Ch. 241..245: Fall For My Ex’s Mafia Dad Chapter 241-245

Chapter 241

Kent stands up straight, jostling me a little as he his biceps tense and he holds me protectively to his chest. "Who the hell is that?"

My eyes go wide as I look at our bedroom door, as if whoever rang is standing right outside of it. All of the delicious sensations slip from me in a second, replaced by sudden fear. "I didn't even know we had a doorbell." "We don't," Kent murmurs, gently putting me on my feet, his eyes still on the door. "It's technically the gate bell -"

We hear a murmuring of words from the living room and then a slow curse before a long beep.

Kent curses too before grabbing the sheets off the bed and wrapping them hastily around his waist. Then, he strides for the window.

"Don't open that!" I shriek, seeing him reach for the blinds. He ignores me, pulling the blinds open and I shriek again, clutching the fluffy towel to my chest. But then I lean to the side, peering curiously beyond Kent to see...

A silver car - a fancy one - making its way down the drive and pulling in front of the house.

"Kent?" I ask, anxious. "Do you know who it is?"

He ignores me still, which makes me purse my lips, but then I see him flinch back as whoever it is climbs out of the car. "Shit," he says once, under his breath. And then he's suddenly moving, letting the blinds fall and moving instantly to my side. "Let's go," he says, grabbing me by the waist and marching me over to the closet, letting the sheets fall from his waist.

"Who is it!?" I gasp, desperate, trying to look back.

"Just go, Fay," he growls, pushing me rather roughly into the closet and moving to the boxes where my clothes are kept but which I haven't yet unpacked. He rips through them.

"Kent!" I demand, stomping my foot. "Tell me right now! Who the hell is here!"

"Daniel's cousin," Kent says, sending me a glare over my shoulder. "Giovanni."

"Gio!?" I ask, my eyes going wide. "But he..."

"Let me guess," Kent growls, standing and tossing whatever he was looking for at me - I catch it and am confused to see that it's...a black swimsuit. "You drove home, and didn't bother to look behind to see who was following?"

I look up from the swimsuit, my jaw falling open.

Because...

Yup. That's exactly what we did.

"Amateurs," he mutters, moving swiftly to his own set of clothes - most of which are, of course, neatly unpacked, folded, and put away in orderly fashion. "Put that on, Fay," he barks, beginning to pull on his own set of clothes. "Why do I get a bathing suit?" I grumble, even as I pull it on.

"Because you're all wet," he replies, not bothering to look at me as he buttons his slacks. "Get a robe, too."

Confused, but - well, having learned my lesson - I obey, pulling the swimsuit hastily over my body and then grabbing a pretty green-and-blue floral robe that isn't precisely made for the pool but...

Well. Whatever. I don't even know what's going on, so I'm not going to be picky about fashion choices right now. As I pull it on I hear voices faintly out in the living room, joyful greetings in Italian. "Let's go," Kent says, making me jump a little as he's suddenly at my side, grabbing my arm.

"Kent!" I hiss, looking between him and the door. "Gio's obviously going to know what's going on if we both come out of the master bedroom soaking wet!"

"I know," Kent growls, pulling me towards our little balcony terrace instead of the main door. And then my eyes go wide as I start to figure it out. "Which is why you're going to come in from the back door, having just gone for a swim -" Half of me marvels at how fast Kent thinks, but the other half is distracted by the six-foot drop from the terrace to the ground below.

"Kent!" I squeak, putting my weight into my heels. But he just lifts me into his arms, having no time for my protests. "There's no way! I'm going to break a leg!"

"No, you're not," he growls, carrying me over to the edge of the terrace.

"Are you going to throw me off!?" I say in a frantic half-whisper, half-shriek.

Kent pauses at the edge of the terrace, glaring down at me in his arms. I stare up at him with wide, scared eyes. "Seriously, Fay? Do you seriously think I'm going to throw you off the balcony?"

"Things are happening very fast right now, Kent!" I snap in reply.

He just huffs a quick sigh and shakes his head at me, lifting me over the edge of the terrace and then helping me find my footing on the tiny ledge on the other side. Then, holding my hands, he gives me a set of crisp orders that I obey without hesitation. Before I know it I'm leaning backwards over the six foot drop, my eyes wide with terror, my hands held firmly in Kent's.

"Okay," he says, looking into my eyes. "I'm going to lower you down now, and then drop you the final few feet to the -"

"WHAT!?"

