Ch. 166..170: Fall For My Ex’s Mafia Dad Chapter 166-170

Chapter 166

"Hey, kid."

I open my eyes when I hear Daniel's soft voice behind me. Slowly I turn and look at him.

"You all right?"

I don't answer his question. Instead, I keep my face impassive, forcing myself to move on, wanting desperately to do something. So, I act. "Call the lawyer," I say, pulling myself up straight with an effort and uncrossing my arms. "What?" he asks, confused.

"Ivan said Kent's bail - or lack thereof - has been determined," I explain, looking at him seriously. "Maybe Jerome's has too. We can at least do that."

"Fay," Daniel says, turning his head the side, his face dropping with sorrow. "We don't need to do that now - we can -"

"We need to do something now, Daniel," I snap, looking at him a little desperately. "Or else I'm going to go insane. Okay? So - can you please just go call the lawyers?"

Slowly, Daniel nods to me, agreeing. "What are you going to do?"

"I'm going to get changed," I murmur, looking down at the pink pajamas Janeen brought me from our old house. I just feel too...silly, and sweet, and girly in them. I need to feel... Well, if I'm going to take charge, and do something? I need to feel like a boss.

Without another word, I walk away to my room and close the door behind me, wanting to be alone.

About half an hour later, Janeen, Daniel and I are again gathered on the back deck. I'm showered and dressed more somberly now - though by no means formally - in jeans and a black top. I make a mental note to order some serious clothes online and get them rushed to the house.

My dad watches us anxiously from the kitchen, but he again lets us have our space. Janeen stares down at the table now, worried, and I wonder if she's starting to take this seriously. But I don't have time to wonder too much before Daniel walks over to us, hanging up his phone and tossing it onto the table.

"Well?" Janeen asks, looking up at him. "What's the deal with your boy, Jeremy?"

"Jerome," Daniel corrects passively. "He's got a bail of 25k."

"Ohhh, that's a lot," Janeen says, one of her classic grins starting to stretch over her face as she works pretty hard to lighten the mood. "He must be big time."

Daniel flashes her a look and shakes his head a little.

"Jerome's low level," I inform her as Daniel sits down at the table with us, pulling Janeen's laptop over to him and beginning to type.

"Oh," Janeen says, surprised. "Then he must be hot."

I look up then, wanting to see how Daniel reacts, but he keeps his face totally impassive, ignoring her. Janeen turns to me and I can't help smiling and giving a little shrug, confirming her suspicions. And I honestly do feel a little lighter as Janeen throws her head back, laughing at her suspicions proved correct.

I shake my head at her, grateful again for her sense of humor.

Daniel smirks as well but doesn't say a word. Then he blinks at the screen, sitting back in his chair with a surprised look on his face.

"What are you doing?" I ask, leaning forward towards him.

"I'm checking our bank accounts," Daniel says, still staring at the screen and clicking around, "which is what I was doing before someone interrupted. I want to see if we have enough money to get Jerome out at least."

I nod, understanding and intrigued.

"And?" Janeen asks, leaning eagerly forward. "Do you?"

"Well," Daniel replies, still staring at the screen but scratching his head. "I've got about a million," Daniel says, at which Janeen lifts her hands in the air and whoops for joy. My eyes go wide at the sum - I mean, I know I've been living in the house of a multi- millionaire for months, but we didn't have much to spare growing up, so that number just sounds exorbitant to me.

"But Fay here," Daniel continues, pitching his voice loud to carry over Janeen's celebration. She goes eagerly quiet as his eyes lock on mine. "Has about four times that much."

My face goes pale as Janeen gasps and spins eagerly to me. "Fay!" she shouts, shoving me on the shoulder. "You're like, rich rich! What did you do?"

"Seriously, Fay," Daniel says, smirking and leaning back in his chair, draping an arm over the back of it. "What did you do."

I hold his gaze for a minute, shaking my head slowly back and forth. "Seriously, Daniel?" I say, pitching my voice lower so he understands precisely what I mean. "Do you really want to know?"

Daniel sticks his tongue out then, pretending to gag, and Janeen throws her head back, laughing even harder now, which makes me smile.

However, my joy is short lived.

Because we have just...so much to do. And so much to decide.

"Well, Fay? Daniel?" Janeen asks, stretching her arms above her head. "What do you want to do now?"

"The million-dollar question," Daniel sighs, slumping back and staring down at the table. "Or, the five-million dollar one, really."

Janeen ignores him, turning her eyes to me. Somehow, she's intuiting that this decision is in my hands, not his. I'm a little annoyed by it - it's Daniel's dad, after all, who we're talking about here. How has this fallen into my lap?

But then, as I look down at my lap, I remember the baby. And I grimace, realizing that this is...as much my problem as his, now. If I want it to be.

"Daniel," I say quietly. "What do you want to do?"

"Honestly, Fay?" he responds, looking up at me with sad eyes. "I think we should run."

My mouth drops open a bit, and so does Janeen's. It is...the last thing that I expected to hear from him.

