Ch. 221..225: Fall For My Ex’s Mafia Dad Chapter 221-225

Chapter 221

Kent laughs a little at my impudent question. "No," he says. "I didn't know Jerome was gay - I had no idea. Honestly, Fay, I thought he was into you. I'd heard him talk about girls before - just locker room kind of things with the other guys in the alley - which could very well be a defense mechanism in this kind of work, but," he sighs, "when Ivan casually dropped that Daniel and Jerome were together?" He shakes his head, still baffled. "It was a shock."

"Kent," I say quietly and then I lift myself up, turning and slinging one leg over his lap so that I'm straddling him and able to look him in the face, looping my hands casually around his neck. Kent rests his hands on my hips, looking at me seriously. "Is it possible..." I hesitate now, still putting together my thoughts.

"What, Fay?" he asks, encouraging.

"Well," I say, looking into his deep green eyes. "Is it possible that even though you are the one who noticed Jerome...that someone...placed him there? On purpose? So that you could notice him?"

Kent's hands momentarily tighten on my hips as he realizes what I'm saying. Then the loosen, a deep breath coming with them. "Yes," Kent whispers, nodding. "It is...I mean, I hadn't considered it before, but it is...possible."

My heart sinks then, because I...I don't want to be asking these questions, and I feel guilty even considering it. "Jerome has been so good to me, Kent," I say quietly. "He has always been on my side. He believed me about the baby even before you and Daniel did - took my word for it. And I entrusted him with so much on the day we left - I had him go get you over anyone else -"

Kent laughs a little here, and I frown at him.

"Did you know anyone else who could ride, Fay?" he asks, dubious.

"Well I can ride, Kent," I say, looking at him with wide eyes, a little offended. "I could have gone and -"

He laughs harder at this. "Fay, you're four months pregnant and have only gone riding in the ring -"

"Not true!" I protest, a little offended. "I rode around...the pastures..."

Kent shakes his head a me then, taking my face between his palms with a little sigh. "All right," he concedes, though I can tell he didn't mean it. "You could have done it too. You're very capable."

I narrow my eyes at him, knowing that he's pandering to me, and his face breaks into a wide grin. But I move on, dismissing it. "Either way," I say, shaking my head a little and obliging him to drop his hands. "What I'm trying to say is that I didn't just choose Jerome because he was my only choice. I really do trust him, Kent."

He nods slowly to me, returning his hands to my hips and slowly beginning to slide them up and down the sides of my body. "I'm sensing a 'but' is coming, Fay," he murmurs, looking at me seriously again.

I nod. "But," I say, and then I sigh. "Kent, I can't get it out of my head, how he reacted. Something in my gut is telling me to push here - to get to the bottom of it. Do you...do you think I'm being paranoid? Should I forget about it? I trust him and I love him - he is like family to me."

Kent sighs and stops petting me, instead wrapping his arms loosely around me and pulling me forward so that I lean against his chest. "Even if you are being paranoid, Fay," he murmurs into my hair. "That's your job now. You're in charge - you have to follow these instincts, get to the bottom of everything. If Jerome comes out clean, it will only make you trust him more for passing your test, though he - and Daniel - might resent you asking these questions."

I sigh, hating that idea - I love them so much, I don't want them disappointed.

I'm quiet for a long moment, nestled against Kent, thinking. And then I come up with a great idea.

"Well," I say, my voice soft and bright now. "Can you do it for me?"

"What?" Kent asks, his arms tightening a little.

"You can ask," I say, sitting up a little and grinning at him, my face close to his. "And not tell him I asked you to. Come on, isn't this a perk I get for carrying your child? Just a little favor?"

Kent growls, his eyes narrowing. "You can't use that for everything, Fay," he murmurs.

"Sure I can," I say, my grin growing now. Kent laughs a little and I press a quick kiss to his mouth.

"This is dangerous," he sighs. "This is precisely why I didn't let myself get close to women - I don't want to be obliged to do your dirty work -"

"Ohhh," I say, dismissive, "it isn't dirty work, Kent! Just, you know, a little chat."

He snarls now, playfully, his arms tightening as he twists me to the side so that I'm laying back in his arms and he looms over me, which I know he prefers. I bite my lip as I look up at my sexy mafia boss, because I like it too. Very, very much. "I'm done having your prescribed chats," he growls, bringing his face close to mine.

"Fine," I say, starting to run my fingers through his hair. "Just - you know, whenever you have a minute. Have a little chat with Jerome, please, and see where it takes you. And don't tell him I'm behind it."