"Fay," he growls, his hands tightening on mine as he glares at me hard now. "We have about ten seconds to do this -" "You are not dropping me off this balcony -"

"Hey," he snaps, shaking his head sharply at me and holding my gaze. "Do you trust me or not?"

And then I take a very deep breath and glare back at him...because, god damn it, I do, but I very much wish I didn't right now.

But I nod, once, the expression on my face clearly communicating that he's going to pay for this later.

And, damn him, but Kent smirks before leaning forward to yank me close enough to kiss me once before again holding his hands further out. "Just dangle, Fay," he murmurs. "I'll lower you, and then...it will be like, three feet..."

I can't help another little shriek of fear as I press my eyes shut and do as he says, dangling from his hands, clinging to him as he lowers me -

But then, quite suddenly - his hands are gone, and I give another little shriek as I plummet to the ground -

Or, well, fall three feet. As he said.

My feet hit first and I tumble back onto my ass, rolling back a little on my back just a little bit onto some soft grass. I gasp a little, because I landed right on my tailbone, but...

I open my eyes, assessing myself and realizing that I'm completely fine. I scowl a little, feeling a little stupid as I get to my feet and look upward but...

Kent's already gone.

So, I pull myself together, dusting grass off my robe and rubbing my ass, and then I make my way around to the pool, marveling at the fact that less than five minutes ago Kent and I were having a perfectly delicious shower and heading to the bed for a little more... "Fucking Gio," I mutter, stepping onto the smooth flagstones next to the pool and running my fingers through my hair, trying to put it in some kind of order as I climb the steps.

When I finally get to the door of the house, I see that most of my family is already gathered in the living room, greeting our not-so-welcome guest. Kent, for some reason I can't discern, isn't there yet even though he had a much shorter distance to cross than me. Where the hell is he? Janeen sees me first, turning towards me in shock.

"Fay," she says, frowning in confusion. "How the hell did you -"

"Gio!" I say, interrupting her cheerfully and moving across the room.

Janeen figures it out in a moment, shutting her mouth and starting to grin a little as she realizes that something more complicated is afoot here than just a cousin's visit.

Gio turns and smiles at me, looking me over with interest. "Fay," he says, holding a hand out to me. When I take it, he pulls me close and gives me a set of twin kisses on my cheeks. "I was just being introduced to your lovely family."

"Well," I say, stepping quickly to Daniel's side and wrapping an arm around his waist. "I was just taking a dip in the pool. So refreshing, on a day like this." Dad and Jerome look at me like I'm a little crazy, still not putting it together, but they know enough now to intuit something is up. Like the good soldiers they are, they keep their mouths shut.

"Really," Gio says, grinning a little. "I would think it was rather cold."

I open my mouth to reply as Daniel wraps an arm around my shoulder, but before I can the door to the master bedroom opens up and Kent steps through.

Gio's grin deepens as he turns towards Kent and I watch him carefully. I'm a little disappointed to see that Gio doesn't look surprised at all - he just shakes his head a little, moving quickly to his uncle with open arms.

"My Uncle," he says, laughing as Kent returns his smile and wraps his nephew in a warm hug. "I wondered if I'd see you here."

"Yup," Kent replies, letting Gio go and patting his cheek fondly before ruffling his hair. "Looks like the cat's out of the bag on this one. I'm home."

"For good, I hope," Gio says, stepping away and seeming genuinely pleased to see his uncle.

"That depends," Kent says, sliding his hands into his pockets and studying his nephew. "On who sent you, and why."

 

Chapter 242

Gio laughs warmly and tilts his head to the side, giving Kent a self-deprecating grin that makes me blink in surprise at how damn charming it is. I shoot a glance at Janeen and smirk inwardly to see one side of her mouth pulling up, looking him up and down like a

hungry cat. Clearly, his charm is not lost on her, though Kent continues to stare at his nephew with a stony expression.

behind!"

"Oh, Zio," Gio says, continuing to smile as he spreads his hands wide. "You cannot blame me for this. Honestly, Daniel shows up unannounced with his new bride, who makes a fascinating offer, and you expect nonno to what...just let them go? Of course he sent me "So, what?" Kent asks, slipping his hands into his pockets. "You're here as his spy?"

