Ch. 181..185: Fall For My Ex’s Mafia Dad Chapter 181-185

Chapter 181

Ivan stays...late. Way too late.

I see my dad's expression when he comes home with the groceries, as he spies me out here with my sort-of-ex-boyfriend, and then glances at my husband, who is sitting on the couch with his boyfriend. I can't hear him, but I see him groan in confusion. Ivan laughs a little. "Should I go in and say hi?"

"Nope," I say, wrapping my arms around my knees, starting to get a little cold as night falls. "I think that nobody in that house is very happy to see you here. Except maybe Janeen. But she just thinks you're hot." "Really," Ivan says, perking up and looking around for her.

"Don't," I say, laughing and swatting his arm. "She'll just rope you into being one of her regulars at the club. She'll drain your bank account and leave you sobbing."

"Yeah," Ivan says, turning back to me and raising his eyebrows provocatively. "But don't you already know, Fay? Complicated, hard-to-get girls are kind of my type."

I roll my eyes at him, but I can't help laughing anyway. "Why do you even like me, Ivan?" I ask, shaking my head and genuinely wanting to know. "I mean, is it just the hard-to-get thing? Do you just like a challenge?" "Are you a challenge?" he asks, turning his head and looking me up and down.

"Well, I am married," I point out, laying out the facts like they're obvious. "And I hate you, and you've already got a bruise on your face from the guy who got me pregnant, so," I shrug, "yeah, I think that qualifies as challenging."

"Yeah," Ivan says slowly, nodding a little and considering my points. "But your marriage is a sham to make your baby legitimate, and your baby daddy is locked up forever, and, above all," he takes a moment to really look into my face now, making me hear him, "you don't hate me, Fay. Not really. Not in your heart."

"Don't I?" I ask, letting my eyes fall to his mouth.

"Maybe for now," he murmurs. "But...you have a heart. You know what's right. And I did what I did because it was right."

"Right for you," I sigh, closing my eyes and letting my head hang back a little.

"And for you," he replies, but I almost feel him lean back in his chair, giving me my space. Because if this is real for him - like actually real? Then he knows that he's playing the long game. And he's not going to be getting much more from me tonight.

I open my eyes when I hear the door slide open. My brow furrows when I see Janeen coming out with two beers in hand, shutting the door behind her. "Hey," she says, plopping down in the chair next to Ivan and setting the beer in front of him. "I thought I'd bring you your last drink before Mafia Jr. in there rips you to shreds."

"Who, Danny boy?" Ivan asks, grinning and peering into the house where Daniel is still glaring at us, his arms crossed. Jerome, still casual, continues to read contentedly beside him. My dad sits on Daniel's other side, watching a game on the TV. Ivan laughs a little. "I can take him."

"I don't know," Janeen murmurs, smirking and likewise looking in at Daniel. "He's got a couple inches on you."

"Yeah, but I'm scrappy," Ivan says, over-confident and optimistic in his usual charming way.

"Don't underestimate Daniel," I sigh, leaning back. "He boxes. And I'm pretty sure his dad taught him how to hit." I let my eyes drift to the green spot on Ivan's jaw and he turns to me, laughing, as Janeen sees the direction of my gaze.

"No way!" she says, laughing and hitting Ivan on the arm. "You told me you fell at work!"

"I did fall at work," he murmurs, rubbing his jaw again and laughing at himself. "I just didn't tell you whose fist I ran into that made me fall at work."

"Ran into,' my ass," I murmur, shaking my head and making them both laugh harder.

Janeen and I quietly watch lan drive away down our street a little bit later.

"Did you ever get the story behind the car?" she asks, curious.

"Nope," I say, shaking my head. "You should get him to come to the strip club sometime. See if you can get him to give it to you as a tip."

"Tempting," she says, wrapping an arm around my shoulders. Then she gives me a bright, happy grin. "You know, Fay, if I'm being honest, I like that one. He's my favorite of your three weird boyfriends."

"That's not fair," I say, frowning at her. "You don't know Kent very well -"

She laughs at me, shaking her head. "Seriously? Your first instinct is to defend Kent, when I live with Daniel?"

"Well, I was getting to that!"

"Seriously though," she says, dropping her voice now. "Ivan is a nice guy, and he cares about you."

"So does my husband, Janeen," I say, frowning at her. "And Kent."

"I know," she says, nodding to me, fully serious now. "But your husband...he's eventually going to leave you for that stone-cold cutie up there," she says, nodding up the stairs to where Jerome is. "That's inevitable. And this guy..." she looks down the street after Ivan's car. "He likes you, Fay. And he's not incarcerated. And he's funny."

"He is funny, isn't he," I murmur, cocking my head to the side.

"Yah," she says, nodding. "And hot."

"Janeen," I sigh, ducking out from under her arm. "If you're trying to convince me to date Ivan, it does not help to hear that you think he is hot. Maybe you should date him -"

"Fay!" Janeen objects, walking after me through the front door to the house. "It's not that I think he's hot - he's just objectively hot!"

