Ch. 246..250: Fall For My Ex’s Mafia Dad Chapter 246-250

Chapter 246

My eyes fly open when Kent's arm tightens around me the next morning, but it wasn't his touch that woke me.

Instead, it was the knock at the door.

"Shit," Kent growls, still not moving and holding me close, clearly working at once to wake the hell up and decide what to do. "Maybe it's Daniel?" I squeak softly, my voice hardly higher than breath. Kent shushes me anyway.

The knock comes again.

"Zio?" a voice calls, and Kent's arm tightens around me again.

I spin frantically beneath Kent's arm as I recognize the voice as Gio's, trying to read Kent face and figure out what he wants - me to go out the window? To...to jump off the balcony? What -"No time," he whispers, his voice soft. Then he lifts his head. "A second, Gio!" he calls, moving faster and snatching me up into his arms, carrying me with fast steps into the closet, snatching his phone off the bedstand as he goes. When we get into the closet, Kent puts me on my feet and presses me up against the wall closest to the door. Over my shoulder, I hear Gio call back his assent, but my eyes stay focused on Kent.

"Stay completely quiet, Fay," Kent instructs, holding my eyes so I see how damn serious he is. Then he opens his phone and presses a few buttons, handing it to me when he pulls up the sound recording feature. "Record every word of this conversation, all right? And don't even breathe loud enough to be heard." I nod fervently, taking the phone even as I start to shiver a little bit, though I can't tell if it's from adrenaline or cold.

Kent clicks his tongue in frustration and pity before moving to his shelves of clothing, tossing a big sweatshirt at me before pulling on a pair of sweatpants. I pull the sweatshirt on as he hauls a black t-shirt over his head -

And, by the way, damn - because I actually don't see him in a t-shirt very often and suddenly wish that I did -

But before I can even pat down my admiration Kent strides out of the closet, crossing to the door. As instructed, I press back against the wall and don't move an inch.

Listening carefully, I hear the door unbolt and then swing open. As soon as I hear that, I press the record button on the phone and do my best to hold my breath. Gio says something in Italian, his tone apologetic, but Kent speaks over him in dismissive English. "It's fine, Gio," he says, and I hear the door shut again before they begin to walk into the room. "You didn't wake me."

A lie, but...well, we did stay up late.

"I brought you a little coffee," Gio says, and a jealousy ridiculously rolls through me. As much as adrenaline has me instantly awake, I, too, would like a coffee if I'm going to be standing barefoot in this freezing closet.

"Thank you," Kent murmurs, and I hear the two of them sit on the bed.

"I wanted to talk privately," Gio says, his voice hesitant. "About what is coming next."

"Why privately?" Kent asks, and I hear his tone easily fall into its interrogation mode. Even if Kent was asleep and wrapped around me less than a minute ago, he's all business now.

"Because," Gio says, and I can imagine him giving a very Italian little shrug. "You know that I love Daniel, but I get the impression that he is...not as much involved in the business as is his wife."

"True," Kent says. "What about Fay? Did you speak with her?"

"I'll speak with her next -"

"Don't," Kent snaps. "Let me speak to her."

There's a long pause. "Why?"

"Fay is clever but she's impulsive." I narrow my eyes, a little pissed off at this assessment - but, well, I did crawl through my own bedroom window last night, and Kent might be telling Gio what he wants to hear. "Let me speak with Fay. I'll ensure we're all on the same page."

"All right," Gio says slowly before moving on. "Nonno suspected you'd be here, Zio. He didn't think that Daniel would leave you behind - and even said it was a good move, letting Fay negotiate your terms, if she's the one who is in charge of the industries being offered."

"How did she do yesterday?" Kent asks, abrupt. My eyebrows raise as I realize - quite suddenly - that he's asking that for my benefit, so I can hear Gio's honest answer. And that they're having this conversation in English for my benefit as well. I smile slowly, grateful for my considerate man. I listen carefully for Gio's reply.

