29. Chapter 29
Chapter 29
Elsa
T he morning rush at Délices d'Elsa had just started to die down when the doorbell chimed. I looked up from the counter and saw Vincent stepping inside, his face set in a serious expression.
My heart sank. An arms dealer was in my place of business, and I had no clue what his intentions were. I believed Dom—I'd decided that was his name since Dean called him that—when he said Vincent was bad news. Of course, he was. No one needed that much security unless they had something to hide. Growing up around Papa and his minions, I hadn’t given it much thought before. But now, in hindsight, I could recognize what I had willfully ignored.
I always liked Vincent. But if he was dealing chemical weapons like white phosphorous, I had to do something about it, didn't I? I put a hand on my stomach, thinking of all the pregnant women in the war zones, trying to protect their babies from men who sold arms and weapons that fueled ugly wars.
"Vincent," I greeted him, trying to keep my tone light.
He approached the counter, glancing around to make sure we were alone. " There's something I need to tell you, Elsa. It's important."
I nodded and led him into the kitchen. Thierry worked only part-time, so he was already gone. It was just me and my baby with a dangerous man… alone . I suddenly wished Duncan was still in my life so I could call him.
But he didn't protect you that day, why would he protect you now?
I was on my own and that feeling hurt like nothing else ever had. I put my hand on my belly then and felt the flutter of my baby. I wasn't alone, not really. I had her .
Also, just because I’d only recently found out what Vincent did—didn’t mean he’d suddenly become dangerous. He’d always treated me well. I was being paranoid.
"What's going on?" I asked, my voice tinged with worry.
Vincent's eyes were dark with concern. "Pascal Fournier is making a move against your father. Jean-Luc is in danger but I worry that Fournier may come after you to legitimize his takeover of your father's position."
A cold tingle crawled along my back.
Pascal was ruthless, and if he was targeting Papa, there was no telling what he might do. Well, he had hinted that he was into pregnant women and widows. Merdé !
"How do you know?" I whispered, genuinely scared.
He cocked an eyebrow, and I sighed. Another man who thought he knew everything . And Vincent probably did. If he was as big a warmonger as Dom thought, then maybe he had his ears everywhere. It behooved me to listen to him.
"You need to be careful," Vincent warned. "Watch your back, and don't trust anyone, especially now."
I nodded, trying to process his words. "How about you?" I challenged.
He smiled. "Absolutely, ma chérie , especially when it concerns your safety."
"Do you deal in chemical weapons?" I asked, fully aware I was revealing that I knew more than he probably liked—putting myself in danger, isolated in my kitchen with a war criminal.
Elsa, tu es une idiote . Elsa, you're a fool!
" Non ," he said quietly.
Just that one word. No . Could I believe him? I wanted to. But I'd been wrong about Duncan; what right did I have to believe my own instincts anymore?
"I know that they think I do," Vincent said softly, smiling reassuringly at me. "But I will never ever work with chemical weapons."
I nodded. " They are determined to," I paused, unsure of how much to tell him, but something inside me convinced me I could believe Vincent, "get into your house."
He grinned. "I know."
I licked my lips.
" Ma chérie , I'm grateful that you didn't abuse your relationship with my father to help them ."
This man did know everything . I took a deep breath and closed my eyes, feeling unbearably tired.
"How's the bébé ?" Vincent asked, looking at my hands that were on my belly as if I could protect my child by merely holding on.
"Good." I smiled then.
"But you're not." He wasn't asking a question.
"I'm good too," I lied.
"Now, ma chérie , I can clearly see the dark circles around your eyes. And I know your man is drinking himself to death at the Ritz."
My shoulders slumped. "He's not my man. I don't think he ever was."
"I think he was and is. Do you want to talk about what happened between the two of you? I'm an experienced—"
I heard the chimes on the door and looked apologetically at Vincent. "I have customers."
" Oui . You take care of yourself and if you need me, ma chérie , you call me. I'm there for you."
I patted his shoulder. " Merci beaucoup , Vincent."
I kept busy for a few hours, but as soon as I had another lull at the boulangerie, I called my father. He answered on the third ring, his tone only slightly impatient.
"Elsa, ma chérie , is everything okay?"
I never called him so he knew something was up. "Papa, I've been told that Pascal is making a move against you."
There was silence for a long moment, and I wondered if he'd hung up.
" Ma chérie , listen to what your Mamman used to say and stay away from my world."
"Papa, how am I supposed to do that when you were the one who dragged me into this by telling Pascal Fournier you’d marry me off to him?" I demanded.
I could hear his frustrations through the bits and bytes of the phone line. "This not your business."
" You made it my business," I accused him, "I've been told that I'm in danger. Your grandchild may be in danger."
"That's nonsense," Papa scoffed. "No one cares about you."
"Until you put a target on my back with that reception party," I pointed out.
"Everyone understands you're off limits now. You're an Archer as well as a Moreau. You've never been safer."
"Papa, Pascal is a dangerous man."
There was a brief pause, and then he laughed a cold, dismissive sound. "Pascal? He's all bark and no bite. Don't worry about it. I've got everything under control."
"Papa, this is serious," I insisted, my voice rising with frustration. "You can't just dismiss this."
"Elsa, I don't have time for your paranoia," he snapped. "Stay out of this. It's none of your concern."
Tears of anger and helplessness welled up in my eyes. Damn pregnant hormones! "Papa, am I safe?"
"As long as you don't do something stupid," he replied coldly. "Now, I have to go. Au revoir ."
He hung up before I could say another word. I stared at the phone; disbelief and disappointment coursing through me.
When Thierry came by before closing to check on me, he noticed my distress. "What's wrong? What did that asshole do?"
"Which asshole?" I asked. "If you’re talking about my father, then you’re absolutely right."
Thierry groaned. "Jean-Luc is a puss boil on a rat's ass."
I grinned at the image. "Vincent warned me that Pascal Fournier is planning something against Papa and that I might be in danger. But Papa told me not to worry and that this wasn't my business."
Thierry's eyes hardened. "Like I said, Jean-Luc is lower than a worm. But I agree with him; you have nothing to worry about."
"Really?" I had my hands on my hips.
"Pascal would be a fool to come after you now that he knows you're an Archer. As Jean-Luc's daughter, you were already off limits, now even more so."
I wasn't certain, but the fact that Thierry was so sure of my baby's safety did make me feel better. What would have felt even better, I knew, was talking to Duncan about it. When had he become the one who made me feel safe?
Seeing me look forlorn, Thierry wrapped me in a comforting hug.
"It's going to be okay, Els."
I leaned into him, soaking in as much comfort as I could.