"And what do I get," Kent murmurs, dipping his head and kissing my jaw, and then my neck. "In return for this favor?"

But I don't bother to answer as my back arches, pressing me closer against him. Kent lifts his head and a little moan slips from my lips before I press my mouth to his.

Because, quite frankly, we both know that Kent's going to give me whatever I want.

And that I have my own very particular ways of thanking him.

Later that evening, before dinner, I walk around the ship looking for Jerome. A big smile breaks onto my face when I find him, finally, out on the deck with Daniel by his side, quietly chatting and watching the sunset. But when Daniel turns to me with a frown on his face, my smile drops away and I bite my lip, suddenly worried.

"Ignore him," Jerome says, laughing. "He's feeling extra defensive because someone got him morning drunk, and then someone else kept him going all day."

"You better 'poligize to 'Romey," Daniel says, pointing a finger at me.

I burst into laughter then, quickly crossing and wrapping my arms around Daniel's waist. "That's what I came to do!" I promise, grinning up at him. "But, um, do I owe you an apology too?"

"Yup," Daniel says, giving me an exaggerated nod. "You made me have a really weird talk with my dad. About Johnny Depp."

"What?" I ask, baffled but pleased.

"I'll fill you in," Jerome sighs, putting a hand out to me, which I take. "Danny," he says, nodding towards the lounge chairs, "go lay down for a second. I'll be over in a little bit."

Daniel narrows his eyes at Jerome now. "Don't boss me 'round," he mutters, but he does as Jerome suggests, walking over to the lounge chairs and flopping down in one, closing his eyes peacefully.

"Where's Janeen?" I ask, smiling a little, my eyes still on Daniel, who I'm pretty sure is already almost asleep. "Is she in just as bad shape?"

"Worse," Jerome says, laughing. "She went to bed an hour ago."

"Oh my god," I say, shaking my head. "They're going to regret it tomorrow."

"I know," Jerome says, giving my hand a little squeeze. "Which is a shame, because tomorrow we'll reach Europe. And they'll be all hungover." "Really?" I ask, my eyes going wide as I look up at him. "So soon?"

"It's been a long time at sea, Fay," Jerome says, grinning at me. "I mean, I know you've been distracted, but yeah, we're really almost there." "But we're not..." I frown, confused.

"Yes," Jerome says, confirming my thoughts. "We still have to pass into the Mediterranean and get to where we're going but," he shrugs, pleased, "we should start to be able to see land, which will be exciting after," he gestures out towards the expanse of blue Atlantic stretching out before us, "days of nothing."

"Aw," I say, turning towards the sea and leaning against the rail, admiring it. "I'll kind of miss it. It's been peaceful."

"It's been dull," Jerome says, turning with me. "I can't wait to see Europe - something new."

I nod and grin up at him before my expression drops into something more serious. "I'm sorry, Jerome," I say, taking a step closer to him. "Really, I am. It wasn't right for me to -"

"Nah, Fay," he says, shaking his head at me and dropping my hand to wrap his arm warmly around my shoulders. "I over-reacted. I was too sensitive. I know I upset you, and I'm sorry. Me and you - we didn't say anything we're not willing to take back, right? We're good?"

"We are," I insist, suddenly feeling a little bad for urging Kent to ask Jerome more questions. But...well, I don't really intend to tell Kent not to do it. So, I guess it's just a guilt I'm going to live with. "We really are, Jerome. I love you and I trust you, I don't want you to ever doubt that."

"Me neither, Fay," he says, resting his head against mine. "Let's move on from it, right? Focus on the future."

"On the future," I say, looking out at sea and admiring the way the sunlight dances across the water. "Which, apparently starts tomorrow." "Tomorrow it starts," Jerome confirms, nodding. "But the next day? That's the big one."

 

Chapter 222

Early in the morning two days later, before the sun even comes up, I roll over in bed and kiss Kent gently on the shoulder. "Kent," I whisper, loud enough that I know it will wake him. "Kent, wake up."

He blinks a little, frowning, and then presses his eyes further shut. "No," he grumbles, turning away from me.

"Kent!" I say, laughing and placing a hand on his shoulder to gently shake him. "Come on! I want to go up and see it!" "No, go away," he mumbles. "I hate you. Let me sleep." He turns over onto his stomach and buries his face in his pillow.

This just makes me laugh harder. I sit up now, eagerly grabbing his arm and trying to pull him back over and wake him up. "Kent!" I hiss. "You have to! If I go up alone I'm going to be seduced by a sailor, or kidnapped, or -" "Good," he mutters. "Then I'll get some sleep."