"She did well," Gio says, his voice honestly impressed. "Nonno - he doesn't think women should be in business, but he learned about her before she came. And then, the little stunt she played with Natalia -" Gio laughs a little. "He was impressed by that." "What stunt?" Kent asks, suspicious, and I wrinkle my nose a bit because....well, because I may have left that out.

Gio quickly summarizes and Kent laughs darkly. "I admit," Kent says. "I'd have liked to have been there to see that. Well?" he says, moving on. "What's next?"

"Nonno said that if you were here, I was to bring you to dinner. Tonight."

There's a long silence in the room before Kent replies.

"All right," he says. "So, we'll go to dinner tonight. What can I expect?"

"A great deal of negotiation," Gio replies. "And then...a counter offer."

"Do you know the details of that?"

I listen carefully, but there's no reply - I curse inwardly, wishing I could see Gio's face right now, know if he's nodding or shaking his head.

"All right," Kent says slowly, and then silence reigns for a long moment. "What else is going on, Gio?" he asks when he speaks again, his tone suddenly sharp.

"I don't know if I should ask," Gio says.

"Out with it, kid," Kent says, his voice softer now. "I taught you how to kick a football. If there's something you need, ask me for it."

"I was intrigued by the deal Fay laid out," Gio says on a sigh. "I was...jealous."

My eyebrows go up and I imagine that Kent's do as well. But he doesn't say anything.

"I wondered," Gio says quietly, hesitant. "If there's any way you could...bring me in on it. Get me out of this business as well, no ties to the family except that of a son to his mother."

"How do I know this isn't a trap?" Kent asks, careful. "That Bianci isn't testing my loyalties, seeing if I'd take his heir from him?"

"Why would he do that?" Gio asks, confused. "He already knows I tried to leave when I went to medical school. Zio - please, I don't want this for my life. I asked to be the one to follow Daniel and Fay yesterday. I'll go home and do my job, but if you can offer me way out of this? To make my father pass the job to my brother instead of me?"

There's a long pause where Gio lets Kent answer the question for himself.

"All right, Gio," Kent says, his voice soft and sympathetic. "I can't promise anything. But if you are willing to join our side in this game? I will see what I can do."

There's a deep sigh from Gio and then the expression of what I think are many Italian thanks.

"All right, kid," Kent says, laughing. I hear a patting sound as well as the two get to their feet, presumably a hug before they move towards the door. "Give me a minute to pull myself together, and then I'll come out and see you off."

"And you'll come to dinner tonight?" Gio asks, his voice cheerful.

"Yes, I'll come to dinner," Kent says, his voice sounding like he's dreading it. "Go make me another cup of coffee, I'll be out in a second."

"All of you, Kent," Gio says, his voice wary. "He wants all of you to come to dinner."

There's another long pause.

"All right," Kent says, his words clipped. "Then all of us will come to dinner tonight at Bianci House."

 

Chapter 247

The door shuts and Kent's footsteps cross the room again. In a heartbeat he's through the closet door, looking down at me, at the phone in my hand.

Quickly, he reaches out and presses the record button on the screen, ending the recording before taking the phone from my hand and placing it carefully on a nearby shelf. Then he takes my face in his hands and I exhale a long, shaky breath. "Did...did he know I was here?" I ask, looking up into Kent's gorgeous green eyes.

"I don't know," Kent murmurs, staring down into my face. "Did you record it all?"

Quickly I nod, letting him know that I did it all right - everything he asked -

And then his mouth is on mine, and I let my eyes drift shut as I lean into him, letting a little moan drift from my lips as Kent wraps his arms around me and holds me, and kisses me, and sweeps me away in his own relief.

When Kent pulls away a few minutes later I blink my eyes slowly open, a bit in a daze, and he laughs lightly at me.

Which, of course, wakes me right up and makes me glare at him.

"Don't get any ideas, Kent, you're not that good of a kisser," I grumble. "I just haven't had my coffee yet."

"That's a lie," Kent says, smirking at me, "but help yourself, Fay." He keeps one arm wrapped around me while he gestures to the coffee maker behind him with an open hand.

I pout. "Can you make it for me? You do it better than I do."