"I mean, wasn't that always the plan?" Daniel asks, leaning forward with a beseeching expression. "Before things...started, between you and my dad - we were always planning to run to Europe, to get away from all of this mess."

I cross my arms then, frowning at him, because he knows - he knows things have changed for me now.

Daniel sighs, seeing that I disagree, but he doesn't give up just yet. "It's what he'd want, Fay," he says softly, leaning back in his chair and holding my gaze seriously.

"Is it?" I ask, truly curious.

"If he knew that he was totally screwed? That if, as Ivan suggests, he's just never getting out of there - that the city, and the state, and probably the nation is determined to make a martyr of him in the name of a strike against organized crime?" Slowly, Daniel swings his head back and forth. "He wouldn't want us caught up in it. He would take the hit for us - for me, for you, for..." he sighs, and looks down at my stomach.

And then I look down at my stomach too, wondering...

God, wondering what the hell is actually best for my kid.

My kid.

I grit my teeth, closing my eyes and fighting the insane string of emotions that run through me in the moment as I consider, for the first time, that this pregnancy that is scaring the hell out of me is going to potentially result in a child, which is going to have needs, and that I have to think about the baby as well now -

But. I work hard to slam the brakes on the string of fear, and horror, and anxiety, and...and maybe excitement? That starts to flood my veins.

Because I have things to do things to put into motion before I let myself have a nice long breakdown over this.

"What do you want to do, Fay?" Janeen asks quietly, and I open my eyes and look at her, solemn.

But even though I know that I shouldn't know, that I should - like Daniel - be considering what is practical and logical...

I've already decided.

I decided hours ago - I don't know precisely when. But for me? There's only one real option.

"Call the lawyers, Daniel," I say, sighing and looking over the table at him. "Have them process the bail for Jerome. Go and get your boy."

Daniel's mouth drops open at this as I lean back against the cushion of my chair. "Seriously, Fay? That's your priority right now?"

"I need my team," I say, giving a little shrug. "And we both know that Jerome is...scrappier than we are. He has a set of knowledge that we're going to need."

"Need?" Janeen asks, curious.

"Yes," I say, looking between the two of them. "Daniel and I are smart, and we can study and talk to the lawyers. But Jerome is useful in other ways - you'll see, Janeen," I say, smiling at her. "You'll like him. But yes, we're going to need him if we're going to get Kent out."

Both stare at me for a long moment and I look softly down at the table.

But for once, I am not shy or demure.

I am just determined, to the ends of me, to fight for him. As he would for me.

"You're either with me or you're not," I say quietly.

And when I look up again, both Janeen and Daniel each nod their agreement.

And I nod back, grateful for their help, because we've got a long road.

Without another word, Daniel gets up from his chair to call the lawyer and have them post Jerome's bail.

 

Chapter 167

The police process the bail faster than I thought they would - though, as I consider it, I realize that I h go get Jerome.

idea how long it usually takes. Daniel gathers the car keys off the table, nodding to us after he hangs up with the police, letting us know that he's going to

ever had. But I don't have much time to think about it before Janeen tugs on my sleeve.

and call goodbyes to dad as we walk down the stairs and out the back door, heading for the beach. It's gorgeous out now, just as the sun is going down, the gives me with all of the dread building up in my body.

"Fill 'er up when you're on the way back, son," my father says to Daniel, clapping him on the shoulder on this way out. Daniel smiles and promises him that he will. I smirk as I see it, watching Daniel interact for the first time with the warm and indulgent fatherly figu "Hey," she says, her voice quiet for once. "Let's go for a walk, hmm? Maybe get something to eat?" I take a deep breath and then I nod, knowing that I need it. Janeen and I grab sweatshirts from her be sky all pink and purple and golden. I sigh as I look at it, admiring its beauty but struggling to match th "Sooo, Fayyyy," Janeen says, knocking her shoulder into mine in a familiar, sisterly way. "How's it feel t I laugh, needing it, relishing it. "Who says I'm not slutty, Janeen? After all, I've got a baby daddy, a fian "Seriously!" she interrupts, looking at me with wide eyes. Then she laughs, shaking her head at me. "V "How's it feel to be the good one for a change?" I ask, smiling a little as I look down at my feet, scuffin "Meh," she says, giving a shrug. "It's kind of boring. I want my 'slutty sister' title back."

e sister who got knocked up out of wedlock even though you're not the slutty one?"

a cop who showed up this afternoon offering to help me raise this child -" ne, sis! We raised you right!" g in the sand.

We laugh together and then we just keep walking, enjoying the breeze and the companionship. A warroth builds in me again as I look at my sister, thinking how much I love her. Everyone should have a Janeen in their life to tease them, support them endlessly, and make them laugh. She turns and smiles at me too, like she's just as grateful for me - even though I know I haven't alway But, well. I did give her a beach house.

"So," she says with a sigh, more serious now. "What are you going to do?"

"I don't know," I say honestly, my voice starting to shake with my emotions already. Because I have be

Janeen just nods, walking beside me, letting me have my emotions. After a while, she starts again. "Yo

I snap my head to her, frowning, but she holds up a hand to stop me.

the same for her.

king all of my emotions away for hours, and they're starting to bubble to the top now. that Ivan kid is right, in some ways."