I smack him on the arm then, but I'm still laughing because I know that if any of that was a reality? Kent would be wide away, his fist already cocked.

Kent sighs, turning over and looking up at me. "You're really not going to let me get out of this, are you?"

Grinning, I shake my head and bounce a little, eager to go. I don't want to miss it.

He sighs and sits up then, taking my face in his hands. "You should let an old man sleep, Fay," he murmurs quietly, shaking his head at me. "We need our rest."

"You shouldn't have got a girlfriend more than half your age, Kent," I counter, smiling at him, "if you couldn't keep up. Now let's go!"

I lean forward, pressing a quick kiss to his lips before jumping out of bed and heading for the bathroom. I hear his groan behind me as he pulls himself out of bed as well, but I ignore it, because I'm not going to let him guilt me into missing this. We can sleep the rest of our lives away - but this? It's once in a lifetime.

I lean against the doorframe of the bathroom as I watch Kent pull a sweatshirt on, a little sad to see his chest and abs disappear from sight. Then I quickly move back into the bathroom, spitting out the toothpaste and rising my brush.

When I come back to the door, Kent is fully dressed and kneeling down by my own suitcase, quickly choosing something for me to wear. I smile to see it, glad to see the old habit coming back.

He looks up at me then, maybe hearing or sensing me. "What?" he asks, confused as to why I'm just standing here.

"Nothing," I say, smiling at him. "Just like looking at ya."

He smirks a little and tosses some soft clothing at me as he stands. Luckily, I catch it. "Get dressed," he murmurs as we swap places, "before I drag you back to bed and make you forget all about this."

I laugh as Kent closes the bathroom door, well aware that he could probably do just that. But the fact that he doesn't?

I sigh as I get changed, pleased that my man is so nice and caters to my early-morning whims.

A few minutes later, as cleaned up and polished as we're going to get, Kent and I leave the cabin and I almost clap my hands with eagerness. Our captain told us last night at dinner that if we got up early we'd be treated to an especially unique sight. I absolutely can't wait.

Kent, however, is determined to be grumpy. He pulls back when I grab his hand and try to drag him forward. "Slow, Fay," he growls, giving me a glare. "You've got me up at this ridiculous hour, the least you can do is walk at a normal pace." "We're going to miss it," I whine, tugging more at his hand and Kent sighs and walks just a little faster for my sake.

But we get to the stairs soon enough, and make our way up them, me tugging at his hand the whole time. Kent doesn't say anything and doesn't go any faster despite my efforts, but the little smile on his mouth lets me know that he's pleased too. He likes to see me happy.

When we finally do make our way to the bow of the ship, I'm pleased to see that the sun hasn't risen yet and is just a hazy purple glow on the horizon. The stars are still out, as I'd hoped they'd be, shining bright against the blue-black sky.

Even more pleasing is the sight of two other figures leaning against the rail, looking out into the dark.

"Oh good," Daniel says sarcastically, turning towards us as he hears the door open. "Someone else has joined us for this insanity."

I laugh, because his voice is just as bitter and exhausted as his dad's.

"Did we miss it?" I gasp, hurrying over to Daniel and Jerome, pulling Kent with me.

"We didn't," Jerome says, opening an arm to me. I drop Kent's hand and go to Jerome, hugging him around the waist and grinning up at him. "You're just in time."

"I'm glad you got Daniel up," I whisper, grinning up at Jerome. "Did he fight you on it? Kent did."

"I basically had to throw a glass of cold water on him to get him up," Jerome says, laughing down into my face. "They're lucky to have us romantics in their lives, aren't they?"

"They are," I say on a sigh, laughing a little.

"We are deeply unlucky," Kent corrects, wrapping a hand around my arm and giving it a little tug, a silent request that I come back to him. Jerome kindly releases me from my hug and I stand on my tiptoes to give Daniel a kiss on the cheek as he mumbles some half- hearted morning greetings.

Then, I stand in front of Kent at the rail at the front of the ship, leaning back against him and smiling as the wind tugs at my hair. Kent wraps his arms around me, keeping me warm, and rests his chin on my head as we both look towards the horizon, waiting. And as we wait, I realize that in this moment I am again just...perfectly happy. Here, with Kent, and two other people that I love, about to start on an amazing adventure? With my little baby growing in my stomach?

"Doesn't get any better than this," I sigh, lifting my hands to curl my fingers around Kent's forearms, wanting to have my hands on him, as I always do.

"Would be a little better with some coffee," Kent mutters, but he drops a kiss on my hair letting me know he doesn't mean it. "Though...well, it's very beautiful, isn't it?"