Kent laughs, shaking his head, but he escorts me over to the coffee maker where he presses another kiss to my lips before letting me go and starting to make me a cup. "We don't have long," he says as he works. "We have to get you back into Daniel's room and out that door before Gio leaves. I want the lie to be as seamless as we can make it."

"Presuming, of course," I say, my voice dry, "that Janeen didn't just throw herself into Gio's lap the moment she woke up."

Kent smirks as the espresso machine buzzes, and then he bends to get a little jug of milk out of the refrigerator below, pouring a little into an electric steamer. "Janeen knows what's at stake. She'll behave."

I smile, watching him, pleased he trusts my sister. "So, what do you think?" I ask quietly, tucking my hands into the sleeves of Kent's sweatshirt as he finishes up the coffee. "Does Gio really want out? Or is it a trick?"

"I don't know yet," Kent murmurs, moving over to my boxes of clothing as the milk finishes heating. "I want to talk to Daniel, get his perspective. But...if you asked me? I'd say Gio meant it. He and Daniel have always been...well, they've both had the bad luck of being poorly suited to their status of being first-born males in old families like these."

"Or," I say, watching as Kent pulls out a cute little day dress for me, floral and pretty, tossing a matching set of brand new underwear on top. "They have the good luck of having a father and uncle who is willing to fight for them to get out." Kent smirks, I know pleased at my words but working to not show it as he scoops up a pair of sandals to match the dress, handing them out to me.

"Really?" I ask, frowning at the clothing as I accept them. "You want me to wear a day dress to dinner?"

Kent freezes for a second, looking at me like I'm insane. "We'll dress for dinner, Fay," he says, his face appalled, "this is just for today!"

I burst out laughing, shaking my head at the ridiculous idea that I now live in a world where I need a whole outfit just to sneak across the front of the house to my husband's room.

Kent rolls his eyes at me and turns away, pulling on his own set of day clothes as I quickly swap his sweatshirt for the outfit he chose for me. As I finish pulling the sandals on, Kent appears before me with my coffee.

"What do you think?" I ask, turning so he can see me in the dress. "Will I do for the day?"

"You're gorgeous," he murmurs, cupping the back of my head and pulling me in for a slow kiss before pressing the coffee into my hands. "Now go back to my son's room, and try not to let anyone else figure out you spent the night in my bed."

"My bed too," I insist, grinning at Kent as he walks me to the window and unlocks it, pushing it open and glancing out to make sure no one's there. "I love you," I say, reaching out to grab his shirt and pull him in for a final kiss. "See you in a few minutes." "I love both of you," Kent murmurs, a finger brushing my stomach as he takes the coffee from me. I hop out the window and take my coffee back, laughing with delight at the ridiculousness of my strange, happy life. And then Kent kisses his palm as he smiles at me, clenching the kiss in his fist like he'll hold it forever.

And I grin, and wrinkle my nose at him, and sip my coffee as I scurry across the front of the house to tap on my husband's window this time.

Daniel whips back the curtain a moment later, groaning in relief to see me as he pushes the window open. I note, quite happily, that there's no gun in sight this time.

"Get in here, Fay," he murmurs, taking the coffee from me as I climb through the window.

"Morning, husband!" I say cheerfully as I take my coffee back. "Nice to see you too!"

"Why do I always get the middle seat," I mutter, glaring at Janeen and Jerome on either side of me on our way to Bianci house. Dad begged off dinner and once we were whittled down to five, Kent insisted on taking one car for safety. "I'm the richest person here -" "No, you're not," Kent says casually over his shoulder as he makes the final turn onto the street where I know the gate to the Bianci driveway stands.

"Really," Daniel says, looking at his father from the passenger seat with a little smirk forming on his lips. "I mean, I know what Fay's worth, dad - you're saying you've got more stashed away in European bank accounts than that?"

"I'm saying mind your business, kid," Kent murmurs, ignoring Daniel and making Janeen laugh.

"Back to the matter at hand!" I say, wiggling and trying to make more room for myself back here. "On the way back I get the passenger seat. For the baby."

"Not a chance," Daniel calls. "You can't just say 'for the baby' and get what you want, Fay. At least not until he's born."

