Chapter 18 - A Quiet Coffee
It was a Sunday morning, and the bakery was closed to the public. Elena was wiping down the espresso machine when Vincent walked in. He came alone these days, leaving Marco to enjoy his weekends.
"Espresso, Vincent?" Elena asked, already reaching for a cup.
"Please, Elena," he replied, taking a seat at a small corner table.
She brought him his coffee and sat across from him. They sat in comfortable silence for a moment, listening to the hum of the refrigerators.
"She's doing incredible work at the firm," Vincent said softly. "She's cleaning up my messes faster than I can make them. She is a formidable woman, Elena. You raised her well."
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"We raised her," Elena corrected gently. "You gave us the ground to stand on, Vincent. You gave us a life."
Vincent looked down at his coffee, his weathered hands wrapping around the warm ceramic. "In my life, I have done many dark things. But protecting the two of you... it is the only thing I am truly proud of."