"Yeah," I say, my face breaking into a grin as the sun starts to rise a little more now, revealing the sight that we've been waiting for.

Out ahead of us, black against the lightening sky, sitting dark beneath the hanging stars, the four of us catch our very first sight of our destination stretching out before us in the dawn.

"Wow," I say completely undone by the spectacular sight as the island inches closer. I mean, I knew that it would be special - the captain promised us that it would - to see the land stretched out before us at dawn as we made our final approach. But really, nothing prepared me for it - for the wide expanse of sea, and the way the land takes shape under the stars...

Kent takes a step forward, pressing his stomach closer against my back, pulling me tight against him. "All right," he mutters, a little bitter at having been proved wrong. "You're right. It was worth it."

I laugh and snuggle back against him. "Say it again, Kent," I whisper, my voice rich with joy.

He laughs softly too and lowers his mouth to my ear. "You were right, Fay," he murmurs, and a shiver runs through me for more reasons than the words. But Kent takes a deep, contented breath and raises his head, looking out over mine to fasten his eyes on the place where we're going.

A place he's been many, many times before.

I glance over at Daniel and Jerome, who likewise stand having their own private conversation, their arms warm around each other.

And I smile because I am just...so, so incredibly excited to be here. To have given this moment to each of us.

"Welcome to Sicily, Fay," Kent says, dropping another kiss to my hair. "Welcome home."

And I smile, and shake my head a little in wonder.

"I can't wait to see it, Kent," I whisper. "You have to show me everything."

"I will," he says, nodding once in assurance.

And I look back at him, and tilt my chin up.

And Kent seals his promise with a kiss.

Chapter 223

I'm practically vibrating with excitement and anxiety as we wait for the sailors to attach the plank that will allow us to disembark from the ship. Of course, we have to pass through an empty shipping container and exit through a secret back door that Daniel assured us will allow us to bypass security, so we don't get to disembark the way I dreamed we would out into the Italian sun, looking out over the land.

But, well. I suppose I can make do, if it means we won't be immediately arrested.

Daniel takes lead here, and I'm quite pleased to see him operating efficiently and with authority.

I am, however, also very distracted.

I glance back over my shoulder, worried about Heathcliff and if the sailors will get him off without scaring him -

And all of our luggage, will it go to the right place? Maybe I need to -

Kent just laughs, putting a warm hand on my shoulder. "Stop micromanaging it, Fay," he says, smiling down at me. "Everything is in order - you spent weeks ensuring all that. Now you either trust the system or you don't. Yes?"

I scowl at him a little. "You sound like me," I murmur, turning forward as Daniel and Jerome start to move.

"No," Kent says quietly as we walk forward too. "You stole that form me. Plagiarist."

I laugh a little, glancing over my shoulder again, but this time locking eyes with Janeen.

"Don't worry, we're coming!" she says, giving me a wide grin, her arm linked with dad's. Dad also nods to me with a smile, letting me know that he's all right and excited.

So, I take a deep breath and move forward, hoping to hell this all works.

To my pleasure, my father's lessons to Daniel seem to have paid off. Daniel shares a few words with a couple of Italian men who wave us forward, handing Daniel a booklet of papers in exchange for two separate envelopes which I assume hold a great deal of cash. Once that's done everything is...simple. The Italians, money now in hand, wave us forward, not bothering to look us in our faces, perhaps not wanting to know who, precisely, they've just let into their country.

Then again, if what Daniel says is right, this sort of thing is pretty standard smuggling procedure. So maybe it's less about not wanting to know, and more about not actually caring because they do this sort of thing all the time. I shrug a little as Kent puts an arm around my shoulders, looking down into my face to see if I'm all right.

I guess the details of international smuggling is Daniel's expertise these days - and the less I know about it the better.

"Come on," Kent says as we pass through the massive port building and move through a back door into the bright, fresh Italian air. "Let's get started."

As with the start of our journey, everything is impossibly smooth, and if I hadn't put so much work into planning it all - even these past few days, putting details in order after Kent decided we would be safest and most comfortable in Sicily instead of elsewhere in Europe - I'd be suspicious that it's too easy.

But any suspicions I have fall to the wayside as we climb into a luxury passenger van that's waiting for us outside the port, the first in a line of vehicles that we've arranged to carry us and all of our goods to the home we've rented a few hours away, down the coast. "Ohhh," Janeen says, grinning as she climbs into the van ahead of me. "Oh, this is nice - I've worked in a couple of these before for some bachelor parties - sometimes they have a poll at the back!"