"Give me a minute before you bite my head off, baby," she says, so I keep my mouth shut. "But," she comes, "you are free. Kent gave you this house, he gave you that money. He is away in jail and apparently in a shitload of trouble. You don't...owe him anything, Fay. Unless you want to. You understand that, right?"

I take a minute to really think about what she's saying before I answer.

"I do understand," I say quietly as I look up at her. "But..." I hesitate.

"You want him," she finishes for me, her mouth quirking a little in a sad sort of understanding.

"Yeah," I say, looking out over the ocean, perhaps realizing it as I say it. "I want him."

"So, are you guys like...together?" she asks, wanting clarity. "Like is he your...mafia boss boyfriend or something?"

"We never really talked about it," I sigh, frowning a little as we continue along the beach. "But it's definitely...something."

"Are you in love with him?" she asks quietly, and I look at her, very serious.

"Yeah," I reply simply, admitting it for the first time. "Yes, I am."

"Is he in love with you?"

And I look away from her then, not really knowing what to say. Because while I think I know...it's not really my question to answer, is it?

But I think she can tell from my expression what I mean.

Janeen slips an arm around my shoulder. "He never had a chance, baby," she murmurs, leaning in to give me a kiss on the temple. "Who wouldn't fall in love with you."

I laugh at this, not really believing her flattery but accepting the compliment nonetheless.

"So, you're keeping that?" Janeen asks, pointing to my belly.

I laugh, shaking my head a little. Because honestly - I've been thinking about it. A lot. I've always been pro-choice and really support a woman's right to make choices about her own pregnancies, but I've never thought - really - about having to...end a pregnancy myself. I've always either been a virgin or with a guy who told me - vehemently - that he couldn't get me pregnant. So, it's never been a reality for me.

But now that it is?

"Yeah," I say quietly, my voice breaking a little as tears sting my eyes. "Yup, I'm going to keep it."

Janeen takes a soft minute with me, turning me so that I look at her, making soft shushing noises and wiping my cheeks free of my tears as they fall down my face. "Hey, hey!" she says, "what's all this! No, this is a happy day! A little baby - a real cutie, probably, considering its parents!"

This just makes me cry harder, and Janeen wraps me in her arms. "What's wrong?" she murmurs, comforting me as I wrap my arms around her waist and hold her close. "What could be bad about this? This baby's got a great mom, an amazing auntie, like two guys offering to step in as dad even though its actual dad is locked up, a gay uncle, a grandpop - plus you are like, stupid rich - what could be bad??"

_"

"Kent's going to be so pissed," I murmur into her shoulder - and then I start to laugh, hard, as I realize that that's what's really bothering me, beyond everything. "Kent got a vasectomy because he didn't want any more kids - he's going to hate being a dad in his 40's "Oh well," Janeen says, pulling away from me and frowning at me, "then fuck Kent."

And something about this - probably combined with my stress, and my fear, and the insanity of these two days - has me crackling with laughter, throwing my head back and shaking with it.

"Screw him, Fay!" Janeen says, laughing too, leaning into the joke because she knows it's making me feel better. "Honestly, if he's jerk enough to knock you up and then be mad at you for being knocked up, then he doesn't deserve to have this baby! Which we're going to make super cool, by the way! I'm going to dye its hair pink as soon as it gets some."

And I nod, brushing at my cheeks with the palms of my hands, letting her put an arm around me as we turn around and start to walk back.

"It's all going to work out, Fay," she says quietly to me. "Forget about Kent's feelings for a minute. Let's worry about you. Because," she smirks at me now, "we've still got to tell dad he's going to be a grandpa."

And I groan, closing my eyes and slumping against her.

"No, it will be fun!" she says, laughing and picking up the pace, excited. "We can give him three guesses to figure out who the dad is. He'll never get it."

"Fun for the whole family," I mutter.

Hungry, Janeen and I decide to grab a bite to eat on the way home. It's dark by the time we get back to the house and we're both surprised to see the headlights of the car pulling into the driveway.

"How long were we gone?" I ask, surprised. I didn't think it could be long enough for them to get back so soon.

"Whoa," Janeen says, looking at her watch. "Like, four hours. You cried a lot more than I thought you did."

I glare and give her a shove, but she just grins at me as we walk up to the car.

"Hey, you," I say, making Jerome jump a little bit as he steps out of the driver's seat. But his face bursts into a big smile when he sees me.

"Oh hi, money bags," he says, wrapping me in a big hug as Daniel comes around the front of the car to both of us. "Thanks for the bail money." "What!" I say, glaring at Daniel. "You took it out of my account?"

"It was your call," he says, smirking at me. "I was going to let him rot in there."

I look up at Jerome, deadpan. "See? Now you have proof of who truly loves you."

"Oh, I always knew that," he says, planting a kiss on the top of my head before turning to his boyfriend.

But Janeen's already at Daniel's side, smirking up at him. "Nice of you to make your boyfriend drive the moment he gets out of jail, passenger princess."