"No worries," Janeen says with a happy sigh. "I'll just stay at Gio's place -"

"You would cheat on me?" Jerome gasps falsely, pressing a hand to his chest and staring at his pretend fiancé in pretend shock. "After these twenty-four hours that I've long been dedicated to you!?"

"We gave it the old college try, Jerome," Janeen says, leaning over me to pat his knee. "It just wasn't meant to be."

"Enough," Kent says with a sigh, "we need everyone to take this seriously, all right? Anyone have any questions?"

"No, sir," Janeen says, giving Kent a false little salute. I glare at her and she crosses her eyes at me before placing a hand on my shoulder that lets me know she'll do her part, even if she pretends not to take it seriously now. "All right," Kent says. "Get ready, because now the trial really begins."

And then he rolls down the window to speak to the guard, who immediately signals the gate to swing open.

 

Chapter 248

As we pull down the driveway I grin as I watch Janeen balk at the size and splendor of this house.

"Noooo wayyyy," she breathes, and then she stares wide-eyed at Kent and Daniel. "Are you serious? You - you two grew up here!?"

"Just dad," Daniel says over his shoulder, turning to smile at Jerome too, who is equally impressed if not more silent. "Yes," I say, putting on a hoity-toity voice. "Daniel just summered here -"

T

Janeen scoffs and rolls her eyes at that, and I open my mouth to add more but find myself distracted when I see a large group of family waiting in front of the house. They peer closely at the car, but as soon as they see Kent in the driver's seat they start to shout and cheer in excitement.

"Oh wow," Janeen says, her eyebrows raised. "Oh, so they like...like you -"

"Some people do, Janeen," Kent says, his voice dry, though I can hear the pleasure in it. "Don't sound so surprised." Janeen laughs as Kent parks the car and quickly climbs out, shouting a loud greeting to his family, who all rush to hug him.

Curious, Janeen gets out first and then reaches out a hand to help me. I glance over at the crowd enveloping Kent as I climb out of the car. And then I smile as I turn my eyes back to my sister, looking her up and down in her pretty purple-and-blue floral dress, all flowing silk and grace that sets off her purple hair, which she has demurely tucked back behind her ears.

"You look pretttttty," I say, grinning and teasing her.

"I always look pretty," she replies, turning me and tugging at my own cerulean-blue floor length gown to get the wrinkles out. "But you look fabulous."

"Do you think?" I murmur, turning a little so I can see down the back of the gown, the diaphanous ribbons that fall from my shoulders instead of sleaves twisting in the breeze. "I thought it was too much, but Kent liked it -" "Kent picked this out?" Janeen scoffs, staring at me.

"Kent picks out all my clothes," I whisper to her with a little frown. "Seriously? You didn't know that?"

Janeen's mouth falls open as she stares at me.

"I know," Daniel says, coming over to grin at us with his hands in his pockets. "Creepy, right?"

"You two," Janeen whispers, leaning close to me, "have the weirdest kinks -"

Daniel laughs and then takes my arm. "Come on, they want to meet you!" he says, grinning at both of us.

Jerome laughs a little as he comes up to Janeen, first wrapping and arm around her shoulder, and then hesitating before dropping his hand to her waist. "I don't know how to do this."

"At least pretend you think I'm hot," Janeen says, rolling her eyes and linking arms with him instead. Then, when we're all ready for our roles, Daniel sweeps us forward and begins to introduce us to the family.

It's all immediately overwhelming for the three of us who don't speak Italian. Some faces I remember from yesterday - nonna's in particular is unforgettable, though she stays pinned to Kent's side, wiping tears from her eyes as she gazes up at him while he greets his friends.

My heart twists with happiness as I realize again that, of course, this is in so many ways the woman who raised him - Kent's mother, if not by blood, as much as Daniel's grandmother. Kent smiles down at Nonna, wrapping an arm around her shoulder, and I can't help the grin that bursts onto my face.

Not even Natalia can make my smile falter when I see her leaning in the doorway to the house, glaring daggers at me. I just give her a happy wave and move on to whoever Daniel introduces me to next.

