Ch. 271..275: Fall For My Ex’s Mafia Dad Chapter 271-275

Chapter 271

Kent and I take a few more minutes to sit quietly together on the bed, petting the puppy and genuine And then the rest of the night?

It's way, way busier than I expected it to be. Honestly, you'd think that the night after a kidnapping yo great deal to do.

Kent storms through the house, bossing everyone around, which I think makes him feel centered as m apparently Lil Kent needs a crate as well as puppy food? Who knew.

Jerome Kent completely ignores, which I think devastates Jerome more than being bossed around, be they need.

My dad comes home after a long walk and mostly wants to sit quietly, though Jerome sits with him for civility. So, I turn away.

Gio is the hardest, when he finally gets home. He wraps me in a big, relieved hug that makes me smile letting Daniel stand close and catch what we're saying. We tell Gio about my mother's threat against K It's not that we don't trust Gio or want him to know. It's just...well, Kent and I haven't ironed out the d And until we do, Gio can stay lightly in the dark.

Me? I spend a lot of my time...walking around. Not because I am idle, but because these labor pains...t are still not very close together, and they're really short - but still, I don't want anyone to know. There is...too much at stake right now.

And, luckily, my busy house full of men seems quite willing to lose themselves in distractions at the m When the night grows late and I get off the phone with my sister - who is pissed as hell at my mom - And so I say a quiet goodnight to my dad, doing my best to ensure that he's all right. He laughs a little up if he wants to talk, and my stoic, quiet dad nods and makes his way to his room with a beer in his......

check in on each other - ensuring that we feel right and prepared or what is coming next.

content to just curl up in bed and relax, happy to be home, but with this ultimatum on the line? And the plans that I'm brewing in regards to it? There's a

it ensures that everything that needs to get done is done. He gives Daniel the most instructions, sending him out for takeout for dinner and dog supplies -

's very clear that Kent hasn't decided that he's still part of the team. Still, Jerome makes himself useful, cleaning up and ensuring that everyone has what

e. I notice them talking softly after a long bit and, as much as I want to know what they're saying, I'm still not ready to speak to Jerome with anything like murmurs his gratitude for my safety before admiring the new puppy, calling him a very handsome specimen. Kent and I fill Gio in on...about half the story, t we keep out the second half of the ultimatum, that offers his grandfather as the second choice. have we?

getting sharp. I do my best to disguise it as wanting to take the puppy out, ensuring that he doesn't go to the bathroom inside the house. The contractions

no one really noticing the regularity with which I step outside.

ods solemnly to me, letting me know that it's time.

to me, patting my cheek and saying not to worry about him - it's his job to worry about me. So, I give him a big hug and tell him not to hesitate to wake me

I sigh as I watch him go, Kent coming to my side to wrap an arm around my waist. "He'll be all right, Fay," Kent murmurs softly to me.

"I know," I say, resting my head on his shoulder. "I just...it's a big shock."

"As a big a shock for you as him," Kent says, making me look up at him. "If not bigger. And yet you're so concerned about taking care of everyone else?"

I just shrug, not having an answer, not really willing to plumb those depths of my psyche right now. Because Kent's right - I'm not really letting myself feel Janeen's anger, or dad's sadness. I'm locking it all away because... Well, because I've got a job to do.

"Come on," I say, turning towards our room and taking Kent with me. "We've got to talk."

Kent and I wave our goodnights to the three boys who still sit in the living room, drinking quietly and talking amongst themselves. They call their own goodnights before I give a sharp whistle and hear the puppy scamper across the room to me, eagerly coming to my heels. "How did you teach him that?" Kent asks, frowning down at the dog.

"I didn't. He's just a good boy," I say, smiling down at the pup who prances along eagerly at my side, staring up at me. "Plus, I'm the only one who had fed him and let him outside."

"Clever pup," Kent says, leading the puppy and I into the room and closing the door behind us.