"Talking about me?" Daniel asks, making us both jump when we realize that he's sitting on the stairs, waiting for us.

"Of course, gorgeous," Janeen says smoothly, coming forward and leaning over to give him a kiss on the cheek. "Who else would we have been talking about?"

"Oh, you know," Daniel says, looking directly at me now. "Just the guy who, you know, ruined our lives."

"Not my life!" Janeen says, stepping past Daniel and working her way up the stairs. "Mine just keeps getting better and better! Got my sister back, got hotties dropping by on the daily - I like this new post-Kent world!"

I sigh, crossing my arms and waiting until she disappears onto the second floor. Then I look back at Daniel. "Well?" I ask.

"Well, what?" he says, leaning back against the stair behind him.

"Well, you obviously came down here to wait for me once I came in." I point out. "Did you want to say something?"

"Yeah, Fay," Daniel snaps, starting to release the anger he's clearly holding back. "I wanted to say that you're being really fucking dumb by letting him into our house -"

"Oh shut up," I growl, pushing past him and starting up the stairs myself.

"You are!" he insists, quickly standing up and pounding up the stairs after me. "I can't believe you even talked to him, after what he did! That you even -"

"One," I snap, spinning at the landing of the second floor and lifting a finger right into his face, "don't you ever call me stupid, Daniel. I won't let you condescend to me, not now, not ever. If you have a critique to make, fine. But don't you dare pretend that I did something because I'm dumb."

Daniel's angry face twists but he purses his lips, listening to me. I hold my finger steady, staring up at him until he nods once and looks away. "Fine," he says in a rush. "You're right. I won't do that again, and I didn't mean it. But Fay, you've always had a soft spot for him, and he manipulates you."

He looks back at me now, shaking his head and putting his hands on my shoulders as I drop my finger. "You chose a life, Fay. Didn't you? A life with my dad, and with me? Ivan destroyed that life that you picked. I...I don't want you to forget that. He's charming, but he's bitter, and he's jealous." Daniel shakes his head slowly.

And I resent it every damn second of it.

Because Daniel? He's doubting me.

And above all I cannot have my team doubting me.

But as I consider how much I actually laughed with Ivan this afternoon...

I don't know. Does Daniel have a point?

 

Chapter 182

"Okay," I say, taking a step closer and nodding, looking up at Daniel. "I - I hear you about my soft spot, all right? I'll be careful. But Daniel," I say slowly, shaking my head, making him listen. "You either trust me or you don't. I told you last night - I'm doing this because I love your dad. I'm not doing anything for Ivan, okay? And I'm going to need you to remember that in the upcoming weeks." Daniel sighs in relief but then he thinks about my words and snaps his gaze back to me, narrowing his eyes. "Wait, what are you saying?"

"What do you think I'm saying?"

"Are you...is he going to be coming around more?" Daniel asks. "Is that why I have to trust you?"

"He's going to be coming around a lot more, Danny," I say, patting his check with my hand and giving him a pained little smile. "And you're going to have to hang out with him. And pretending you're mad. And that you're not into him, like everyone else is." "Oh my godddd," Daniel groans, putting his hands over his face. "Why are you doing this to me, Fay?!"

"I have my reasons, Daniel!" I sing over my shoulder, giving my dad a wink as I head into the living room, "you either trust me or you don't!"

Daniel murmurs something discontentedly as I sit on the couch with Jerome and Janeen. As I settle in the spot next to Jerome, he wraps an arm around my shoulder without even turning his head to acknowledge me, his attention firmly on some show on TV. "Wait," Daniel says from the kitchen. "What did you just say? Pretend I'm not into him?"

"Yup," I call back.

"I am not into Ivan," Daniel growls, making me smirk. Jerome laughs a little too, glancing at me. I wrinkle my nose at him.

"Wait," Daniel says, storming into the living room and glaring around at all of us. "Are...are the rest of you into Ivan?"

"I am," Janeen says freely, raising her hand. Jerome looks at his boyfriend stone-faced, not giving anything away. Daniel takes a step forward to interrogate further, but before he can my dad interrupts by clearing his throat.

As one, we all look into the kitchen to see my dad leaning against the counter. "Well," he says, raising a beer to his lips, "I'm not, but I have to say - if I was one of the gays? I wouldn't kick him out of bed."

Janeen and I howl with laughter as Daniel's jaw drops. My dad gives Daniel a wink and then takes a long sip of his beer. "Good looking kid," dad murmurs, chuckling and coming into the living room, giving Daniel a pat on the shoulder as he goes.

"I'm going to sleep," Daniel murmurs, turning away from all of us. "I need to... rethink my entire life. And my values. And particularly, the people with whom I associate."

"Night, baby," Jerome calls casually over his shoulder. Daniel mumbles something back as I snuggle closer to Jerome's side.