"Fay!" Gio says, coming through the crowd. "Daniel, Jerome, Janeen!" He gives us all our kisses, though I note with a little laugh that Janeen presses for a lingering hug as well, though Gio doesn't seem to notice as he obliges her. "Come over, this way! Everything is all ready!"

Gio then turns and shouts something to the crowd and everyone starts to move, sweeping us not through the house but towards the gardens. I smile as I look around at this gigantic, happy family, so excited to greet their long-lost son. I glance over my shoulder but just shrug when I see that Kent has been surrounded by masses of people, still pressing to say hello as we walk.

Children run by as well, many of them coming to stare up at Janeen's purple hair and then running away laughing when she turns to look back at them.

"Wow," Janeen says, shaking her head as we pass into the garden, which I now realize has been set with cocktail tables and antipasti that we can snack on before we go in to dinner. "Gio, seriously, it's incredible here -"

"Yes," he says, giving her a warm smile. "We're very lucky. Is it very different, where you grew up?"

Janeen bursts into scoffing laughter and I grin, thinking of the happy row home where we spent our childhood. "Yeah," she says, shrugging a little at the understatement. "It was different, Gio."

"You'll have to show me sometime," he murmurs, giving her a wink before heading off to speak with a servant and ensure that drinks begin to be served.

"That is so rude," Jerome murmurs, slipping a possessive arm around Janeen's waist. "I am right here."

"I like you jealous," Janeen says, bursting into a grin and tugging him closer. "Finally, some heat!"

I laugh too, looking around the garden as I lean close to Daniel's side, taking in the incredible roses and wild, rambling plants that seem to grow with abandon in the golden light of the sunset. "Seriously, Daniel," I sigh, looking up at him. "How could you have ever left this?" He shrugs a little before tracing his knuckles lightly down my cheek. "It's beautiful, but it's confining, Fay," he replies softly. "Dad will say the same. There's a price to pay for this."

"Well then," I reply softly. "Let's just enjoy it for a night."

Daniel smiles at me and then does a double take, his face bursting into a mischievous little grin. "Looks like we're not the only ones looking to enjoy something for a night," he murmurs, nudging me and then jerking his chin towards the large crowd surrounding Kent.

I frown for a moment, not getting it, but then I see who has taken Nonna's place pressed to Kent's side.

"Fucking Natalia," I grumble, narrowing my eyes as she tilts her head back and laughs at something Kent has said, letting her long hair fall back over her shoulders and pressing her hips and stomach more closely into Kent's side, her arm wrapped around his back. "If she doesn't stop touching him, I'm going to order her execution. Swim with the fishes, or whatever."

Daniel laughs, turning me away. "Let her throw herself at him," he says with a shrug. "We'll make a drinking game out of it. Every time Natalia embarrasses herself throwing herself at dad, drink!"

"Fun for you," I grumble as Daniel snags a glass of prosecco off a passing tray.

"Damn straight it is," he says, winking at me and taking a sip. "And trust me, I'm going to need every last drop."

I sigh, jealous, kind of wanting a drink too -

But honestly? Even if I could, I probably wouldn't take it.

Because as much as this is a gorgeous party and everyone's pretending it's all arranged to finally welcome Kent home?

Me? I'm well aware that this is business.

And as I look around and realize that Bianci himself isn't here yet?

I know that we've got to keep sharp, because something big is coming.

And I, for one, am going to be ready for it.

 

Chapter 249

When night truly falls and the garden becomes too dark to be practical, we all troop back to the front of the house, heading indoors. Kent takes the opportunity to dislodge Natalia from his side, somehow, and is waiting for us at the entrance to the garden. "How did that go," he murmurs, looking us over as we walk towards the house, his hands behind his back. "Fine," Daniel says, giving his dad a nod and a reassuring smile. "We weren't the feature item, anyway - most everyone met us yesterday."

"Excuse you," Janeen says dryly from behind us, "I am always the feature item."

Kent sends her an appreciative smirk over his shoulder but returns his focus to Daniel and I.