Kent and I shower and change into our pajamas before the three of us bundle up in the bed then - Kent groaning at my insistence on keeping the puppy by my side -

"Just until he falls asleep!" I insist -

Kent sighs, giving in as the puppy grows heavy in my arms, his sleepy snout stretched out over my wrist. And Kent and I settle against the pillows, getting comfortable for what we both know is going to be a long, long talk. Because as busy as we've been, my mind has been turning and turning, coming up with what I want to do. And frankly, the anger and pain and shock that I've been denying - it's been simmering low within me.

And I have absolutely no intention of letting my mother walk away from this with the upper hand.

But before I can even get to that...there is something that I desperately need to address.

"All right, little viper," Kent murmurs, looking me over. "What do you have turning over in your mind? I can tell it's something."

"I'm going to ask you a question, Kent," I say, my voice quiet and serious. "And I want you to answer me with perfect honesty."

Kent blinks at the seriousness of my tone but gives me a single nod, telling me to ask.

"Have you ever," I say, studying his face very closely, "made out with my mom?"

His face falls in complete shock, his mouth falling open.

I gasp, slapping a hand over my mouth, disturbing the puppy just a little so that he raises his head in concern. "Oh, ew!" "Wh-what!? Fay!"

"Kent!" I hiss his name behind my hand, "that is so gross!"

"Fay!" he shouts, grabbing my hand away from my face, "you didn't even give me a chance to answer before you leapt to conclusions -"

"You had plenty of time!" I protest, shaking my head, "you had time to say 'what' and 'Fay,' twice! That's plenty of time to say no!"

"Oh my god," he groans, his hand tightening on my wrist. "Fay, you're being ridiculous - no, of course I've never made out with your mother -" "But did you want to?" I press, leaning forward again to study him.

"What!?" he gasps again, his brows knitting together in anger. "No! Fay! What even gave you this idea!?"

"Things she said," I reply, working to keep my cool but narrowing my eyes, "about you two knowing each other more than you've implied."

"And what is it that I've implied?" he growls, dropping my wrist.

"Don't you play this game with me, sir," I say, pointing a finger in his face that he swats away. "You know very well that when we first met you said that you met my mother at a party once, and she was very beautiful, and that she was not afraid to dance -" "What?" he breathes, clearly not remembering the moment like I do.

"You said it, Kent!" I protest, reaching out to smack him on the arm.

"All right," he growls, not even flinching at my smack and holding my eyes instead. "And it was not a lie."

I narrow my eyes at him. "And I don't think that what my mother said today about knowing you more than just a random person she saw at a party once was her just taunting me. So?" I sit back, demanding my explanation. "What's the truth, Kent?" He sighs sharply through his nose. "Fine," he says, glaring at me. "I knew her."

My mouth pops open with a betrayed squeak.

"Not like that," Kent growls, leaning closer to me, "we just...she was around, when I was coming up in the ranks. Alden was more established than me - he was one of the people for whom I did jobs. Daniel was just a kid - I was married, and so was she! It had nothing to do with anything like what you're implying, Fay, and if she lead you to think that then she's manipulating you -"

I sigh, leaning back a little, believing him now. Still, I narrow my eyes again. "Well?" I say, careful. "Then what was it? Where did your paths cross?"

"Those jobs I did for Alden, Fay? To build my cred in the community, to make some serious cash?" he says, turning his head to the side a little. "Your mom, she was on some of them. One hell of a shot with a pistol, your mother."

The breath all leaves me in a woosh as Kent sighs and begins to lay the truth for me - a very particular story about a very particular job they were on together, the night before she took me from my father's home and ran away. And as he continues my jaw drops lower, and lower.

Chapter 272

Kent and I - we stay up for hours as he spins out the story of my mother's past. I get quite mad at him, of course, for taking so long to tell me about it.

"Why didn't you tell me any of this?" I ask, resting my head on the pillows, ignoring the cramping low in my stomach for now - too tired to worry about it. Hell, I'm even too tired to glare at Kent, even though he deserves it.

"Because it didn't matter," he sighs. "She was dead - you never talk about her, or seem nostalgic about her. And I never think about those strange times twenty years ago when I was squeezed into a van and then into a gunfight with the woman. It just - honestly, it doesn't cross my mind."