I laugh as I step in after her, Kent's hand warmly in mine, surveying the plush van with way too much bench seating for the six of us. But, well. I wanted to be comfortable. "I guess it will do."

Kent laughs and urges me towards the back, saying a few words to the driver in Italian as a couple of our suitcases are loaded into the van along with us - just the personal stuff which we wanted to keep by us. The rest - all of our possessions, clothes, even all the baby stuff Natalia bought for me - will all be delivered later, along with the horses.

When we're ready, Kent comes to the back of the van and sits next to me, my dad and Janeen on the other side of us.

Daniel and Jerome sit on either side of the benches that stretch along the length of the van, grinning with excitement.

"Ready?" Kent asks, looking around. When we all nod, he whistles to the driver, who pulls away.

"When does it get pretty?" Janeen asks, peering out the window and frowning at the port. "Europe is supposed to be gorgeous."

"It already is pretty," Kent insists, frowning at her, defensive. "Did you not smell that fresh air? See that clear sky?"

Janeen turns to look at Kent, a little baffled. "You mean the fresh air that smelled like diesel fuel and fish? Is that what I have to look forward to here?"

Kent clicks his tongue and turns away from Janeen, wrapping an arm around my shoulders while he waves a dismissive hand in her direction, a very Italian gesture. I laugh, leaning against him and turning eagerly towards the window.

Because...well, Janeen is right for the moment, but I don't need to agree with her out loud. Still, I'm excited to see what all the fuss is about too.

Daniel and Jerome chatter happily with my dad, Daniel telling about his own memories of coming here as a child and a teenager. I am happy to let them fill the air with their noise so that I can sit quietly, looking out the window and taking in this new land, my new home.

And as we leave the port, and drive south along the coast...

I am...absolutely not disappointed.

My lips part in surprise and awe as we begin to drive down the long highway that borders the coast because it's just...god, it's actually so gorgeous that it threatens to take my breath away. The hills are rocky and rough, and the trees and shrubs are a rich sage- green, clinging to the dry soil with a coarse determination.

And the sky - it stretches above, such a rich, vibrant blue...

When the sea again comes into view, crashing below us, so close to the highway that I get a little vertigo looking down, my mouth is fully open in surprise. I lean away from Kent, my head turning, trying to take it all in.

He laughs behind me, and I can tell he's delighted as the rest of the van goes quiet, everyone beginning to look out the windows and take in the incredible sights around us.

"Wow," I say, my eyes wide as I press my hands eagerly against the window. "Kent, you weren't kidding, it's...it's so incredibly beautiful here..."

"This is just the start," he says, pleased and a little smug, as if he somehow takes credit for the beauty of the land. And I smile but I don't tease him, knowing it's only because he loves it. Kent's an American - he was born there, he made his fortune there, raised his first child there but I know that in so many ways? Sicily is his home.

I grin at him over my shoulder, so excited to learn about this place that I feel I could burst with it.

"I know," he murmurs, nodding to me and wrapping an arm around my waist, pulling me back against him. "I feel exactly the same way."

I snuggle back against Kent, an excited smile on my lips. "I'm so glad we broke you out of prison," I sigh, again buzzing with excitement. Kent just bursts into laughter, and I smile again, happy to hear him laugh at my side.

Chapter 224

Janeen, hearing my words to Kent, of course chimes in.

"I mean, we could have done all of this without him," Janeen points out, and I can hear the smirk in her voice.

"Not with this much class," Kent returns calmly, making me laugh. And with that he snaps his fingers, getting Daniel's attention. "Check that cooler, kid," he says, and I turn to see Kent lifting his chin towards the covered top of a drink well that is probably filled with booze during parties.

Curious, Daniel flips back the lid and whistles at what he sees. A smile breaks onto his face as he reaches in and produces a chilled bottle of what I can only assume is very expensive champagne.

"Wow, dad," Daniel says, raising his eyes at Kent. "Sure you don't want to drink this in a place where it's so likely to get spilled?"

"It's worth it," Kent says, laughing as Jerome moves to the other side of the van and peeks into the second drink well, smiling as he produces six champagne flutes. He hands them out and we all talk happily as Daniel pops the champagne and begins to fill all of our glasses.

He only fills mine halfway and raises an eyebrow at me, asking if I want more, but I shake my head, only wanting a sip.

Well, wanting more than a sip, but determined to let this drink be ceremonial.

"We'll get you a whole bottle for yourself," Kent murmurs to me as I lean back against him as Daniel fills his glass, "once the bell pepper is born."

"Two bottles," I say, trying to pout but failing because I'm just so incredibly happy.

"You got it," Kent replies, and I can hear in his voice how excited he is.