"You've got a little something, I think a little lipstick" I say wiping my own thumb over my cheekbone, indicating that Kent has something in the same spot. When he frowns, raising his hand and wiping at his own cheek, I continue. "It's a light shade of berry pink - I think the shade Natalia was wearing tonight."

Kent smirks, grinning at me, I think liking a little bit to see me jealous again. But he drops his hand, ignoring my joke.

"Where's nonno?" Daniel asks.

"I don't know," Kent says seriously as we pass into the house and make our way to a gigantic formal dining room that can probably seat fifty people. "But I have a feeling we're going to find out."

Nonna is waiting for us by the door, reaching out to take Kent's hand and leading him to a place of honor at the right hand of the chair at the head of the table, clearly reserved for Don Bianci but as-yet vacant. She murmurs something warm to Kent before coming and tugging at my hand, obliging me to lean down so she can kiss me on the cheek. She then kisses Daniel and presses Janeen and Jerome's hands, welcoming them, before bustling off.

"Where is she going?" I ask Daniel, confused as to why she's not sitting down with her guests.

"She's got to get the food ready," he says, pulling out my chair and gesturing towards it.

"What?" I gasp, staring after the tiny woman. "She cooked for everyone!?"

"She's an Italian wife," Daniel says, laughing and guiding me to the chair to sit. "This is her super bowl - trust me, she's in heaven."

"I would like," I say, staring wide-eyed at my husband, "you to always remember that I am an American wife. Because this?" I say, twirling my finger around to encompass the massive feast about to be fed to fifty guests, "this is not in my wheelhouse."

"No worries, Fay," Daniel murmurs, leaning in to kiss me on the cheek as he takes his own chair. "No one would eat what you cooked anyway, for fear of food poisoning."

I scoff at him, turning to my other side and looking for Kent to step in at my defense, but to my surprise he's staring down at his plate, smiling and blushing of all things.

"What?" I ask, completely shocked as I stare at him. "What is it?"

"Nothing," he murmurs, clearing his throat and sitting up straight.

"Tell me," I insist, dying to know - because never, ever have I seen Kent Lippert blush. I didn't think he was capable of it.

"It's just something mamma said," he says, the little smirk still on his face as he pulls his napkin into his lap.

"Tell me!" I push, using my fingers to give him a little shove on the shoulder, forgetting - for just a second - that he's supposed to be my father-in-law tonight.

Kent turns to me, I think a little unable to help himself. He lowers his voice. "She said you were very pretty, Fay," he murmurs.

"So?" I say, leaning in, my eyes flicking over him. "It was more than that, I know it was -"

He blushes again, laughing and my jaw drops open to see him like this. "She said," Kent says, giving in and making me lean so close that I almost tip out of my chair to hear him, "that you were very pretty, Fay, but that she was surprised that you married Daniel, because you seem more like my kind of girl than his."

My eyes flare wide as Kent laughs, shaking his head.

"Oh my god," I say, sitting up and looking around, glad suddenly that no one is yet sitting across from us and that everyone seems to be wrapped up in their own conversations. "Do you - do you think she knows!?"

"No, Fay," Kent murmurs, taking a deep breath as the food starts to come through the doors, carried by a series of servants and aunts who surely helped nonna prepare it all. "I think she's just a very perceptive old woman who knows me very well."

I relax back in my chair a little bit, smiling at him, touched. "I'm glad I get to see you with her, Kent," I say quietly.

"Me too," he says fast, and then nods towards Daniel. "But pay attention to your husband now."

I turn, intending to do just that, and as I do I see Kent's reason for the change as Alessi and Valentina move to their seats across from us, Natalia on Valentina's other side. Natalia slips into her chair across from Daniel as Alessi comes around the table to give Kent a big hug, slapping him on the back like he hasn't seen him in years instead of months.

The two speak cheerfully to each other in rapid Italian as Valentina leans across the table, greeting us and helping servants set out plates and plates of food that all smells delicious. His greeting finished, Alessi moves to his seat and the room quickly fills with chatter as wine is passed around, though nobody touches the steaming food or fills their plates.