"He totally thinks Ivan's hot," I murmur.

"Nah, Daniel's faithful," Jerome says, giving me another little wink. "Just like you. Like I said - you and Daniel are two peas in a f****d-up pod. Once you settle on someone? It's for the long haul. You can't even see anyone else. Which is all very much to my benefit." And I grin up at my friend, glad that someone sees the truth in me.

But also wishing, very much, that I could lay eyes on Kent. Just for a little bit, to remind me of everything that I'm fighting for.

I sigh and look down at my belly, at where my little kidney bean is growing into...a grape? I don't know. Whatever tiny food comes next. "Guess I'll just have to fight for you," I whisper to baby, too soft for even Jerome to hear, "while daddy's locked up."

The next weeks pass quickly as we fall into a weird little routine. Daniel kisses me goodbye in the morning while I savor my single cup of coffee for the day, his own triple-espresso drink packed away in a to-go container. And then he drives himself - himself - to work with my father in the fancy new Tesla provided by the Alden corporation.

Daniel doesn't work every day with my father; instead, my father has Daniel moving around to a variety of the city's shipping ports. There, he learns from my father's best men to figure out the ins and outs of his international shipping businesses - both the legitimate ones, and the illegitimate ones that import and export all kinds of illegal goods between the United States and ports unknown.

When Daniel goes, Jerome stays home with me. We all agreed on this, deciding that Jerome can function as my driver and my bodyguard on the rare occasions when I leave the house. I rolled my eyes at this suggestion at first, but Daniel's whispered "Kent would want it that way" had me convinced.

Because he's right. Kent would want it that way. And he'd probably smack the crap out of Daniel if he ever found out that he took Jerome, leaving a pregnant me at home unprotected.

Janeen does whatever she wants, as usual. She doesn't really need the money anymore - none of us do - but she still takes up shifts at Crabby Dicks, the crappy beach strip club where we had our wedding reception, whenever she wants some extra cash, or needs to dance, or just desires some male attention. Sometimes she stays out all night, sometimes she's home, but she's always here when I need her.

Dad is a more constant, quiet presence. He's been retired for years, though, so he knows how to entertain himself. Sometimes he goes back to the city to hang out with his old buddies, but most of the time he's here with me as I hunch over the kitchen table, reading through legal paperwork, and histories of mafia families, and chess manuals.

"You getting anywhere with this, Fay?" he asks, a couple of weeks into the process when I'm weirdly studying Machiavelli's The Prince alongside some of the international shipping maps that Daniel brought home from work.

I sigh and sit back, looking up at him. "I'm honestly not sure, dad," I say, running anxious hands through my hair and piling it messily on top of my head.

"Can I do anything to help?" he asks and I take a deep breath and smile up at him.

"Maybe order a pizza?" I say, hopeful. Dad he laughs and goes to make the call. I dig eagerly into the greasy hot pizza about an hour later, absolutely starving. Because that's how I am these days - just constantly hungry and constantly snacking to keep the nausea Because the moment that I stepped into my second trimester...

away.

Let's just say that the easy nature of my first trimester? When I wondered whether I was pregnant, because I couldn't feel - at all - that I was pregnant?

Well. That went the hell out the window.

I woke up in the middle of the night one night, green to the gills, and rushed to my bathroom to barf up absolutely everything in my stomach. And it honestly feels like I have been nauseous every single second since that first night.

The only thing that keeps the nausea at bay is constantly eating. And my solution to this - to which no one has yet protested - is to keep snacks in every corner of the house so that I can wander from room to room and there's always something waiting for me. "What is this," Janeen murmurs one afternoon as she sits in my bathroom with me, watching me lean over my sink to put a little mascara on my eyelashes. I turn to look at her and see that she's pulled a bag of popcorn out from the bathroom closet, stashed in with the towels.

"That's my...bathroom snack..." I murmur, suddenly blushing as I realize how weird it is. But my sister just laughs at me and puts it back.

"Whatever you need, Fay," she sighs, coming to put an arm around me and to run her hand over my belly, which is just barely starting to swell.

"How is little Princess Baby doing in there, anyway?"

"She's good," I murmur, though I can't help being a little chagrined. "Wish she'd lay off the nausea trigger a little bit, though. What does she even get from it?"

"We'll make her pay it back to us on her twenty-first birthday," Janeen says, grinning and giving me a big kiss on the cheek. "Make her barf so much she needs bathroom snacks to recover."

I laugh and then turn, shaking my head at her. "You need to stop calling the baby a she, Janeen," I say, grinning. "We still don't know, and you're going to confuse both me and yourself - and potentially the baby, if it ends up being a boy."

"I remain convinced," Janeen says, waving her hand at me as she leaves me alone in the bathroom. "She until proven otherwise! Besides," she shrugs, calling over her shoulder, "gender is a spectrum!"