"I am here," Gio says, looking around at all of us with a warmth in his expression that's kind of incredible in the face of Kent's withering glare, "as your nephew. I want to hear more of your life, I want to catch up with my favorite cousin!" Gio claps Daniel on the shoulder, and I can tell that Daniel can't help the smile that breaks out onto his face. But Kent just raises an eyebrow.

Gio turns his gaze back to Kent. "Am I going to be required to make a report back to my grandfather? Yes." I blink a little at the blandness with which Gio admits that he's a spy. "But," Gio continues, his voice a little cagier now, "precisely what I report, and how much, is..." he shrugs here, nonchalant, "up to me. Is it not?"

My eyes move immediately at Kent's because I, for one, am totally shocked at Gio's interesting offer. I mean, what's he playing at?

I see Kent's eyebrows raise, reflecting my curiosity and surprise. "Well, Gio," Kent says slowly, stepping forward and slipping his arm around his nephew's shoulder. "I guess we can talk about all of that in the morning, can't we? You'll stay overnight, yes?" "Of course!" Gio says, reaching down to pull a bottle of wine out of the bag at his feet. "I will not be going back on the road after drinking this, after all." He hands the bottle to Kent, who smiles with genuine pleasure - which means it must be a rare vintage. A vintage which I, of course, cannot taste. I scowl a little, jealous.

"Come in," Kent says, smiling again at Gio and leading him towards the kitchen, scooping up the bag of wine on his way. "It's a night for celebration! I'm glad to see you, kid."

The ice officially broken, my family all moves towards the kitchen to make our guest - who is also Bianci's spy - feel welcome. Daniel walks alongside Kent and Gio, and Dad likewise moves into the kitchen, peering into the bag of wine bottles that Gio brought as if he has any idea what the labels mean. Janeen quickly takes Daniel's place at my side as I follow more slowly. Jerome falls in with us, not quite knowing his role in all of this just yet.

"So," Janeen says, her voice soft, her eyes never leaving the Gio in the kitchen as Kent opens the bottle of wine and Daniel sets out glasses. "Tell me everything."

"I don't really know everything yet," I reply quietly, slowing my pace and letting the loud chatter in the kitchen cover my words. "He's a doctor -"

"A doctor," she says, her smile deepening, like I just told her Christmas is tomorrow.

"Janeen," Jerome scoffs, giving her shoulder a shrug, "you left a perfectly good doctor back in America."

"Who?" she asks, frowning at him.

"The guy who switched our DNA sample?" I murmur, my hand going immediately to my stomach so she knows precisely who I mean.

"Oh!" she says, laughing now. "Dr. Banks. Yeah, he was a nice guy - asked me to marry him, actually - but come on, Jerome," she says, glancing over at him and rolling her eyes. "He was no Italian Mafia prince with a car like that -"

"You have a vintage Porsche, Janeen," Jerome points out with a scoff, "you don't need another fancy car."

They continue to bicker a little as we finally make our way to the kitchen, and as I lean on the counter Kent lifts his eyes to mine, raising his eyebrow just a little and flicking his eyes between Janeen and Jerome.

I give a little shrug, letting him know that I don't have any idea how they were introduced to Gio before I came into the room. He scowls a little as he pours the wine, but luckily Gio makes it easy on us, turning and leaning on the counter to smile at Jerome and Janeen.

"Apologies, all of this family talk got in the way of introductions," Gio says, turning to smile at Janeen and Jerome. "Fay's father I met, but..."

Kent slides smoothly in here, taking control. "This is Janeen," Kent says, handing her a glass of wine as she turns her mega-wat smile on Gio, "Fay's sister. And this," Kent says, handing a glass along to Jerome, "is Jerome. Janeen's fiancé."

Jerome falters just for a second as he takes the glass of wine, flashing his eyes to Kent as his face falls. I almost laugh in surprise but I hold myself back as Jerome recovers fast, smiling at Gio and slipping an arm around Janeen's shoulders. "Just happy to be along for the ride," he says, grinning and raising the glass in our guest's direction. "Nice to meet you, Gio. Thanks for bringing the wine."

Janeen's mouth pops open when she realizes what Kent has done, but her expression quickly turns into a scowl as she glances at Jerome before taking a big swig of her wine. I bite my lip a little to keep from laughing, because while it's clear that she understands her role in this little farce, it's also clear that she's not happy about it.

"So nice to meet you both," Gio murmurs, sipping his own glass of wine and looking carefully around at all of us. When his eyes meet mine his smile deepens and he holds my gaze. I stand up and hold his eyes, well aware that he realizes that something is off about our little family.