Because we're all waiting.

A hush falls on the room when the doors bang open again and Don Bianci strides in. He smiles at his family, his hands tucked into his pants, and many call greetings to him as he crosses to the head of the room. Bianci gives paternal nods to those who greet him, but his eyes quickly focus on Kent, who stands.

I move to stand myself but Daniel puts a hand on my knee, letting me know that this is just between them.

And so I watch with very closely held breath as Bianci takes the final steps towards Kent, his face serious -

My breath leaves me all in a woosh as Bianci finally throws his arms wide and smiles, wrapping Kent in a wide hug that Kent, laughing, returns. A cheer goes through the room then, the family all raising glasses to the son who has returned home, and I raise my own glass in the toast, though I only let the red wine within it barely brush my lips when I sip.

Instead, I watch as Kent and Bianci say what look like warm words to each other as they continue to hold each other tight, Bianci smiling up into Kent's face as Kent warmly pats his back.

I raise my eyebrows, wondering if this is all a performance or if Bianci really is glad to have home the boy who is his son in so many ways, even though just yesterday we lied and said we didn't know where he was.

But whatever they say to each other is lost to me. The two finally let each other go, Bianci taking his seat and apparently not noticing that as soon as he reaches for the dish of pasta in front of him the rest of the family leans forward as well, beginning to serve themselves.

 

Chapter 250

I reach for a dish in front of me but Daniel smacks my hand away playfully, murmuring that he'll fill my plate. I laugh at his over-solicitousness, but I'm secretly grateful - because while I recognize pasta and bread and cheese, I honestly don't know what any of these dishes are. And Daniel - he knows what I like, so I just trust him.

As the meal passes I realize that my trust was well-placed, because almost every bite makes me moan in delight. I have no idea what I eat, honestly, but everything is rich with cheese and butter and these amazing sauces that I soak up with bread - and the seafood and the meats - Honestly, by the end of the meal I rub my poor swollen belly, wondering if there's more food than baby in there right now.

"Oh my god," Janeen moans, eating her last bite of bread. "I'm going to gain twenty pounds living here -"

"Good," Jerome says, pitching his voice to a very stern and manly register. "I like my woman with some meat on her."

Daniel and I laugh at them before Daniel sighs, shaking his head at us. "We haven't even hit desert yet -"

"What?" I gasp, genuinely worried. "There's more!?"

He frowns at me. "Desert is half the meal, Fay -"

"Oh my god!" I exclaim, appalled, but he laughs and pats me on the knee. "Don't worry, there will be time to digest. Nonna needs time to get it all together anyway."

I sit up suddenly, looking around the table. "Wait, she isn't even here -"

"Of course she's not," he says, rolling his eyes. "Italian mothers - the good ones - they eat in the kitchen between courses."

"Daniel," I say, putting my hand on his knee and pointing to myself. "American mother. It's very important that you remember that in the upcoming months, because that? Preparing a feast for fifty people and then not eating any of it? That's crazy!"

"It's not crazy," he says, laughing at me. "Feeding people is her love language, Fay. You just have to learn to respect it."

I open my mouth to say something else, but suddenly my ear catches on English on my right-hand side for the first time since dinner began.

"So," Bianci says, leaning forward and folding his hands together on the table, looking between Kent and I and clearly speaking in English for my benefit. "Now that dinner is finished, shall we go have a drink? In my office?"

Kent slowly nods and begins to stand, glancing at me as well. Taking the hint, I put my napkin on the table and stand too, stepping to his side.

When Daniel starts to raise himself, Bianci puts a hand out.

"That's all right, Daniele," Bianci says, giving his grandson a warm smile. "You just...enjoy the evening, yes? Ensure that Fay's sister and her fiancé do not get lost with all these Italians."

Daniel blinks but, clearly dismissed, settles back in his seat.

Bianci turns to Alessi now, nodding, and Alessi stands too. Gio, a little further down the table, likewise stands and together the four of us follow Bianci towards the proverbial lion's den.We are all silent as we follow Bianci upstairs and into the same dark room that Daniel and I met him in yesterday. There's already a fire cheerfully burning with a set of five chairs circled around it. At the center of the circle is a small table with five drinks set out on it - four whiskeys and a frosty glass of ice water with a wedge of lemon on the edge.