Daniel blushes and opens his mouth to protest, but Jerome cuts in. "Oh come," he says, smirking at her. "I wasn't safe on the road with him behind the wheel. Or this one," he says, nodding down at me. "Spoiled rotten, both."

"I like you," Janeen says instantly, breaking into a sudden grin as she looks Jerome up and down. "You're mean."

He just smirks and gives her a wink, making her laugh.

"Come on," I say, rolling my eyes at all three of them and starting towards the house. "Let's go see dad - he's probably wondering where we all are."

As we come upstairs we find dad sitting in the kitchen, waiting for us, a frosty beer at his side. "Oh hey, team," he says, grinning around at all of us. But as Daniel and Jerome come into view, dad's eyes immediately go to their clasped hands. "Oh," dad says, sitting up straight and then looking Daniel right in the eye.

Realizing his mistake, Daniel blushes furiously and drops Jerome's hand. But it's too late.

Dad narrows his eyes at Daniel for a moment, putting the pieces together before he speaks. We all wait in silence.

"Well if you're with him" dad says, pointing at Jerome, "then who the hell did that?"

And to all of our shock, my dad points a single finger right at my stomach.

 

Chapter 168

Jail is...just as bad as Kent remembers it being. Except this time, he knows he's not getting out anytime soon. Whatever it is these guys have on him, it's bad - it has to be. They wouldn't have hunted him down at his damn urologist's office if it wasn't. Whatever it is, they have him now and they're not letting go. He is going down for something big.

"Lippert," the guard says, coming to his cell and giving him a smirk through the bars. "Visitor."

"I haven't even gotten my damn phone call yet," Kent snarls, frustrated. He's been asking for hours.

"After the visit," the guard says, uncaring. "You'll get your turn."

Kent gets to his feet as the guard opens the door. He follows all of the guard's instructions, not bothering to give him any grief- though he could cause him one hell of a lot of trouble with very little effort. Still. It won't get him anywhere.

Kent sighs subtly through his nose as he walks towards the interrogation cell instead of the visitation center.

So. It's that kind of visit, eh?

He clenches his jaw as he turns into the room and sees two surprising figures there. But he does his best to give no more reaction as he turns into the room and sits in the indicated chair, looking across the table at the Warden and at Ivan.

"That's it?" Ivan says, smirking as Kent stares blankly across the table at the man he thought was dead and the boy he thought was playing mob boss. "I was hoping for more of a reaction from that." Ivan's smirk deepens as he tilts his head to the side, looking Kent up and down in his orange uniform. "I guess I'll just have to settle for the reaction from your son and your girl. They, at least, were properly surprised."

Kent says nothing. He has nothing to say that's going to make any of this any better. But he certainly doesn't miss the fact that Ivan is dressed completely differently than he's ever been, in khaki pants and a blue button-down with his hair combed neatly to the side. So. The kid's a cop. Damn it, how did he miss that?

"Aren't pleased to see me?" The warden growls.

Kent is a stone. The warden sighs and stands up.

"Well, then I'll leave it to you, kid," he says, clapping Ivan on the shoulder. "No point in entertaining this any further if we're not going to get anything out of him."

"See you later, man," Ivan says as the Warden leaves the cell, not taking his eyes off of Kent.

When they're alone, Ivan leans forward further. "Seriously, nothing to say to me? Nothing to ask?"

Kent just blinks at him, bored.

"Not even going to ask me how the baby's doing?" Ivan whispers, leaning forward to grin, knowing just where to twist his knife.

Kent flinches at this, unable to help it. How the hell did this kid know about that? Kent narrows his eyes. Is it... is it because Ivan's the father? Is that how he fucking knows? Was Fay lying?

"There we go," Ivan murmurs, smiling truly now, pleased to have gotten a reaction.

Kent does his best to wipe his face clear of emotions, looking over towards the door. Frustrated at giving Ivan anything, Kent ignores him completely as Ivan peppers him with questions for the next few minutes, working hard to break in again. But Kent doesn't have a damn word to say; instead, his mind slowly turns over the thousand questions and possibilities in his mind, trying to find some way through, some kind of plan...

"Fine," Ivan snaps, and Kent turns his level gaze back to the kid.

Ivan's leaning back in his chair now, frustrated and tapping a pen on the desk, glaring at Kent who honestly hasn't heard a word he's said until now. "You're going to die in here, Lippert - that's the final line of it. We've got you on a slew of crimes - racketeering, international transport of weapons, extortion, and most importantly - six murders."

"Six?" Kent asks, raising an eyebrow. He's by no means innocent on this charge, but even for him, that number's high.

Ivan smiles now, pleased to have gotten a word out of him. "Six."

Slowly, Kent leans forward, staring at the boy. "Whose jobs are you pinning on me, Ivan? Your own?"

"Me?" Ivan says, pressing a hand to his chest innocently. "I've never killed anyone, Kent. I'm one of the good guys."

Kent just laughs and sits back in his chair, shaking his head. Whatever.