I nod, conceding the point, and I turn to the mirror and grimace a little, and then look down at my belly. "What do you think, little baby," I murmur, running a hand over my little pot belly. "You're she until proven otherwise, while your dad, today..."

I sigh again and look at myself in the mirror, unable to muster a smile. Because even though I'm staying in the house, Jerome and Daniel are at court today, at Kent's public hearing for his plea deal. And even if in our justice system all those accused of crimes are innocent until proven guilty?

Today, Kent is pleading guilty.

Because I told him to.

"Well baby," I say, not really knowing if I'm speaking to myself or to the little lemon-sized human growing inside me, "let's just hope that this all goes well. And that I didn't just ruin all of our lives."

Chapter 183

Predictably, the courtroom is packed with journalists and other members of the press. Kent has known for a long time that he's been a person of public interest - that damn Mafia King nickname had done some real damage when it was first applied to him - and

whispers start around the room as he walks in wearing his orange jumpsuit, his wrists cuffed.

Kent clenches his jaw, refusing to meet any of their eyes, his gaze going immediately to the front of the room where his team of lawyers wait, and to Daniel and Jerome, sitting in the first gallery row behind them. Kent's heart sinks, just a little bit, when he sees that Fay isn't there with them. What he'd give to see her, just for a moment - just a glimpse.

She's got to be in her second trimester by now, which means she'll be showing - if just a little bit. He wants to know everything - absolutely everything about it. But he also understands: if Fay and Daniel are trying to go legitimate, to convince the world that Daniel is her husband and the father of her child, then she can't have anyone see her relationship with Daniel's father as anything but a disgraced father-in-law.

It makes sense.

But god damn it, it hits him right in the heart.

Daniel gives him a little smile, just the corner of his mouth pulling up, and Kent nods to him, and then to Jerome sitting beside him.

For a moment, as Kent passes to the group of his lawyers sitting at the front of the room, he considers how weird it is that Jerome is always around. He glances over his shoulder, frowning at the young man who he picked up basically off the streets, never intending for him to be any more than a low-level runner. And now he was the only one Daniel and Fay bailed out of jail? And he was, essentially, living with them?

Who the hell was this kid?

Kent makes a mental note to ask Daniel next time they speak alone, but then he sighs considering that...well, it doesn't really matter, does it? Jerome is in. And he, Kent, is...screwed.

The judge begins speaking and Kent's lawyers kick into gear, giving their responses and making their arguments. Kent glances over at the lawyers for the state, noticing for the first time that Ivan is over there as well, apparently waiting in case he needs to be called as a witness. But then Kent looks away, because it can't possibly matter anymore.

Kent barely listens as his lawyers speak. He knows the details of what they're asking for - he's read all the paperwork and asked all of his questions. This judgment session is, largely, a formality - the teams have come to an understanding, and the judge will only really deny it if she has some kind of personal vendetta. And, glancing up at her face, which is very nearly bored, Kent considers that it would be a surprise if she did that.

So, he lets himself space out a little bit, which he never does, glancing down at the paperwork on the table and passively reading some of the words. But as he looks closer, he frowns, leaning forward a bit to see that...

Her handwriting is...basically on every piece of paper here.

What?

Kent's eyes eagerly pass over everything on the table, noting Fay's chaotic cursive notes on nearly every document that the lawyers have brought today - which were only updated yesterday with the final details. Which means that...Fay was up last night, or this morning, going over every bit of it. What the hell?

Why on earth was she involved? Fay doesn't have a law degree - and while she's certainly clever enough to understand it...why...

Kent stands up straight and sighs through his nose, working hard to keep his face impassive. What on earth is she up to? He knows she wanted him to take this plea deal, but he had assumed it was to...keep things easy for him, for all of them. To just get everything settled so that they could all go on with their lives - Kent in jail, Daniel and Fay out in the world.

But this? The fact that she's not just leaving it up to the lawyers? That she's apparently going over every bit of the paperwork?

Kent clenches his fists as he realizes that...that Fay is fighting for him. And he doesn't get it - he doesn't know how, or why - but she's up to something.

And he could kill her for it - for putting herself in the middle, when she should be concentrating on herself, on the baby.

But damn it, if his heart doesn't swell with happiness and pride. Because his girl is out there, and she's fighting for him.

And he...he doesn't really know if he fully deserves it. Deserves her.

But he'll take it. God damnit, he'll take it, all of it. Because he's a selfish bastard and Fay?

Because she's everything.

"Mr. Lippert?" The judge says turning her gaze on him now and startling him a bit out of his reverie. "How do you plead?"

Kent glances at his lawyer, who nods to him, letting him know to do as rehearsed.

"Guilty," he replies, his voice ringing out stronger than he thought it would when he entered the court room, almost...god, it almost sounds a little happy, and smug, and sly.

The press whispers with curiosity and anticipation.

