opinions expressed in this work are solely those of the author.