But I raise my chin, letting him know that I have no intention of letting him get the upper hand.

Gio grins and nods to me as Kent begins to pull food out of the refrigerator, letting a cutting board clatter loudly on the granite counter top and drawing Gio's attention before placing cheese on top and beginning to ask Gio friendly questions about his life, easily distracting him from asking Jerome and Janeen any awkward questions about how they met.The next few hours are...masterful. I take mental notes as I watch Kent carefully orchestrate every single moment of the night. He's a charming host, making Gio perfectly at ease, but I do not miss that Kent dominates the conversation with Gio, continuing to ask questions so that we learn a great deal more about Gio and the Biancis than he does about us. We all chip in on the conversation as dinner is prepared - Daniel asking questions about old friends, Jerome asking about where Gio went to school - but Kent quickly gives us all jobs so that our hands are busy in the kitchen and Gio has no opportunity to steal one of us away for a private chat.

I scowl a little when Kent plops a single onion in front of me with a cutting board and a knife. "Slice," he quietly orders, starting to move away.

"Can't I do cheese?" I ask, glancing over at where Janeen is grating a large block of parmesan and laughing a little too hard at Gio's jokes.

Kent just smirks as he raises an eyebrow at me. "You can graduate to cheese," he says, "when you demonstrate that you can properly slice an onion."

I scowl, picking up the knife and starting to saw the onion in half. Gio's eyes shift to me even as he chats nightlife with Janeen, and I don't miss the huge smile that breaks onto his face.

"Oh, baby," Dad says, quickly coming to my side. "No, Fay - you slice it, you don't have to saw it like bread. Let me show you -"

I scowl again, handing my knife to my dad and crossing my arms over my chest as he shows me how to cut an onion, considering bitterly that he probably should have shown me this a decade ago.

But I only half watch my dad, my eyes really on Gio as he carefully surveys our family, clearly trying to suss out what's really going on here. Kent moves to his nephew's side, again speaking cheerfully and dominating the conversation so that he is complete control of what Gio knows...

But is it already too late? What has Gio already figured out?

And what will he tell Bianci tomorrow when he goes home?

 

Chapter 243

We have a long, pleasant Italian dinner after that - not as elaborate as last night's, but still with a great deal of food and wine and laugher going around the table. As the evening passes, I settle back into my chair and allow myself to relax under Kent's capable control. I feel a great deal of guilt, obviously, about missing the fact that Bianci sent someone to tail us home, but seeing the way that Daniel and Kent smile at Gio? Honestly, it doesn't feel like it's turned out that bad.

When desert comes around - just gelato and fresh fruit, since Kent didn't have time to make anything more elaborate - Daniel gives me a little wink from across the table. I smile back, nodding and letting him know that I, too, think it's okay. When I turn back to the table, however, I find that Gio is watching us very closely, a little smile playing at his lips.

"I'm surprised," he says, pointing between Daniel and I with his spoon, "that the newlyweds do not sit together. One would imagine that you're too much in love with each other to be much apart."

I look to Janeen on my left and Jerome on my right, noting that Gio is right. While none of us sat next to our actual lovers, we didn't do a very good job of playing into our façade. Jerome and Janeen in particular have pretty much ignored each other.

I shrug, lifting another bite of desert to my mouth. "I am close with all of my family," I say before taking a bite. I swallow the delicious strawberry gelato before I finish my thought, giving Gio time to see my calm. "My romantic relationships do not need to take priority at dinner, especially with a guest to entertain."

"Is it your home?" Gio asks, turning his head. "I would have thought that it belonged to my uncle."

"Everything here is mine," I say quietly, giving a little shrug. Because while that's technically not true - Kent rented this house with funds from his secret bank accounts - the story we spun to the Bianci's is that Kent has nothing and I have everything. "Though," I continue, putting my desert down with a sigh as if I'm a little tired with the conversation, "we don't really parse ownership like that in this family. It is all of our home."

"Shall we?" Daniel says smoothly, standing up and gesturing towards the back patio, ending the conversation but distracting us with the view of the gorgeous sunset over the sea. "It's a beautiful night."

Janeen, catching Daniel's cue, stands and begins to clear the table, chattering about how lovely it will be to sit outside. Everyone else begins to move too, Kent wrapping an arm around Gio's shoulders and leading him outside first with Daniel on Gio's other side. The rest of us clean up.