The judge takes a moment to look at him and then puts her glasses on, looking down at her the paperwork in front of her. "So be it. The sentencing will be delayed, then, but I am well convinced that the bargain struck here between the state and the defendant is equitable. Mr. Lippert, if you provide evidence to the state regarding the illegal activities of other extant criminal organizations to the satisfaction of the state, you will be sentenced to twenty years in prison for your collected crimes. Do you understand?" Kent sharply nods, and the judge bangs her gavel. And then it's done.

Kent turns away from the judge but before he can turn to Daniel, Ivan catches his eye from across the room, giving him a smirk and a nod that clearly says "I'll be seeing you soon."

But Kent gives him nothing, and turns to his son.

Daniel's there, and Kent quickly reaches for him, despite the rail between them. His wrists are still pinned together, but Daniel wraps him in a tight, fast hug. Kent knows that they don't have much time before the guards pull him away, take him back to prison for the month of interrogations, but he's going to take what he can get.

"How are you," Kent growls, resting his head against his son's for a moment. "Are you all right?"

"I'm good, we're good," Daniel says, pulling back a little bit and giving his dad a real smile. "I promise. Fay is...she's getting fat."

Kent laughs suddenly, surprising even himself. "No, she's not."

"No," Daniel says, grinning at him, and Kent can't help the surge of love that fills him to see his son looking so happy, even on such a tough day. "You're right, dad - she's not fat. She's just got this little belly now. I - um, I wish you could see her." His eyes flick around, aware that there might be listening ears.

Kent just nods, understanding. Daniel has to play the role of a husband telling his father about his wife's pregnancy. Not updating an imprisoned man on the woman he loves.

"She's healthy?" Kent asks. He knows it's dangerous to ask, but he has to know. "The baby too?"

"Yeah," Daniel says, smiling and running a hand through his hair. "The doctor says they're doing great - the baby, he's making her really nauseous -"

"He?" Kent asks, his breath catching, his eyebrows raising almost to his hairline.

But Daniel's face suddenly falls. "Oh, god, no, dad -"

Kent frowns, not understanding.

Daniel glances at Jerome, who grimaces, and then looks back at his father. "I'm sorry - it's kind of like, an inside joke. We don't know the sex of the baby yet - not at all. But we have this bet going, where Janeen and Jerome think it's a girl, and Fay's dad and I think it's a boy, and so we call the baby he and she - it...it doesn't sound very funny, does it? But it's -"

"It's all right," Kent says, smiling truly now as he nods to his son. Honestly, it's the best news Daniel could have given him - that he and Fay are living in a house with so much joy in it right now, despite everything, that they have jokes about the baby. That they laugh, and tease each other, and that the baby is safe and warm.

It's all he could have wanted. Daniel, without even knowing it, has given him a gift he couldn't have thought to ask for.

But still. There's more he needs to know.

Kent's eyes flash to the guards moving close towards him now, intent on taking him away, so he leans close to his son.

"What the hell is she getting into?" Kent says, leaning close and nodding over his shoulder at all of the lawyer's notes with Fay's handwriting all over this. "What is she planning?"

Daniel just shrugs. "She's a real Lippert now, dad," he says, sighing a little. "She says when we need to know, she'll tell us."

"God damn it," Kent growls, glancing away, his mind whirling. The guards come then, taking him by the arm, pulling him away. He looks back at his son and shakes his head once, sharply.

But Daniel knows his dad well enough to read him, even without the words. Don't let her get into anything she can't handle, Kent had said with that shake.

Daniel just shrugs, apologetic. She's out of my control, dad.

And Kent sighs, because he knows it's true.

When Fay is determined to do something, or have something her own way?

Lord help anyone who tries to stop her.

The guards lead Kent out of the courtroom and he lets them without hesitation or protest. He doesn't even look back over his shoulder at his kid.

Because he doesn't need to. Daniel gave him everything he needed - more than that.

The two of them the only two people who matter to him in the world?

They're safe, they're happy.

And they're fighting for him.

Kent closes his eyes for just a moment, saying a quick prayer, because whatever she's doing? Fay's dabbling in a dangerous world. Kent just hopes to hell she doesn't get in so deep that she can't get herself back out. Not for me, he thinks, shaking his head. I'm not worth that.

But if it were him on the other side, fighting for her?

He'd turn over heaven and hell to get her out.

 

Chapter 184

When Daniel and Jerome come home with the news of the sentencing, I don't say much. Honestly, there's not much to say. I had been fairly certain that it would go smoothly - and I've certainly got other things in my mind to worry about. So I just nod to them, and turn back to the paperwork that's spread out all over the table, concentrating especially on the big calendar I've drawn out before me. Because what this sentencing actually gives us, which I've been waiting for...

Is a timeline.

One month. One month of Kent spilling his guts to Ivan (which I'm sure Kent will absolutely hate), and then...we move.

"Okay," I say, looking down at my notes as Daniel and Jerome come over to the table, but before I can say anything else -

My hand flies to my mouth as my stomach turns over.