We each take a glass and then our seats, and I smile as I take a sip of my water, which really is refreshing.

"My wife," Bianci says, leaning forward to smile at me, "grows the lemons herself."

"Thank you," I say, genuinely touched at the considerate gesture. "Again, you have such a beautiful home, Don Bianci. Thank you for welcoming us here."

"It is your home now too, Fay," Bianci says, waving a hand around as he leans back in his chair and sips his drink. "You are family now, after all."

I nod, accepting the welcome and sitting back in my own chair as Kent sinks into the one next to me, giving me a single glance and a nod, which I return. I smile as I looking at Alessi and Gio, ready to play this little game of chess Bianci has set up, ready to play Queen to the King at my side. Because even if the men in this room don't know my actual relationship with Kent, by inviting us here in Daniel's absence?

They've made it very clear that they understand who in the Lippert family actually holds the power.

"Papa has told us of your offer, Fay," Alessi starts, giving me the sweet and friendly smile that he always uses on me as he speaks. "I admit, it's quite generous, and with such...interesting terms."

"I'm glad you find it so," I murmur, keeping my voice soft and my words bland because Gio, this morning, told us they're ready to counter. And I have no intention of offering anything else until I hear what they have to say.

Plus, I want to see Kent at work.

"We admit that we're intrigued," Bianci says, picking up where Alessi leaves off. "Though I must say...I'm not sure the terms are quite even."

"Out with it," Kent says on a frustrated sigh, and I glance to my right to see him clenching his jaw, glaring at Alessi and Bianci. "No need to dance. If you want something more, tell us what it is."

"It's not that we want more, my boy," Bianci says, dragging his glass of whiskey through the air before him. "We just want things to be even. Donna Lippert has offered us quite a pretty package, but you, Kent? You have been invaluable to this family. And you could live what - forty, fifty more years? In that time, what you could provide - as a respected member of the Bianci family, of course - far outstrips what is currently on the table."

"That assumes that you don't do anything with Fay's industries," Kent counters, "just liquidate them, sell them off as-is. If you built them, they'd bring you far more than I could."

"And if we asked you to run the industries?" Bianci asks, raising his eyebrows before taking another slow sip of his drink. "To build them up for us? You have a...talent for that kind of growth, Kent, that Alessi and my other captains do not have." "No," Kent says, shaking his head, taking a hard line. "My employment here, in Italy, for you, is not on the table."

The negotiation continues for a long time and I stay quiet, watching the words travel between the two sides like a tennis match, Bianci constantly trying to push Kent, to see what he can get him to give, and Alessi wedeling and explaining where Bianci needs him to. At one point my eyes meet Gio's, who raises his brows as if to say impressive, no?

I purse my own lips and nod, sighing discreetly through my nostrils because Kent is right: they've got something very particular in mind, and they're wasting time, wearing Kent down by keeping him negotiating.

And Kent, I can tell, knows precisely what is happening too. But he also knows that he can't leave this room without a deal made. They'll wear him down until he has to take what they offer last - at three in the morning, if necessary. But me?

I have an excuse.

As Alessi again makes an offer that Kent will inevitably refuse, I sigh and put a hand on my belly, pushing to my feet.

The men immediately stop talking, everyone turning to me. I put on a sad little grimace, looking around at them with apology written on my face.

"I am so sorry," I murmur. "But I admit - I feel a little ill. I think the baby..."

I let my sentence trail off, looking over at Kent. He looks up at me, worried, and I shake my head just the tiniest imperceptible bit, letting him know that I'm not actually sick. Kent fights a smile as he stands by my side.

"Apologies," Kent says, getting to his feet and standing next to me. "But, for the sake of my grandchild, I'm so sorry that we'll have to leave without coming to an understanding. Such a shame, I had really -"

"Fine," Bianci snaps, showing his cards finally when pressed and revealing that he, too, wants this locked down tonight as badly as we do.