"You going to fill me in?" Jerome whispers to me as we carry dirty plates to the kitchen. He passes the dishes to me as I rinse them and load them into the dishwasher.

Quickly, one eye always on the door, I do fill my family in, giving them the quick and dirty version in a whispered hush, of course, but all of the details are there - going to the Bianci house this morning, the offer we made to Daniel's grandfather for Kent's freedom, Gio's role as Alessi's son and spy.

"Well," Janeen says as I load the final dish, slipping an arm around Jerome's waist. "Looks like we're getting hitched for the time being, you lucky boy."

"You hold very few charms for me, physically, Janeen," Jerome says, his voice dry. "I am marrying you purely for your mind."

"Oh, you poor thing," she murmurs, squeezing his cheeks between her thumb and forefinger. "Prepare to be disappointed. That is my least fun attribute."

We all laugh at this and my dad takes a beer from the fridge. "Welp," he says, coming forward to give Janeen and then me a kiss on the cheek. "This is all out of my league. I'll leave you to it." I wrap him in a hug, murmuring my goodnights and thanking him for being a good sport. Because I do know that he's not here for the drama - he just wants to be with family. I make a mental note to order him some kind of American sports package so that he can watch all of his favorite games while we do...whatever it is we're going to do next.After dad goes to bed, Janeen and I agree to head outside, Jerome staying in for a minute to make cocktails, saying something about Gio being more manageable if he's drunk.

"I sure hope this Italian cousin becomes very manageable," Janeen murmurs, her voice low and lascivious as we approach the back door.

"Behave yourself, sister," I say, squeezing her arm and narrowing my eyes. "There's a lot at stake here."

"You heard my fiancé, Fay," she says, her eyes bright with her joke. "He doesn't appreciate me. I need a real man." When my glare deepens she just laughs and pulls her arm from my grip so she can sling it around my shoulder. "Don't worry, baby, I'll play nice. For now."

"You'd better," I mutter as we head outside. Daniel grins at me immediately, patting the seat next to him. Smiling, I curl up at his side, only risking a glance at Kent when Gio turns away to look at the sunset over the ocean.

Kent's eyes are on me already, and I smirk when I see them narrow - perhaps unintentionally - at Daniel's arm casually around me. Even though I know jealousy is unhealthy, there's something nice about the fact that Kent doesn't want anyone else touching me, even when he knows that Daniel poses no risk at all.

Kent huffs a little laugh when he sees my smile, but he turns away when Jerome comes out with a tray full of gin cocktails. When I shiver a little at the cool breeze - Gio wasn't wrong when he said that my apparent swim was a little unseasonable - Daniel produces a blanket from a bin beneath our loveseat and wraps it warmly around me.

"Thank you, baby," I murmur, snuggling up against him.

"I kinda missed this," Daniel whispers to me as he again pulls me close to his side, glancing to ensure Gio is distracted. "We had fun, didn't we? Back in the day of Natalia and Alessi in the house - pretending to be a couple."

"It was fun," I say, smiling up at him. "Though...I admit, I was glad to have it over with."

"Just a little longer," Daniel says with a sigh, his eyes shifting to Gio who chats animatedly with Janeen and Jerome. "I think Gio is going to be more amenable than we originally thought."

I shake my head, suspicious and worried. "Do you just want him to be more amenable, Daniel?" I ask quietly. "Did your grandfather just send precisely the right spy, the one to whom you'd be most likely to spill your secrets?" "Good point," Daniel says with a little chagrin, taking a sip of his drink. "I guess we'll have to ask dad. He has a better instinct for this sort of thing than I do."

I nod, agreeing to again let Kent take control of this and settling in against my husband's side, ready for a long night.

The atmosphere is quite festive as the evening passes, with lots of jokes and stories being told. Daniel and Jerome do a great job of keeping Gio engaged, and while Gio gets in a few sneaky questions about how we're set up financially and how the house is run, Jerome's plan to just get Gio stinking drunk is quite successful.

Unfortunately, it also means that Daniel, Jerome, and Janeen are stinking drunk by the end of the evening too.

As midnight approaches, Kent catches my eye and flicks his gaze towards the house, his face stressed because he's very aware that the other members of our party are reaching a tipping point. While Gio is sufficiently distracted, Janeen is leaning heavily towards him and letting her eyes slip over his body, while Jerome is starting to gaze at Daniel with that loving expression -

And as I see that?