"Oh no," Jerome says, going tense before dashing into the kitchen, looking for the popcorn bowl that I've been using in emergencies when I can't get to the bathroom -

"I've got her!" Daniel shouts, taking me by the shoulders and rushing me to the half-bath off the kitchen, where I skitter to my knees before the toilet. Luckily, we make it in time for me to neatly throw up my breakfast directly into the toilet. Daniel, ever sweet, holds back my hair and pets my head softly until I'm finished. Then I fall back on my b**t with a groan and he hands me a tissue.

"You okay?" he asks softly, his eyes full of concern.

"Yeah," I reply, sighing and frowning down at my stomach. "Stupid baby."

"In baby's defense," Jerome says, leaning against the door frame, "she's probably really smart."

"Well, then she's just a jerk," I murmur, sighing again and working to stand up as Daniel flushes the toilet. Then he pats me on the back as I reach for the toothbrush and toothpaste I keep in here - I keep a spare set in all the bathrooms now - so I can clean the vomit taste out of my mouth.

As I brush, I stare at myself in the mirror, wondering how the hell I'm supposed to plan everything I need to plan if I'm running to the toilet five times a day, overwhelmed with nausea. There's just...so much that needs to get finished. And with only one month... As I lean over to spit out my toothpaste, I look down at my little belly. "You'd better not screw this up, kid," I murmur. "Or else both of your parents will be in jail. And then you'll get raised by Aunt Janeen and you'll turn out really weird."

I run a hand over my stomach, almost waiting for a reply but...nothing comes. Obviously. So, I just straighten my shoulders, take a deep breath, and get back to work.

The days pass quickly now that we have our timeline. Natalia and Alessi gave us a tearful goodbye and headed back to Italy, promising to come visit when the baby is born. With them gone, and without ever formally agreeing to it, my little household falls into a simple routine. We get up early to share a breakfast together, and then Daniel goes off to work with my father. Daniel always sighs when he comes home because I'm always waiting for him with a plate of food and a notebook. He groans, mumbling something about his second shift, and then he sits down with me and I make him tell me absolutely everything he learned that day - everything he saw, everyone he talked to, everything they said. And then I ask questions, and I make him do it all again. "Why do you need to know this, Fay?" he asks one night, yawning and rubbing his eyes.

"I'll tell you when you need to know," I murmur, writing in my notebook and checking the map of international shipping routes that I had Daniel bring home for me. He just sighs, I think a little sick of hearing it, but...well. He doesn't have much of a choice does he?

Janeen, when she doesn't take a lunch shift at the club, hangs out with my dad. Together they keep me fed and hold back my hair when I need to barf. They watch me, and I can tell they're worried, but they don't interfere. Ivan drops in a couple of times a week and Janeen and dad are always kind to him, though Daniel and Jerome are predictably cold - as they've been instructed to be.

Also as requested, Janeen sticks close to my side when Ivan visits, not giving us time alone. Ivan just smiles at me like he knows what I'm doing, but he shrugs it off, giving me my space, letting me know by the way that he looks at me that he's willing to be patient. But what he doesn't know is that I'm counting on that patience. And that eventually, I intend for it to pay off. That it's actually a very important part of my plan.

But even as Ivan is the one with an agenda, Jerome is the one who surprises me. He mostly hangs out with me at the table every day, passively reading newspapers and magazines, fending calls and texts from Daniel and passing me messages when Daniel asks him to. But I take his passive patience as one of his talents - after all, Kent trained him for years to sit quietly while he waited for commands.

But one day, about two weeks into our month-long timeline, as I'm leaning over a map of the local highway system, Jerome's finger suddenly appears in front of me, tapping the map.

"This isn't going to work," he murmurs, his voice sure and kind.

I look up at him in surprise. "What?"

Jerome looks at me evenly and shakes his head. "I see what you're thinking here. It's smart - but you're not seeing...this." And then he traces his finger along the map to point at an intersection that...well, he's right. I absolutely didn't see that - and it ruins all of my plans.

"Oh, crap..." I murmur, standing up straight and putting my hands on my hips, staring at the map as I realize that I have to start all over...

But then I whip my head up and stare at Jerome. "Wait, how did you know that? How do you know...how do you know what I'm thinking?"

"Because," he says evenly, giving a little shrug. "I've been sitting here with you for weeks, Fay. I've been looking at your plans as well. I mean, I've got some gaps in my knowledge but..." he smirks a little, sliding his hands into his pockets, "I've got the gist of it." "Oh," I say, my eyes wide, and then I scowl a little, wrinkling my nose at him. I thought I'd been so secretive and clever. "Well?" I ask after a moment, biting my lip. "What do you think?" Jerome's smirk widens into a big grin. "I think it's going to work."

"Really?" I gasp, my hands flying to my mouth, and then I squeal and throw myself into his arms. Jerome laughs and wraps me in a hug, rocking me back and forth.