Then we all raise our glasses in a toast, clinking them together and exchanging happy words.

"To fresh starts," Daniel says, grinning around.

"And Italy," Jerome adds. "Our new home."

"More specifically, Italian men," Janeen contributes quite seriously, making us all laugh.

"Should we tell her now?" Daniel asks, wrinkling his nose at Jerome.

Janeen sits up straight, looking around and Jerome groans. "No, I don't think you should ever tell her," Jerome says, shaking his head. "It's too mean."

"Tell me what!?" Janeen insists, her eyes wide.

"That -"

"Enough, finish the toast," Kent interrupts, his voice cheerful but demanding.

"To family," dad says, and my heart melts to hear him say it. "Old and new, together. And, those members soon to come," he says, smiling at me especially and nodding down at my stomach.

Everyone smiles at this and we all raise our glasses again. "Family," we say, and then we drink, and I savor the way the bubbles taste on my tongue.

Kent softly kisses my cheek and I turn my face up, pressing my own kiss to his jaw as Janeen leans forward.

"Seriously," she says, her eyes narrowed at Daniel and Jerome. "Tell me."

And, grinning, Jerome informs her that it wasn't that the sailors on the ship were simply resistant to her numerous charms - but that they were under Daniel's orders the entire time to leave her explicitly alone.

"You," she says, glaring hard at Daniel and grabbing the bottle of champagne out of his hand, "are a traitor, sir," she says, leaning back and pouring herself another glass as the rest of us laugh. "And after I threw you such a beautiful wedding reception!" "Janeen," Daniel says, leaning forward and grinning at her. "Consider this my revenge for that wedding reception. I was hung over for three days."

"So you thought I deserved ten days of torture on the ship!?"

"Yup," Daniel says, grinning and leaning against Jerome. "Every damn minute."

And as Janeen scowls at my husband, and our van moves swiftly down the coast, and I lean against Kent and sip slowly at the first and last half-glass of alcohol I'll have my entire pregnancy, I look out the window and marvel at the beauty of this new land. This new place, where me and my odd little family are going to make a new home.

And I just can't wait to see what comes next.

"No wayyy," I breathe when the van slows and pulls up to a beautiful old gate. I turn to look up at Kent, my eyes wide. "You're kidding me."

"I am not," he murmurs, and he presses a hasty kiss to the side of my head before standing up from his seat at the back of the van and working his way forward to talk to the driver, giving him the code to get into the property.

"Is this our new house?" Janeen says as she takes Kent's seat next to me, her eyes wide.

"That's what he said!" I reply, laughing, and we both shake our heads at each other.

Because we could see the house on the way up the road - and the gorgeous fields next to it, and a glimpse of the pool beyond it, and the ocean beyond that -

And it was all just so incredibly fantastic that we had laughed, saying it would be nice to live in a place this beautiful.

So imagine our surprise when the van slowed, and then stopped at the entrance.

"Not half bad," dad says, his arms crossed as he peers out the window as the gate swings open and the van begins to pull forward.

"Not regretting your choice to come Europe yet?" Jerome says to dad, smiling at him.

"Not a minute of it yet, kiddo," he says, giving Jerome a wink.

I turn to Daniel, shaking my head in awe as the van pulls down a long dirt drive bordered with olive trees.

"Did you know about this?" I ask. Because while Kent allowed me to handle many of the details, he insisted on picking out the house we would be renting himself, and on keeping it a surprise.

"I knew a little," Daniel says, working hard to hold back a smile.

"See?" Janeen says, giving him a little glare. "I told you he was a traitor."

"True," I say, giving him a shove on the shoulder. "Shame on you! Keeping secrets from your wife!"

"Oh, come on," Daniel replies, laughing at us as the car makes its final turn in front of a gorgeous white stone villa. "How could we resist seeing the look on the Thompson sisters' faces?"

"Well, I suppose that is true," Janeen says, feigning a conceited tone of voice and lifting her chin while she brushes her long purple hair back over her shoulder. "We are devastatingly beautiful, and we would not deny you that opportunity." Daniel opens his mouth to retort - something playfully snide, I'm sure - but Kent doesn't give him a chance, clapping his hands at the front of the van as it pulls to a stop.

"If you're finished?" Kent says, raising a wry eyebrow at us as he slides his hands into the pockets of his slacks. "Perhaps you'd like to come and see the house?"

Biting my lip with excitement, I grab my sister's hand as I jump out of my seat and hurry to the front of the van. Janeen laughs as she comes with me, just as eager as I am to see our new home.