Yup. It's time to go to bed.

"Danny," I sigh, whining a little, and Daniel's head snaps to me when I deliberately use Jerome's pet name for him. "Are you ready? I'm sleepy."

Daniel comes back to himself a little as I wind my arms around his arm and he grimaces at me, apologetic, before turning to smile at the rest of the party. "Fay's right - it's about time to turn in." Kent and Jerome stand up, apparently agreeing to the plan, but Janeen stays put. "Oh," Janeen says, giving Gio a languid smile and not taking her eyes from him. "You guys go on. My new friend and I will stay up for a little longer. Right, Gio?"

Chapter 244

Kent turns towards the house, rolling his eyes, and he bumps Jerome hard on the shoulder as he goes.

"Oh!" Jerome says, spinning back to the group of us still on the patio, his eyes going first to Daniel and then Janeen. "Oh, uhm...no, baby!" Jerome says, and I groan just a tiny little bit to see how incredibly bad he is at being Janee's fiancé. "You come to bed too!" Gio, a sly little smile on his face, stands up. "Thank you for the offer, Janeen," he says, steadier on his feet than I thought he'd be. "But I think I'll go to bed too."

Gio walks to Daniel and I, heading inside with us while Jerome goes to take Janeen's arm. I roll my eyes when I see that she doesn't even bother to hide her scowling disappointment.

Together, we all troupe into the house, Jerome and Janeen leading the way.

"You're lucky the guest bedroom's all set up," Daniel says, turning his charming smile on his cousin. "We just got here."

Gio nods his appreciation as, ahead of us, Jerome stops at his and Daniel's room, starting to step into it. I grit my teeth and press my eyes shut, a sigh on my tongue, as Janeen pulls him away.

"No, Jerome," she growls, pulling him down the hall towards her own room. "Our room is this one."

I look up at Daniel to see him fighting his laughter as he pushes open the door across from his own. "You're in here, Gio," he says, his voice soft. "You'll let us know if you need anything?"

"I will," Gio says, turning to study Daniel. "Though, I very much hope we get a minute alone tomorrow, Daniel," he says, his voice soft and genuine. "We did not leave things on good terms the last time you were here - I'm sorry for it. There were things that were said that -"

"I know," Daniel says, nodding his agreement. "I'm sorry, Gio. You're right. We'll have a moment tomorrow."

"Good," Gio says, his face genuinely eager - at least, as far as I can tell. And then he murmurs something in Italian that makes Daniel smile before heading into his dark room.

Daniel sighs as he turns and tugs me along into his and Jerome's room.

"What was that?" I ask when we're inside, pressing the door shut behind me. "What Gio said?"

"Just something we used to say as kids," Daniel says on a sigh, heading for his closet and starting to pull out pajamas. "Something from The Three Musketeers, which we liked a lot. What do you want to wear to bed?" he asks, and I don't miss his abrupt change in topic. But I just turn my head to the side a little, considering him and letting it pass. Daniel and Gio, I suppose, have a more complicated relationship than I had previously thought. But Daniel's entitled to his privacy on this, even if I want to know more. "I want to wear my pajamas to bed," I say, sighing a little and moving to the window.

"Shame," Daniel says, turning towards me. "Best I can offer is Jerome's pajama pants or one of my t-shirts, which on you will be a nightgown." He smiles at me, holding up both options in either hand. "Or a combination thereof." "Thanks, Danny," I say, wrinkling my nose and twisting the handle that opens the window to his bedroom. "But I meant what I said. I'm going to sleep in my own pajamas tonight." And then, as his jaw falls open, I start to climb out.

"Fay!" he gasps, dropping the pajamas and darting to the window, grabbing my arm and holding me back as I get one leg out. "Are you insane!?"

"Daniel, it's a first-floor window," I say, rolling my eyes at him. "Your dad dropped me off a balcony earlier - this is actually much safer -"

"Dad what!?" Daniel gasps.

"A story for another time!" I sigh, trying to tug my arm out of his grip, though he holds fast.

"What are you even thinking!? Just sleep here tonight!"

"Old habits die hard," I say with a grin, looking up at my handsome husband. "A wardrobe in the old house, a window in this one." I shrug. "What's the difference?" "The difference is that Gio is already suspicious -"

"All the more reason for me to go to Kent and make a plan! I mean, do you want to come along!?"

