☕ Chapter 20 —THE ROAST WAR
357 Words
Redemption Roast had become a sanctuary — not just for Elias and Luciano, but for the city. Locals came for the coffee, stayed for the warmth, and whispered about the man behind the counter and the mafia boss who sometimes sat in the corner, sipping quietly.
But peace never lasts.
One morning, Elias arrived to find a new café across the street. Sleek. Sterile. All chrome and glass. A sign hung above the door: “Mancini Brew.”
Inside, baristas wore black gloves and fake smiles. The menu was eerily familiar — cinnamon-cardamom roast, Ethiopian blends, even a drink called “The Velvet Collar.”
Elias stared, heart pounding.
Luciano arrived minutes later, eyes narrowing. “They’re baiting us.”
“They stole everything,” Elias said. “Even the name.”
Luciano’s jaw clenched. “Then we fight. Not with bullets. With beans.”
Elias nodded. “Let’s roast them.”
The war began quietly. Elias crafted new blends — bold, unexpected, unforgettable. He hosted
tasting nights, poetry readings, even a “Brew and Bond” evening where couples shared stories over steaming mugs.
Luciano funded it all, but stayed in the shadows. “This is your war,” he said. “I’m just your sword.”
Mancini Brew responded with influencers, flashy ads, and discounts. But their coffee lacked soul. Elias’s café had heart — and loyalty.
One night, a food critic arrived anonymously. He tasted both. He stayed at Redemption Roast until closing.
The next morning, the review went viral:
“Redemption Roast isn’t just coffee. It’s confession. It’s courage. It’s love in a cup.”
Mancini Brew closed within weeks.
Elias stood at the window, watching workers dismantle the chrome sign. Luciano joined him, sipping a fresh roast.
“You won,” Luciano said.
Elias smiled. “We won.”
Luciano turned to him. “And now that the war is over… what do you want?”
Elias looked at him, collar gleaming in the morning light. “You. This. Us.”
Luciano kissed him — slow, certain.
And as the sun rose over Lagos, Redemption Roast brewed its finest blend yet:
Victory.
- Writer