Nodding, fighting a bright smile, Kent opens the van door and steps out, reaching out a hand to help me hop down.

He doesn't let my hand go as I turn towards the house, but instead pulls me closer to him as my mouth falls open a little bit.

Because...it's the most gorgeous home I've ever seen in my life.

"Is this...seriously, we're going to live here?" I ask, my voice faint and my eyes wide.

"For now," Kent says, and I can tell by his voice that he's happy and proud. "Longer, if you like it. What do you think?"

I grin as I look up at my handsome mafia boss. I open my mouth to reply, to tell him that I absolutely love it, but before I can I gasp when someone sweeps me bodily off my feet.

"What!" I shriek, kicking my legs. "Daniel, put me down!"

"No way," he says, laughing and moving forward to the giant wooden door to the house, an entry which looks like it's probably two hundred years old and lovingly cared for. "I have to carry my bride over the threshold to our new home!" "Isn't that my job?" Kent growls, and I look over my shoulder and laugh to see him glaring at his son.

"Still my wife, dad!" Daniel says, teasing, as Jerome opens the front door and bows, waving us in.

Kent sighs and turns up his hands as he sees me laugh, but then as a family we all move forward and step into our home.

I eagerly wrap my arms around Daniel's neck as we move through the door, because I can't wait to see inside.

 

Chapter 225

The villa is a place of dreams.

Daniel puts me down pretty much the moment we come inside and my shoes click against beautiful white tiles of the floor. Kent immediately takes Daniel's place at my side, wrapping an arm around my waist and leading me through the house as if he's been here a thousand times before, even though I know he's only seen it online.

The entire place is gigantic and clearly very, very old. As we walk, our family spreading out into the house and marveling at all its different pieces, Kent tells me that it's a four-hundred-year-old farm house that's been lovingly restored with all modern amenities. We have the farmlands around the house as well, some of which have been leased out to local famers, but some of which - including a small barn - has been set aside for Butterfly and Heathcliff.

My heart soars a little, thinking about how nice it will be to have Heathcliff in the building next door, but all of these happy emotions are wiped from me and replaced with awe the moment Kent and I move through the cool, dark living room to a balcony that looks over not only the pool below, but a stretch of field beyond, and then the ocean beyond that, which stretches as far as the eye can see.

"Oh...oh my god," I say, my hands immediately going to my mouth as I step into the sun and move to the edge of the terrace, which has a set of wide stairs leading down to the pool.

I shake my head a little, completely at a loss for words. The wind tangles in my hair and I lift my nose a little, because I can smell the sea...

"Do you like it?" Kent murmurs, following me to the balustrade.

I look up to see him smiling down at me and I nod eagerly, my eyes shining. But my throat is thick with emotion, because...

Well, because it's the most beautiful, perfect house I've ever seen in my entire life. And I can't believe I get to live here - with Kent! And Daniel! And Janeen and my dad and Jerome and everyone I love -

"Oh, Fay," Kent sighs when he sees my tears start, but he laughs and wraps his arms around me. "Didn't we talk about crying so much?"

"I just like it a lot!" I squeak, wrapping my arms around his waist as I bury my face against his chest. "It's so beautiful! I'm overwhelmed!"

"American girls," he murmurs, holding me close. "Never get to see a damn beautiful thing in their lives and go to pieces at the first sight of a pretty landscape."

"Hey," I say, immediately defensive and lifting my head to glare at him a little. "One, America is very pretty, so don't be condescending. And two, this is more than just a pretty landscape Kent," I say, shaking my head at him. "This is incredible - the kind of house people dream about."

"Well," he murmurs, stroking my face and smiling down at me. "I needed something to match you."

And I blush, and he smiles and laughs at me, and I swat him away, a little embarrassed.

"This is amazing!" Janeen shouts, dashing out onto the terrace. "Wait, is that the ocean!? And a pool!?"

She looks at Kent wide-eyed, clearly impressed.

"Janeen, didn't you just live in a beach house for months?" he asks, shaking his head at her but smiling nonetheless.

"Yeah," she says, spreading her hands out as if it's obvious. "But it didn't have a pool too!"

And with that she turns and hurries down the stairs, pulling off her top as she goes and discarding it on her way to the pool in just her bra.

"That was an oversight, Kent," I say with a sigh, resting my head against his chest as my sister strips off her pants and leaps eagerly into the pool in her underwear. "The beach house really should have had a pool."

"Well, I'm so sorry to have disappointed," he murmurs, sarcastic. "Considering I bought it for you, and didn't know you were going to move your sister into it."

