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"It means that he's going to find a different way to live his life. He has enough money, Elsa. And if he needs more, I'll take care of it."
I shifted, feeling uneasy, and then sat up. Duncan moved to rest against the headboard. "Baby?"
"I get why you wanted Pascal out, but Papa?"
"As long as he's involved with the mob, you're not safe. I can't have you live like that. I can't have our children live like that.Ican't live like that."
I stared at him.
"You made my father retire to protect me?"
"You, our baby, us." He watched me intently, and I knew he wasn't sure where I was at.
I flung myself at him; big belly and all. I kissed his face, every inch of skin I could reach.
He laughed. "Well, that wasn't the response I expected."
"Do you know how all my life I've wished he'd give it all up so I didn't have to worry about every person who walked into the bakery being interested in him and wanting to get to him through me?" I felt something loosen inside me.
This wastruerelief and freedom.
"This means that Vincent Arsenault takes over for your father."
I shrugged. "Don't care. As long as it isn't Papa. Mamman was always frightened. I knew she worried all the time. And, you know, Papa, he dismisses whatever I have to say. He did the same with Mamman. After she was gone, suddenly, Thierry was in my life, and I started to feel a little safe. Butnot really, because it's not like he can be with all the time."
I had lived in fear my whole life, and I knew it wouldn't change right away. Papa still had enemies, and there was a chance they'd come after me, but I was now with Duncan Archer, and the one thing I knew for certain in my heart was that he was all the protection I needed.
Any doubts I had about him using me again or our child disappeared. "If I just hadn't fucked your brains out, I'd do it again," I said, laughing out loud.
"Hey, I'm game if you are." Duncan looked at me with such love that I was surprised that I had ever doubted him.
"I need some sleep. Well, I first need to go to the bathroom because your daughter just kicked my bladder, andthenI need some sleep." I reluctantly extricated myself from Duncan.
I fell asleep that night with a smile on my face, happy to be my father's daughter for the first timeever.
My father, however, wasn't happy, which I found out when he came to see me at the bakery while I was arranging the display case.
"Papa," I greeted, my voice tinged with surprise. "Bonjour. I have some freshpain au chocolat."
He nodded. "And acafé au lait, s'il vous plaît."
I called Lisett out from the kitchen to man the counter and sat down with Papa at a corner table. Duncan had just stepped out into the kitchen to take a phone call, but I knew that there were two men constantly guarding the bakery, allowing my husband to not worry about my safety.
Duncan had promised that he'd pull the security guards once he was confident I was safe. He understood that being guarded all the time, increased my sense of disquiet, even if it did make me safer.
Papa broke a piece of the chocolate croissant and ate it. "You always were an amazing baker,ma chérie."
"Merci beaucoup, Papa."
He took a sip of coffee and then blew out a breath. "Elsa, I've decided to retire."
I tried to look shocked. "Oh là là, vraiment?"Wow, really?
He looked down at his hands, a rare moment of vulnerability crossing his features. "It was time."
I nodded thoughtfully.Oh, Papa, can't you just admit you're being pushed out?But I knew he never would. He was a strong man, and he would never show himself as so weak that Vincent could blackmail him into losing his empire.
"I understand."