At least he knows, now, what's going on. The city's taking him down as an example - pinning some other boss's dirty work on him in an exchange for information. Damn it. He was going down for more than what he actually did, and someone else was getting wiped clean. Who the hell was it?

The kid's continuing to talk now, but Kent's mostly ignoring him, keeping half an ear open for anything interesting but focusing on turning over the possibilities in his head. The Russian connection, potentially, but the most obvious candidate here is - ironically - Alden. Shit, he's going to have to get in touch with the Bianci's if he can, let them know what-

But Kent's train of thought is interrupted, instantly, at the mention of her name.

He snaps his gaze back to Ivan.

"Thought that would work," Ivan says slowly, twisting the pen in his hands. "She's always been your soft spot."

Kent leans forward, letting Ivan know that he has his attention.

"I saw her, you know," Ivan says quietly. "Went to that little beach house you set her up in. She didn't seem too broken up about you."

A mix of emotions runs through Kent at the news - disgust at the idea of Ivan in the house that he bought Fay - relief that she's safe, away from the police (but of course she is - they've got nothing to hold her on, he made damn sure of that) - and then on top of it an incredible grief at the idea of her alone, pregnant, fucking furious at him for getting arrested now of all times -

"Actually, you know what, Kent?" Ivan says, his tone considering now, a change that makes Kent refocus on him. "That's a lie."

Kent frowns, not understanding.

Ivan smiles slowly, knowing he's got Kent's attention now. "I'm going to tell you the truth - which is that she was broken up about you." Kent's heart wrenches at the thought.

"She flipped at me - called me a traitor, told me she'd never trust me again in her life. But do you know why I can tell you this truth?"

Pride surges through Kent at the idea of Fay biting back at Ivan's, not collapsing to him, but rage starts to build in him. Because he knows where this is going.

"Because you're stuck in here," Ivan says, grinning victoriously, "for the rest of your f*****g life. And she's twenty-two, and she might stick by your side for a little bit, but she's going to get lonely after a while. And guess who's going to be there to help her through it?" Kent's fist clenches at his side as his jaw tightens.

"That's right," Ivan whispers, standing to lean across the table, taunting him. "When you're stuck in here, Lippert? I'm going to be out there, living with her in the beach house you bought her. And your kid is going to call me dad."

Ivan's been ahead on Kent on a lot of things, but one thing he underestimated?

The speed of Kent's left hook.

Kent's out of his chair before Ivan can anticipate it, his fist flying before the kid can blink, connecting solidly with his jaw in a blow that rattles Ivan's teeth.

Ivan stumbles back, moaning, his hand flying to his face -

But before Kent can take another step, the door slams open and the guards are on him, wrapping his arms behind his back.

Kent bares his teeth at the kid, who looks up at him in shock and rage, but he lets the guards do their work and doesn't fight them. Though he could have them flat on their asses in about ten seconds, if he wanted to. "Nice," Ivan says, giving him a bloody smile that's more bravado than pleasure. "Assault of a police officer. We'll add it to your list."

Kent forces his body to relax into a possession and cool he absolutely doesn't feel, turning away from the kid as if he doesn't matter.

But - as his reaction proved - Ivan got to him.

Because he's right, Kent thinks, hanging his head a little as the guards hold him tight, escorting him carefully back to his cell. He's got nothing but time to get her on his side. I've lost her for good.

 

Chapter 169

Janeen, Jerome, and Daniel all watch through the glass of the back door as Fay and her dad sit on the couch, having a long chat during which she explains a lot of stuff that...he probably doesn't want to know. They've been watching the myriad of emotions cross his face, but Janeen is finally relieved to see him smiling, clearly excited about his first grandchild. Janeen smiles herself, finally feeling a little bit at ease now. Because as far as she's concerned, even though Kent is out of the picture her dad is very much in. It's good to finally see the final member of Team Baby on the page.

"What do you think," Daniel murmurs to her, anxiously biting the nail of his thumb as he stares through the door. "Is he gonna...kill me? Kill her? Break into prison and kill Kent?"

"Nah," Janeen says with a sigh, turning away from the window and towards the beer that's waiting for her on the table. "Papa Thompson is a big softie. Why would he be mad at you, anyway?"

"Because I got her into this," Daniel sighs, taking Janeen's cue and likewise sitting down at the table, joined by Jerome.

"Yeah," Janeen says, giving him a weird look as she raises her beer to her lips. "You guys are like...weirdly close for ex's. What even is she to you now? Your fake fiancée slash new mom?"

Daniel grimaces.

"Nah these two are besties," Jerome sighs, looking at Janeen with a small smile. "Daniel and Fay are two peas in a fucked-up pod - they talk the same, think the same. Even have the same boring-a*s hobbies. Books, puzzles. It's the worst." Janeen laughs at this, turning bright eyes on Daniel. "So, are you a horse girl too?"

"Absolutely not," Daniel says, shuddering. "Horrible animals."

They all laugh then, taking a much-needed mutual sip of their beers. Things go quiet then, each of them thinking their own independent thoughts on the same subject.

