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"Chérie, please listen to me." Jules' voice breaks through the haze of anger and fear. He stands before me, his eyes filled with concern. "I know what you said, but I can’t accept it. Come away with me. You can leave all this behind."
"Uncle, I..." My voice trembles, torn between loyalty and love. This is my home, my history – how can I just abandon it all?
"Your safety is more important than any of this," he insists, gripping my shoulders tightly. "Marcel won't stop until he gets his revenge. Do you understand?"
I nod, but my heart aches at the thought of leaving those I love behind. Etienne, always so strong and steady, yet struggling with the weight of his family legacy. And Bastien, my fierce protector, who would do anything to keep me safe.
"Think of what your mother would want for you," Jules implores, his voice gentle. The memory of her laughter, her love, is bittersweet – but it strengthens my resolve. His voice turns bitter. “Your aunt would want you to stay, and look where that got her.”
I shut my eyes. My aunt had been stubborn too, refusing to leave when a war got hot. The same gang war that killed Marcel Laurent’s parents killed her, leaving my dear cousin Simone without a mother and me with no one but the uncle standing before me pleading for me to leave. I thought that keeping this bakery open was a testament to her memory, but what if I’m wrong?
"Fine," I whisper, my voice barely audible. "I will go."
Jules pulls me close, his embrace filled with relief and sorrow. "It won't be forever, Lisette. I promise."
As we break apart, my gaze drifts to the city beyond my doorstep. The vibrant colors, the intoxicating scents and sounds of New Orleans – they're a part of me. But life has thrown me into a world of darkness, and I must choose between love and survival.
"Let's go, then," I say, turning to face Jules. "Before it's too late."
The shop door swings open, a chorus of bells announcing the arrival of Bastien and Etienne. Their eyes dart between Jules and me, honing in on the tension that hangs heavy in the air.
"Is everything alright?" Bastien's voice is strung with concern as he takes a step toward me.
"Marcel sent a note," I murmur, clutching it tightly in my hand. "He's after me."
"Mon Dieu," Etienne breathes, his gaze hardening. "This ends now."
"Over my dead body will that man lay a finger on you, Lisette," Bastien swears, his fists clenched at his sides. "You have my word."
"Perhaps leaving would be your best chance at safety," Etienne suggests, his voice measured but insistent. "There's too much risk staying here."
"Are you serious, Etienne?" Bastien's voice rises, anger simmering beneath the surface. "You want her gone?"
"Of course not!" Etienne snaps, his eyes flashing. "But I want her safe more than anything. Can't you see that?"
"Enough!" My words cut through the tense exchange like a knife, silencing both men. My heart races, caught in the crossfire of their heated words.
"Listen to me," I say, my voice quivering with emotion. "This... this is my choice. And right now, I don't know what I want."
Bastien and Etienne exchange wary glances, neither willing to back down. I can feel the weight of their loyalty, their love for me, pressing down upon my chest until it's hard to breathe.
"Let me think," I plead, tears pricking at the corners of my eyes. "Please, just give me time."
They nod silently – Bastien's face etched with worry, Etienne's with grim determination – and turn to leave the shop. As the door closes behind them, I'm left standing in a whirlwind of emotions, my heart torn between two men who would risk it all for me.
I look down at the note again, Marcel's taunts leering up at me from the page. Darkness threatens to consume me, but I refuse to let it win. Whatever choice I make, I'll face it head-on, with every ounce of strength I possess.
The door clicks shut behind Bastien and Etienne, leaving me in the dim light of my shop, alone but for the ghostly presence of my own thoughts. Jules steps out from the shadows, his eyes soft with concern as they search my face.
"Your mother," he begins gently, "would want you safe and happy, Lisette."
His words wrap around my heart like a vine, tender and persistent. I know he speaks the truth – my mother would wish nothing more than for me to be free from danger, from the treacherous grasp of the mafia that surrounds us. But is that life attainable? Can happiness ever truly bloom in the blood-soaked soil of New Orleans?
"Perhaps," I whisper, staring down at the cold floor, "but I need guidance. I must speak with her."
Jules nods solemnly, understanding the depth of my need. "Go then, chérie. Find your answers."
I leave the shop, the heavy door creaking behind me, and step into the damp embrace of the city. Shadows stretch across the cobblestone streets as I make my way to the cemetery—hallowed ground where my mother rests beneath a veil of ivy.