"No," Daniel sighs, letting my arm go as he realizes that I'm stubbornly determined to do this. "Just...would you please be careful, Fay? Don't let Gio see you."

"He's on the other side of the house," I say, waving a dismissive hand as I slip out. "He doesn't even have a window that faces this direction. Night, Danny! Sleep tight!"

"Stop calling me that," Daniel grumbles, sticking his head out the window and watching me trot away across the front of the house to the windows which I know open into me and Kent's room. Grinning, I wave over my shoulder at him, confident that it will be fine. It's the middle of the night, after all. Who on earth would be watching?

When I get to my bedroom windows, I smile to see that a little light spills through the folds in the curtains, suggesting that Kent's already in there. I tug at the bottom of the window, but I'm unsurprised to find that it's locked from the inside. Of course it is - it's Kent's room. Not likely to be any insecure entrances.

So, I raise my hand and use my fingertips to tap lightly on the glass, hoping it's enough for him to hear me.

I lower my hand, peering curiously at the curtains, wondering if he heard me.

Sighing, frustrated that I'm still out here in my bathing suit - honestly, it has gotten cold - I raise my hand and start to tap again -

The curtain whips back and my eyes go wide as I stare down the barrel of a gun.

I shriek and cover my head, instantly dropping to my knees and curling into a little ball -

The window creeks open above me a second later.

"God damn it, Fay," Kent growls. "What the hell are you doing!?"

"Where the fuck did you get a gun!?" I hiss, staying crouched but turning my angry face up towards him. He glares at me, his head and shoulders leaning out of the window.

"Why did you think I didn't have a gun?" he snaps, the gun no longer in sight as he reaches a hand out a hand for me. "Come on -"

"You almost shot my head off!" I protest, still mad. Honestly- we're going to have a baby soon, and his first instinct when he hears a tap at the window is to go waving a gun around!?

"I did not," he returns, his voice tight, dismissive. "Come on - you wanted to come in, didn't you? So come in."

Scowling, still shaking a little with adrenaline from - you know - having a gun pointed at me - I stand and accept his hand. Kent pulls me close to the window and then, when I boost myself up, he tilts me into the room and then reaches out, sliding a hand beneath my legs and neatly turning me so that he lifts me into the room in the safety of his arms.

"You're lucky that I'm in love with you," he growls, glaring down at me and shaking his head as I start to grin. "Because otherwise, you would be off my staff, Fay Lippert."

I sigh and snuggle against him, happy despite myself because, well, while I don't appreciate his response it is nice to be back in his arms. "I wasn't aware that I was on your staff, Kent Lippert," I say, taking an inconspicuous sniff of his shirt. God, he smells so good. "Can you put me down now? I want to get changed. Wearing a bathing suit all day is cold."

"Not a chance," he murmurs, pushing the window closed and flicking the lock before carrying me immediately to bed.

Chapter 245

I laugh as Kent plants me down on my side of the mattress and stands back, looking me over like I could have possibly been wounded or something. Even though it's a little bit overkill, it's nice to have him fuss over me.

"Are you all right?" he murmurs, sinking his hands into his pockets.

"I'm fine," I say, unable to stop smiling as I pat the bed next to me. "Come to bed."

"In a minute," he murmurs, and then he starts to move around the room, setting things just the way he likes them. I watch as he checks the windows again, and then puts the gun back in its hiding place - strapped to the bottom of the desk, apparently - and then shuts off the lights before glancing towards the fireplace, clearly considering building a fire.

"It's too late," I say quietly, reaching a hand out for him, wanting him near. It's after midnight, after all, and I assume we'll have an early day tomorrow. "Come here."

Kent turns to look at me, his eyes already searing.

My smile deepens as a coil of heat starts to twist within me.

Yeah. We definitely don't need a fire. Not tonight.

Kent, apparently agreeing, prowls over to me and sits on the bed in front of me, reaching for my shoulders. I lean forward, allowing him to push the robe from my arms so that it pools around me. Then, he pulls off his own shirt, tossing it to the floor. My eyes go immediately to his naked torso - god, how did he manage to keep so fit these past couple of months? - but I turn my head to the side, because his movements are slow and deliberate - not at all the furious passion that I know he can get worked into when he wants me.

"Up," he says, putting his hands out and pulling me onto my knees when I place my palms on his. Wordless, he pushes the straps of my bathing suit off my shoulders. I help him then, wiggling and pushing the bathing suit down my body, sliding it over my a*s and sitting back so that I can slip it over my legs, still very curious as to what's happening.