"So, tell me the truth," Janeen says quietly, and Daniel looks up to see her eyes fixed on him. "Your dad. Does he love her?"

Daniel's lips press to a thin line as he studies Janeen, deciding what to say. But then he just gives it up and huffs an ironic little laugh before letting his head hang a little.

"Yeah, Janeen," he sighs, pressing his fingers tight against the bridge of his nose - a motion that makes Jerome smirk because it's something he's seen Kent do a thousand times. "Yeah, he loves the crap out of her. He...he hasn't said it, not to her. But dad's..." "Closed off? Fucked up? Emotionally stunted and withholding?"

"Yes, yes, and yes?" Daniel says, lifting his head to look her in the eye. "But she's his kryptonite. I've never seen someone break down dad's walls like she does. I can't explain it."

"I can," she returns instantly, turning to look through the window at her little sister. Daniel smiles to see the very real loyalty and dedication on Janeen's face.

"Me too," Jerome says, and then he leans forward and smacks Daniel on the shoulder. "What are you, blind, you idiot?"

Daniel laughs and shrugs. "It was a turn of phrase! Hyperbole!"

"Oh gross, are you and Fay going to use big words all the time?" Janeen asks, turning to sneer at him. Jerome laughs again and Daniel just narrows his eyes at her, but he can't help his smile.

"All of that aside," Jerome says, his voice oddly serious enough for the other two to look his way. "Our whole job now is that girl in there," he says, nodding towards her. "I don't know if you two have figured it out yet," he says softly, quietly, "but she's head of the family now."

He looks to Daniel then, with a little bit of apology on his face. Because, obviously, Daniel should be the one inheriting that title in Kent's absence. But they're all aware - and Jerome's just the first to say it.

"To the boss," Daniel says, sighing and lifting his beer towards the center of the table. The other two raise theirs, clinking them all together and repeating his words. "May she be a benevolent dictator," Daniel murmurs after taking a long swig.

"Seriously," Janeen says, surprising him so that he snaps his eyes up to hers. "Cut it with the word shit, okay?"

They're all still laughing when the glass door slides open.

"Hey," Fay says, stepping outside and pushing it closed behind her. "What's so funny?"

"We're deciding what to name the baby," Janeen says, patting the chair next to her and smoothly changing the subject. "Come help."

"Um," Fay says, frowning at her, "don't I get the majority say in this decision?"

"We're thinking Jerome the Second," Jerome says, ignoring her and making Daniel laugh. "Very royal, very elegant."

Fay wrinkles her nose at him and laughs, sitting back against the cushions, clearly enjoying the ease of the group. Janeen still sees a tension in Fay's shoulders but...she smiles, knowing that Fay is doing far, far better than she was yesterday. With all of her family around her now - even in the absence of the man she loves, who apparently loves her back - she's finally starting to feel safe.

Which, really, is all Janeen wants for her little sister right now.

Fay sighs and looks askance at the three beers sitting mostly-empty on the table. "I'd kill for one of those right now," she murmurs, rubbing a hand absently across her belly.

Smirking, Jerome pushes his beer bottle towards her, and she glares at him. "What?" he says, grinning. "It's not like you didn't pickle the baby in tequila for the first month of your pregnancy."

With a little growl, Fay leans forward and smacks him on the arm, glaring. "I didn't know, Jerome!"

"Eh, a little more won't hurt," he replies, laughing and nudging the bottle closer, but Fay just closes her eyes and tilts her head back, resting it against the cushion on the back of her chair, relaxing and catching up on her thoughts.

They all sit quietly for a long moment, doing the same as Fay and sorting through their thoughts, their priorities, their suddenly-changed lives. Because as much as they all know they're dedicated to the same cause, they're also aware that they have very different roles within it.

After a long moment of staring out at the dark night settling over the sea, searching for the place where the sky meets the waves, Daniel turns his attention back to Fay.

"So, Donna Lippert," he says with a sigh. "What's next?"

Fay sits silently for a moment longer before lifting her head back up and opening her eyes, looking straight at him. "Well," she says slowly, and then she sighs. "I think it's time you called your uncle,"

Daniel blinks rapidly in surprise while Jerome's eyes go wide. "What?"

"And Natalia too," she says, sighing again, harder this time, "much as I am loathe to bring her back."

"That fucking vocab again," Janeen mutters, shaking her head. Fay ignores her.

"Wha - why on earth do you want them back?" Daniel asks, shocked. "Plus, I don't even know if they will - dad's been all tied up in the justice system now, they will not want to get their hands dirty trying to get him out."

"I don't want them to try to help your dad," Fay says, frowning at him. She waves a dismissive hand. "That's - I mean, don't we think that's a lost cause? Isn't that what the lawyers say - that Kent's probably going away for life, with all they've got him on now?" Daniel nods slowly. "Yeah," he says, his eyebrows going up. "So...why are you looking to get Natalia and Alessi back?"

"For the wedding," she says simply, her eyes wide as if she doesn't understand why he doesn't get it. Her hand - still wearing its engagement ring - still continues to rub back and forth across her lower stomach. "After all, Alessi will want to be one of the first to know about his great-nephew. And I'm sure Don Bianci will be interested to hear about what I assume is his first great-grandchild?"

