Page 27 of Bread in The Oven
“You miss your woman already?”He laughs as he answers.
“You’re a dick, how are things?”I laugh.
“It’s calm today, but I have a weird feeling. Like when Luciana was taken, weird feeling.”
My body tenses up when he says that.
“I’ve been feeling like that all day too. It’s her fucktard parents. They need to leave Lake Renegade, I don’t even know why they’re still here.”
“But they’ve been laying low. You think they’d really start shit?”Raziel asks.
“I do. Her father is a coward. I think he’ll try to take the girls because he thinks he can. But he won’t do it right in front of us.”
“Don’t worry, I got your girl. I just hate this feeling. and it’s not just me. Azrael, Arturo and Seamus are here too. So we have more than enough eyes in the bakery.”
“I’ll head over there when Maeve is done with classes. She was saying we need pastries.”
Raziel chuckles.“I’ll make sure they save you some.”
“Thanks. Maeve has two more classes. So maybe a couple hours. Tell Simone if she sees them, she needs to let you know.”
“Don’t worry, brother. She knows.”
When I hang up, I look around the campus. Next semester, Simone and Lucy will be attending Blue University. Lucy wants to follow Maeve and be a veterinarian. Simone was saying she might want to be a psychologist. After everything she’s been through, she wants to help others who have been through it too. I love that about her. How no matter what she’s gone through, she’s still found a way to love unconditionally. She still wants to help others. I can’t wait to see her as a mother.
I smile at Maeve as she comes out of class, one of her classmates is whispering to her and giggling. I’m used to the stares I get from them.
“How was class?” I ask her.
“It was good, I can’t wait to start my veterinarian classes. Also that girl? The one that was giggling? She likes you, she’s been watching you all semester. I told her you’re married and expecting, I’m pretty sure she’s crushed now.”
I chuckle. “Sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry, I love your story with Simone. It’s a beautiful one, and one that your children and grandchildren will love.”
“Sometimes I forget how all of you are such hopeless romantics,” I tease her.
We get to her last class of the day when my phone rings.
Simone
I don’t know what my parents are up to in Lake Renegade. From what Salvatore has told us, they’re still here. I wish they would just leave. Lucy is scared and won’t leave the property. But I refuse to let them win. So I go to work today, like every other day. We get the bakery ready and open. And like most days, we have a line waiting outside. It always makes me smile. Since my parents showed up, there are bodyguards watching each door. No one would be able to come in without them knowing.
The day goes by fast—we’re busier than usual, which I like because it means I get to see Romano sooner. I head into the back of the bakery to grab more doughnuts to put out. Something catches my eye by the back door. When my eyes finally focus on it, I see my father standing there with a gun in his hand. Seamus is lying at his feet and I can see blood seeping from his chest.
“Get the fuck over here. And do it quietly,” my father says to me.
I slowly make my way over to him, hoping that if I take a while, someone out front will notice. Because it doesn’t take that long to get doughnuts. I say a silent prayer that Seamus is still alive. I try to see if he’s breathing, but I can’t tell. When I get close enough, my father grabs my arm and yanks me to him. I try to be quiet, because I know what will happen if I make noise.Would he shoot more people? And why didn’t we hear the gun go off?
I wish Romano was here, his presence gives me strength. But at the same time, I’m glad he’s not. The crazy look in my father’s eyes tells me that he would kill anyone who tries to help me.
“Why are you doing this?” I ask him.
“Shut your mouth. You’re coming back with us and that bastard you’re carrying will be sold.”
Wait. He wants to sell my baby? Why?
“Please, just let me go. I won’t tell anyone what you’ve done.”