"Yeah," he says, giving me a final squeeze before releasing me. "I think that it's...a very Fay plan, which means that not many people are going to see it coming. Of course, it all hinges on..." "I know," I reply, my face going a little pale. "But...I can do it, Jerome."

"You can," he says, giving a little shrug. "But you shouldn't, Fay." He puts a hand on my cheek and looks at me with sad eyes, shaking his head at me. "You should let me do it for you."

"No," I say, instant, shaking my head and looking back at him. "That part...that part's my responsibility. Mine alone."

"All right," Jerome whispers, not pushing me on it. But then he takes his hand away and sighs, stepping back and studying me.

"What?" I ask, confused.

"I just think it's time for you to loop Daniel in a little more," he says, giving a shrug. "After all, he has to do all the stuff with the boats."

I bite my lip, anxious. "You don't think it's too soon?"

"Two weeks, Fay," Jerome whispers, his expression worried now. "It might not be soon enough."

I groan and sit back down in my chair, hard, staring at the paperwork spread out on the table. After a long moment I nod. "Fine," I say, my hand rubbing passively over my belly. "We'll tell him tonight. And then tomorrow..." I look up at Jerome, seeing if he already knows. "Tomorrow we go see...her."

"Yup," I say, taking a deep breath. Because now that I'm getting my team involved? It's no longer just a speculation in my mind.

This is real now. And after tonight, it will have consequences.

"Anything you want me to pass along to Fay, tonight?" Ivan asks as he flips through his notes after a long interrogation session with Kent. He watches carefully as Kent declines to reply, smirking when he sees Kent's shoulders raise in a deep sigh. "Seriously," Ivan says, slapping the notebook shut and leaning back in his chair, looking Kent over from head to toe. "I don't mind. I'll pass on a message - whatever it is you want to say."

Slowly, Kent raises his head to meet Ivan's eyes. He blinks once and just shakes his head at the kid, knowing that he's needling him again. Kent's determined not to let it work, but - as Ivan's said before - he knows his weak spot.

Ivan's mouth spreads into a slow smile. "She's getting bigger," he tells Kent, his voice soft. "Not fat - just...a cute little belly, like she's smuggling a melon under her dress."

Kent's heart seizes when he hears it, and he believes him. Not only does Ivan have any reason to lie but...well, that's how he imagined Fay would look. Keeping his gaze, Ivan leans forward to rest his elbows on his knees.

"She's sick all the time now too," he whispers, "just... morning sickness, all hours of the day. And when she runs to the bathroom? Sometimes I go with her. To hold her hair, rub her back...really, anything that she needs. That's what a good guy does, isn't it? He's there for his girl, when she's sick. A good dad, too."

Kent just closes his eyes and looks away. Because even though he knows exactly what Ivan's doing...well, he's right, isn't he?

That is what a dad should be doing for the mother of his child.

And here he is, rotting away in jail.

And there Ivan is, more than happy to take his spot.

"Why don't you let her husband do those things," Kent murmurs, not knowing why the hell Daniel keeps letting Ivan into the house. Unless Fay has a reason for it...

...or Fay is...considering him. Considering Ivan as a real replacement.

But the bare thought of that threatens to crush him, so Kent dismisses the idea.

"Daniel's distracted," Ivan says with a casual little sigh. "Working for Alden now, and he's got Jerome to think about - don't want him getting jealous -

Kent's eyes flash open at this and his head snaps to look at Ivan. What?

"Oh," Ivan says, genuinely surprised. And then Ivan laughs, delighted, as he leans back in his chair. "Oh, you didn't know about that, did you?"

 

Chapter 185

"Oh, by the way," he says, glancing over at Daniel and Jerome with a friendly smile as he flattens out the empty boxes of the pizza that he brought all the way from the city. "I think I let a little something slip this morning when I probably shouldn't have. Sorry about that. I thought he knew." Daniel sits up straight in his chair, staring at Ivan. "What are you talking about?"

"WHAT!?" Daniel shouts, jumping to his feet.

"Whoa," Ivan says, pretending to be surprised and stepping back with his hands up, though I just sigh because I know he's faking it. "I said I was sorry - could have happened to anyone -"

"Bullshit," Jerome snaps, glaring. "You knew precisely what you were doing."

"I promise -"

"Welp," my dad says, getting to his feet and slapping his hands loudly against his thighs, interrupting everything. "I guess it's about time to get to bed." And then he gives Ivan a hard look, letting him know without any further words that it's time for him to make himself scarce.

Ivan gets the message and cheerfully says his goodbyes. I walk him down to the driveway in silence.

"Did you have to do that, Ivan?" I ask quietly as he turns to me at the driver's-side door.

"I didn't do anything," he protests, but then he just laughs a little ruefully when he sees the knowing look on my face. Because he didn't fool me - or frankly any of us. Not at all.