"Yes well, luckily you were able to make it up to us with this one," I say with a sigh, patting him on the chest. Then I grin and look up at him. "Hey, is there a bedroom?"

He smiles at me a little darkly and pulls me tighter against his side. "No," he murmurs. "I figured we'd sleep in hammocks beneath the trees."

"I mean," I say, laughing, "I do think that sounds amazing. But..."

"Come on," he says, turning me into the house as Jerome and Daniel come out onto the terrace, curious to see where all the splashing sounds are coming from. As we cross the living room and head to a hall on the left, I wave to my dad, who is in the large and open chef's kitchen on the other side of the great room that makes up the center of the house.

"Not a bad spot, Lippert!" my dad calls. "Hey, is there wifi here? I wanted to watch the Yankees game..."

"Code's on the counter!" Kent replies over his shoulder, waving, his attention clearly elsewhere.

The hallway is short but dark, and it ends in another ancient wooden door. I bite my lip and look up at Kent, my stomach turning over in anticipation.

Because I know my man has taste. So whatever's beyond this door? It's going to be nice.

"You know," I say as he reaches out a hand for the doorknob. "Janeen took the master in the beach house, so -"

"She what?" he says, going still and glaring down at me. "Fay, that's your house -"

I laugh up at him. "She lived there!"

"It was yours -"

"Anyway," I say, rolling my eyes and moving on. "She's going to be jealous if my bedroom here is better than hers. She's always had the bigger room. She's going to try and make me swap."

Kent growls low in his chest as he shakes his head at me, his hand moving again for the handle. "Well, Janeen's just going to have to learn to deal with her jealousy," he says, pushing the door open. "Because she's going to have to fight me for it."

I laugh as we take a step forward, about to tell him that Janeen might enjoy that fight, but all words drop from my mind the moment I start to look around. My jaw again falls open - I'm going to have to stop doing that - as I leave Kent's side and step further into the room, turning to take everything in the gigantic white bed, the cool tiled floors - the amazing ancient hearth on one wall with logs stacked and ready for a fire - the wall of windows on the opposite side, and our own private balcony beyond!?

"Ohhh my god," I say, continuing to turn, and then dashing off to explore the huge bathroom with a soaking tub and a shower big enough for...well, I was going to say for two, but honestly it could fit five. Then I dash off to the insanely big closet with a vanity already inside of it and I gasp to see that there's even a little coffee bar installed just next to it that looks just like the one Kent had in his old bedroom -

"Kent!" I shriek, hurrying back into the main room where he's standing, smiling and waiting for me to finish my explorations. "Did you - did you do all this!? Did you make them build me a coffee bar!?"

"I had some requests that the landlord was happy to agree too when properly incentivized," he says, coming to my side. "But I hate to inform you that that is my coffee bar, Fay."

"Yeah right," I murmur, wrapping my arms around his waist and shaking my head up at him. "Kent, this is amazing."

"You like it?" he says, taking my face in his hands, pleased.

"I love it," I reply, beaming at him. "How long can we live here?"

"As long as you want," he says, giving a little shrug. "It's a rental, but...if you love it, Fay, we can stay forever."

I bite my lip, eager. "So," I say quietly. "This could be...the baby's first home, if we want it to be?"

Kent smile deepens as he looks at me tenderly, holding me close and stroking my hair. "Try it out for a bit, Fay," he murmurs. "You don't have to decide now. We can keep this, or build something new. But this is the first place you've been in Europe - you should look around a bit before you decide."

"Yes, but you've been around," I say, wrapping my hands in his shirt and pulling him closer. "And you picked this one, which means it's probably good."

"I still want you to decide for yourself," he says, dipping his head lower so his face is close to mine. "And we have to see how much Heathcliff likes it," he murmurs.

"Yes," I whisper, wrapping one hand around the back of Kent's neck and letting my fingers slide through the short hair at the base of his head. "Very important, what Heathcliff thinks -"

But I don't get any further, because Kent closes the distance between us, pressing his mouth to mine and kissing me with all the happiness that's running through him now, a joy that I know echoes in my own heart. Quickly Kent dips, sliding his hands down the length of my body until his fingers curl around the back of my thighs. He lifting me with a jerk so that my legs wrap around his waist.

I moan a little as Kent pulls me hard against him, slanting my mouth over his and deepening the kiss as my breath starts to come faster. One of his hands moves to my a*s and he groans as he squeezes me there.

"Take me to bed, Kent," I pant, pulling my face from his just long enough to get the words out. "Right now."

He does as I say, carrying me swiftly through the room - our bedroom, in our new home - and falling back onto the bed, taking me with him.