Daniel's jaw drops open - and so does Jerome's - as they figure out what she's saying.

"Plus," Fay says with a little sigh, looking down at the table. "My father will be interested to discuss the new family ties and their implications for future business."

"What?" Janeen asks, her face twisted with confusion. "Dad wants to -"

"Not dad," Fay snaps, flicking her eyes to Janeen and holding her gaze. "My father."

"Oh," Janeen says, understanding, her own eyes going wide now to match the boys.

"Fay," Daniel breathes, his shoulders suddenly tense. "Are you...are you serious? We're...going forward with this?"

"Would you like to back out of the engagement, Daniel?" Fay asks, her voice cold. "Abandon me when I'm pregnant?"

"I mean...no," he says, hesitating. "If that's...if that's what you want, I'll marry you, Fay. I'll marry you tomorrow, if you want."

"Probably next week is better," she murmurs, looking out over the sea, making Janeen's mouth drop open and Jerome laugh a dry little laugh.

Daniel turns to stare at his boyfriend, wondering what the hell is so funny about this. "Nothing," Jerome replies to the unasked question, just shrugging. "Donna Lippert just doesn't take long to act, does she?" "There's no time to waste," Fay murmurs, still not looking at them. "There's...way too much to do. We've got to get started right now."

"Fay," Daniel whispers, staring at his beautiful redhaired fiancé, who in turn is staring into the night as if she could take on the darkness itself. "What the hell do you have planned?

But Fay doesn't answer.

She, like Kent, has learned to keep her secrets to herself.

She'll tell them what they need to know when they need to know it.

 

Chapter 170

The luncheon we have a week later is...awkward, to say the least. I say a little prayer of thanks about every ten seconds that Daniel hasn't left my side for a moment, charmingly fending off questions and making small talk with both the Biancis and the Aldens while I stay quiet, smiling prettily. I look up at my handsome fiancé and I shake my head a little at the laugh that bubbles out of his throat at something my father just said - something decidedly unfunny. But the way Daniel reacts? You'd think my father was a damn comedian. Daniel glances down at me and sends me a little wink that makes me burst into a smile.

See? I think. He's got me charmed too. These damn Lippert men.

I look around the room, taking it all in. Janeen, of course, stayed home with dad - no one here wants to acknowledge my adoptive family as anything but a footnote in my life - but everyone else of note is here. Even Jerome stands by the door in a black suit and sunglasses, playing the role of our personal body guard.

My eyes flick to Natalia and Alessi, who did indeed fly in from Italy the moment Daniel called them and asked them to come back. Alessi was characteristically thrilled when we told him about my pregnancy. He kissed me four times - twice on both cheeks - and told me I was a wonder and a Madonna. Natalia, also characteristically, had been more reserved, offering her congratulations with narrowed eyes.

As I watch them now, delicately selecting their lunch from the buffet table my father generously provided, I can see in the stern set of her features that this is not a celebration lunch for her. No, she's got something up her sleeve. And I, particularly, would like to know what it is.

"Isn't that right, Fay?" Daniel asks, and I turn my face up to him. And then I do my best to blush and pretend to be embarrassed for being distracted. "What?" I ask, turning to one of his Bianci cousins and smiling even though I honestly don't care what he said.

"Anthony was just asking if we have plans to honeymoon," Daniel says smoothly. "But I told him...probably not until the baby comes. Right?"

"Yeah," I say, grimacing and leaning into Daniel's side as if I'm the most infatuated girl on earth. "As much as I'd love to run away to Paris with this guy tomorrow, I think it's probably better to go when I can enjoy the wine and the unpasteurized cheese, right?" Daniel and his cousin laugh politely, but they're cut a little short as Natalia's voice cuts smoothly in, a barb on her tongue as usual.

"That's our Fay," she says, smiling around at us as she joins the conversation. "Always worried about where the next drink is coming from." She gives me a simpering little wink and I work hard - really hard to keep the smile on my face. "There is more to life than that, girl! But," she shrugs, "you will see."

"Yes," I sigh, placing my hand low on my stomach. "I'm sure motherhood will open many doors for me. Do you ever regret it, Natalia? Not having children?"

Daniel subtly elbows me but I don't feel any guilt as I see the smile fall from her face.

Screw her, I think, hoping she reads it in my eyes.

She's going down anyway. It's just a matter of time.

I turn and look up at Daniel, ignoring her. "Can we get something to eat?"

"Of course," he murmurs, gently running his knuckles down the length of my cheek and smiling at me fondly. Then, together, we move off to the buffet. Luckily, no one else is filling their plate just now, so we're alone. "What the hell was that," he murmurs. "We're supposed to be courting their friendship, Fay."

"We're supposed to be courting Alessi's friendship," I reply, putting my head on his shoulder as he fills a plate for me, playing the ever-considerate fiancé and dad-to-be. "Natalia can kick rocks for all I care."