"I actually didn't mean to do it," he says, slipping his hands into his pockets and leaning back against his car. "This morning, when I said something to Kent? It really was innocent. I thought he knew - it's so obvious."

"Not to Kent," I murmur, glancing up at the house where I know Daniel is probably flipping out. "But you didn't have to do that to Daniel. It was mean."

"Yeah well," Ivan says, looking down at his feet a little guiltily now. "You shouldn't lean on them as much as you do anyway, Fay. They're going to leave you at some point, after all."

"What?" I ask, confused.

"They're together," he says, looking up at me. "I mean, I get why you married Daniel - for the baby - but eventually? Those two," he says, pointing up at the house, "are going to leave you."

"So, what's your advice," I ask dryly, crossing my arms and staring at him. "Put all my eggs in your basket? Hang out with you?"

"Well, obviously, yes," Ivan says, giving me that smile, the one I can't resist returning. But then his face gets serious again. "But really, Fay, why do you trust this Jerome guy?"

"What?" I ask, confused. Jerome...I trust Jerome completely. He's never given me a reason not to - has always been there. He's my best friend and husband's boyfriend - my literal partner in crime now. Why wouldn't I trust him?

"That guy, Fay?" Ivan asks, standing up now and moving close to me so he can talk quietly. "He's shady as hell. He's always looking to get higher - always clinging on to the most powerful person he can and telling them whatever they want to hear. I've done my homework on Jerome Rosello, Fay - he was born with nothing, and now he's shacked up in a million-dollar shore house, living for free, sleeping with the heir to the Lippert and Bianci fortunes? I mean, come on."

I frown at Ivan, shaking my head, completely unwilling to believe it.

"I mean," Ivan says, truly asking now as he glances up at the house, "is he even actually gay?"

And my mouth drops open as I remember, quite suddenly that...that Jerome hit on me - like a lot - before I found out he was with Daniel. Part of my shock at them being together was because I was thoroughly convinced that Jerome liked me.

I say nothing, but when Ivan looks back at my face he grins a little, shaking his head. "See?" he says, reaching out to put a hand on my shoulder. "I'm onto something there. Don't trust him, Fay."

But I frown and pull my shoulder out from beneath Ivan's hand. "You should go." I say, hard. Because even if Ivan has a point? Jerome has done nothing but be good to me, and help me, and prove himself a good and loyal friend. And I'm not going to let Ivan shake that faith now not when he directly benefits from it.

"Fay," Ivan says, his face suddenly sad. "I'm sorry - I didn't mean to -"

"Yes, you did," I snap, glaring up at him. "You were deliberately nasty up there tonight, to Daniel and to Jerome - you threw that in their face and couldn't keep the smile off your mouth. And now you're trying to drive a wedge between us. You're being deliberately manipulative, Ivan," I say, shaking my head at him, "and it is not a good look on you. So would you please go, and stop trying to destroy what's left of my life?"

Ivan purses his lips as he looks at me, but I can see that he's well aware that what I've said is fair.

"I am sorry, Fay," he murmurs, and then he sighs and looks down again. "You're right. I...wasn't trying to be nice."

"Well at least you admit it." I sigh, stepping away from him.

"Can I at least -"

"Good night, Ivan," I snap, glaring at him. And Ivan sighs and meets my eyes again.

"I'll see you soon, okay?" I don't respond, and after a few seconds he climbs into his car and drives away. I stand alone in the driveway for a few minutes after he's gone, thinking through what he said. Because even if he was just trying to rattle me?

Well, it worked. I am rattled.

Should I be trusting Jerome as much as I have been?

I turn when I hear the house door creaking open behind me.

"You coming inside?" Daniel asks. "It's cold out here."

I blink at him for a second and then slowly walk over to where he's waiting with a blanket. He wraps it warmly around my shoulders and I smile up at him, touched that he's so thoughtful.

"Thanks, Danny," I murmur, stepping closer and letting him wrap his arms around me.

"He shook you up, didn't he," Daniel murmurs.

"Yeah," I reply, sighing deeply. "He's good at that, isn't he?"

"The best," Daniel replies. "Do you want to talk about it?"

"Nope," I reply, knowing that it's true. Because even if he did sow a seed of doubt in my mind...it doesn't matter. Jerome's so thoroughly a part of my plan now that even if I did decide not to trust him...well, everything would fall apart. I need him, and if he decides to betray me? Well, then I guess I'm going down.

My only option now - at all is to trust the guy who bought me my pregnancy test, who has always been kind to me. And not the one who put my baby daddy in jail.

"Come on," I say, pulling away from Daniel and smiling up at him. "Let's go inside. I've got a lot to tell you."

"What?" he says, his eyes going wide. "You're - you're actually going to fill me in on part of the plan?"

"On the whole plan," I say, grinning up at him. "And then tomorrow? We're going to a bar."

"Patience, Lippert," I laugh, pulling him up the stairs. "All will be revealed in due time. But I think you're going to like it."