I don't have long to think, though, because when I'm fully naked Kent reaches for me and pulls me into his lap, heaving a deep sigh and touching his forehead to mine as we sit quietly, skin-to-skin. I smile, snuggling into the warmth of his body. "I'm glad you came tonight," he murmurs, his hands slowly roving over my back, my arms. "Even if I perhaps would not have advised your particular methods -"

"And what would you think was better?" I ask, my voice soft and slow. "Sneaking across the living room, risking a peckish Gio catching me while he went to the fridge for a midnight snack?"

"I would advise any method," Kent says, giving me a half-hearted glare, "that doesn't surprise me and make me reach for a gun."

"Well, that's just your trauma response," I murmur, reaching up a hand to brush my palm over his stubbly cheek, butterflies rolling in my stomach at the feel of it against my fingers. "We can work on that."

Kent huffs a tiny laugh and shakes his head at me. I bite my lip a little, marveling at him a bit as he holds me closer. He is just so incredibly handsome, and sweet, and good to me. How did I get so lucky?

His eyes hold mine as one of his hand shifts to my stomach, running softly over my baby bump. "How is the little peanut doing?" he asks.

"Bigger than a peanut now," I say, bursting into a grin. "Almost an heirloom tomato."

"Really," Kent's eyebrows going up as he shifts his gaze to my belly with a clear smile. "Now this I can get on board with. A good Italian fruit."

I laugh, snuggling closer and looking down at my belly, adding my own hand. "Be careful, baby," I say softly. "Daddy's going to be very tempted to turn you into a sauce -"

"A delicious sauce," he adds with a nod. "The best."

I murmur something noncommittal and Kent scowls at me, gripping me tighter until I laugh and admit that his marinara is the best I've ever tasted. But then he grins at me, and I know we're both pleased to have a light moment to joke. "Really, though," I murmur, running a finger down the length of his bare chest. "Do you think tonight went okay?"

"I think it went as well as it was going to go," he replies. "We are, I think, a little lucky that Bianci sent Gio instead of Alessi or anyone else."

"That's what Daniel said," I say, giving a little frown. "Why do you both think that?"

"Because," Kent replies. "Giovanni has always been the least content with what our family does - the most eager to rebel. I suspect that he asked Bianci for the opportunity to come and spy on us today - that maybe he sees Daniel and I as a lifeline to get out, if I'm trying to get out. Or," he says, giving a little shrug, "Gio's just very good at his job and telling us what we want to hear so we trust him. I can't tell."

"Well," I say, raising my eyebrows. "The fact that you can't tell perhaps suggests how good at his job he really is. You're excellent at reading people."

"Well, he's Alessi's son," Kent says consideringly. But then he continues, a little bitterness working into his tone. "And I'm not so good at reading. I missed Ivan and Alden. And Daniel and Jerome."

"Well, the first two were actively trying to deceive you," I murmur, "and the latter...maybe you just have terrible gaydar." I shrug.

Kent laughs openly at this and I grin when I realize that maybe no one has ever said the word "gaydar" to him in his entire life.

"Really, Fay?" he says, and Kent's smile is so genuine that a deep and real pleasure combines with the heat already turning within me. "You think my gaydar is the problem here, the thing putting my family at risk?"

"Yes, Kent," I say, nodding too seriously. "In fact, I've been meaning to break something to you about my own sexual identity ..."

Kent begins to glare at me even as he smiles, anticipating the joke. I click my tongue and shake my head, looking away.

"I mean," I continue, twisting my fingers together in a false awkwardness, "your perfect male form just doesn't do it for me I've tried, but you're just so unappealing -"

Kent growls then, pulling me close against him as he rolls onto his back, making me give a little shriek of laughter as I go with him. "Bullshit," Kent says, pulling me tight against his side and sinking his fingers into my hair as he brings his face close to mine. "My gaydar might be off, but my Faydar -"

I burst into laughter at the term, making him laugh as well.

"That," he continues, smiling at me, "is unfailingly accurate."

"All right, mind reader," I say, wrapping one leg over his hip and using the leverage to turn him so that we're face to face, my stomach pressed against his. "If you're so clever, what is it that I want now?"

"Easy," Kent replies. "I can read you like a book, Fay. My favorite book, that I've read a thousand times and can never get enough of." And then he presses his mouth to mine, answering my question with his actions instead of his words.