Daniel sighs and shakes his head, but he doesn't fight me on it. He's falling into the old patterns his dad established: trusting the one in charge, not asking any questions.

We both turn towards the center of the room as we hear my father tapping a fork against his wine glass to get everyone's attention. I lean harder against Daniel as my father starts talking, sighing and nibbling on a strawberry as we settle in for a long speech.

My father drones on and on about the new ties between the Bianci and the Alden family, about which he is, predictably, thrilled. As he speaks I notice that no one - not a single person - mentions Daniel's actual last name, and that none of the Lippert relatives have been invited to the party. Instead, it's as if Kent has been wiped from the books entirely and Daniel has been swept up into the Bianci family.

Which, frankly, is precisely what I wanted.

But still. It makes me clench my jaw to see how easily Kent is dismissed. Kent made of these people he made filthy rich, and now they're picking at the corpse of his empire and raising their glasses to me.

My father's speech wraps up a waiter comes to take my plate and deliver a glass of champagne to Daniel and sparkling cider to me.

"To my daughter, the beautiful Fay," my father says, looking at me adoringly as he raises his glass in my direction -

Fucking snake, is all I can think. Because I know, now, precisely what he did to Kent.

"And to Daniel, her perfect match!" Around the room, everyone raises their glasses into the air. Daniel and I, smiling, follow suit. "Together they unite two old Sicilian families in a new era of commerce and joy! To the bride and groom!" Everyone echoes his last five words and then we all raise our glasses to our lips, sipping at the expensive drinks probably taken from Kent's own cellars as the spoils of war.

You damn hypocrites, I think as I sip my fizzy apple juice and force a thrilled smile onto my face. I'm going to gut you all, one by one.

The crowd turns to us then as Daniel wraps an arm around my waist. I look up at him and realize that he's leaning close and then I laugh, remembering that - of course - I'm a bride today, not a mafia donna planning everyone's destruction. Daniel smiles down at me and even bends me backwards a little bit as he kisses me soundly, the picture of the perfect romantic fiancé and the girl he adores.

I smile and kiss him back, truly loving him, grateful for Daniel by my side in every moment of this.

He pulls away while the gathered group applauds, and then I blush and laugh, looking down at my feet, shy Fay making her return.

We spend the next hour or so accepting the well-wishes of people I barely know who call us their family and friends. This is, in many ways, the reception for our wedding instead of the rehearsal dinner. Our families wanted to invite everyone to the wedding, of course, but Daniel and I insisted that we only want our very closest family to be there and no reception at all.

They nodded and murmured their understanding - Daniel father was just imprisoned, after all, throwing a pall over this happy event - but they insisted on throwing this party instead.

Still, it's almost done, I think as my cheeks start to ache with so many fake smiles.

As our guests filter out, Natalia and Alessi slowly make their way over to us, Alessi beaming at us while Natalia frowns at his side.

"Daniel, Fay," Alessi says, giving us a wide grin. "You know we are so happy for you. And so excited for tomorrow. Your grandfather - he wishes he could be here -"

"Please," Daniel says, waving a hand and dismissing it. "We know travel is hard for him - but as soon as the baby is born, we will come to Italy so that they can meet."

"That would be...so special, Daniel," Alessi says quietly, putting a fond hand on his nephew's arm. As I watch him, I realize that in all likelihood Alessi really means it - after all, Daniel is his nephew and his childhood best friend's son. I think he genuinely wants this to be real. But as I turn to Natalia, I see the reality of it: that they both, indeed, have their suspicions.

"Of course," she says carefully, turning her head to the side. "The family...would like to know. To have certain...assurances that these new ties between the Bianci's and the Aldens are..."

Daniel's face drops the moment he realizes what she's asking and Alessi inhales an awkward breath, lifting his hand from Daniel's arm.

"Seriously?" Daniel asks, suddenly furious. "You're asking me for a paternity test?"

"Daniel," Natalia says appeasingly, spreading her hands as if it's the easiest thing in the world. "Surely you must -

"Surely I what?" he snarls and I blink at him, considering that he's learned a trick or two from Kent's book.

"It is the sort of thing we want to be assured of with all of our family ties," Alessi says with a casual shrug.

"Oh?" Daniel snaps, turning on him now. "And has anyone asked you for a paternity test for your own children?"

Alessi purses his lisp and narrows his eyes, but he doesn't say anything - taking Daniel's point. Natalia opens her mouth to offer her own rebuttal, but I slide in before she can say a word.

"It's fine," I say, smiling easily and placing a supplicating hand on Daniel's arm. "We understand. In this modern world?" I shrug, mimicking their very Italian gesture, "it makes sense."

Daniel says nothing, just looking away and glowering as he leaves it to me. So I turn to Natalia and smile. "Would you like us to have the test performed tomorrow? Before the wedding?" I say, giving her a too-kind smile and pushing her to make me ruin my wedding day by going to a clinic to have my blood drawn.

"No, of course not," Natalia says smoothly, crossing her arms. "Tomorrow is a day for joy. The next day," she continues with a smile that shows all her teeth, "would be just fine."