"Well, I still would have wanted to know," I grumble. "And Ivan would have wanted to know too. It could have given us significant leverage over him."

"You're right," he says, reaching out to stroke my face. "In retrospect, it should have been part of full disclosure. But honestly, Fay, I didn't remember that I'd said anything to you about her before, let alone what - I wasn't trying to keep it from you. And Ivan -" he waves a vague hand, "I thought I had bigger fish to fry than Ivan. It was a mistake."

"I believe you," I sigh, turning my face and kissing his hand. And then I look back at him. "And, as long as you never made out with her, or worse," I manage a little glare then even at the thought of it, "then...I guess it doesn't change anything." "What do you mean?" he murmurs, stroking my face.

"It means that we need a plan, Kent. For what we're going to say to her tomorrow. What we're going to do."

"All right," he says, nodding to me. "What's the plan?"

"Don't you want to take lead on this?" I ask, my eyebrows going up

Kent shakes his head back and forth, keeping his eyes on me. "This is yours, Fay. Your mother, your vengeance if you want it. Or your peace, your triumph. Whatever you want, I'm on board."

I stare at him for a long moment. "And if I asked you to take lead?" I ask quietly.

"I'd do what I thought was right. But..." he hesitates now, narrowing his eyes at me. "I don't think that's what you really want."

I shake my head then. "No, but it's nice to know you would take it, if I asked you to."

He nods, steady. "So?"

I nod too. "I know precisely what I want, Kent. I just...don't know if it's going to make you hate me, if I ask for it."

And then, as Kent clicks his tongue and sits up, pressing a hand to my cheek, I spill everything - all of my thoughts, my ideas, my plans. I tell him everything I want and how I want to do it. It takes a long time to spell it all out. And at the end of it? Kent looks at me with clear eyes.

"Are you sure?" he asks, just once.

"I'm sure," I say, my voice quiet, giving a single nod.

"All right," he says, his eyebrows going up. "We have a short timeline for this, Fay. We'll have to stay up all night."

"I'm ready," I whisper, holding his gaze.

Kent leans forward, pressing a single kiss to my mouth, and then the two of us get started, all business.When the sun comes up, our bed is scattered with paper, our notes everywhere. And Kent - poor thing - despite his best efforts, he did fall asleep at the end. I smile at him as I silently pace the floor, my hands pressed against the small of my back, breathing steadily through the contraction that pulses through my body.

They're about fifteen minutes apart now and even more painful as my body begins to get ready for the real work of labor. I grit my teeth, wondering how the hell I'm going to keep this a secret. Because the moment Kent realizes what's happening, he's going to call off our entire plan -

But that can't happen. It's just...not an option.So, even though I'm more intensely uncomfortable than I think I've ever been in my life - and aware that it's only going to get worse - I breathe through the contraction, and steel myself, and nod, knowing that we're going to have to move fast. I glance at the sweet puppy, asleep in his little crate with his little doggie blanket, and then at the clock, which reads 6:00. And as the contraction ends I grimace, knowing I've got about fifteen minutes until the next one, and it's time to go.

I move, then, to sit on Kent's side of the bed, reaching out and running my fingers through his hair, knowing it will wake him.

I smile as his eyes blink open and focus on me. The moment they do he reaches up and takes my wrist, bringing my hand to his mouth and pressing a kiss to my palm.

"Hey, gorgeous," I murmur.

"That's my line," he mutters, his words still thick with sleep.

I grin at him. "I'm just borrowing it. You can have it back tomorrow. Are you ready?"

"Did I fall asleep?" he asks, sitting up and scowling at himself. "Did you?"

I nod eagerly. "I got a couple of hours," I lie. "But baby got me up. Constant bathroom breaks, as you know."

Kent murmurs something comforting to me as he sits up, and then he presses a kiss to my mouth. I lean into it, wanting his love, his warmth, and he holds me close for a long moment.

"Okay," he says, pulling away and nodding to me. "Let's get started."

And then Kent and I stand up and get ready for our morning. And individually, I prepare myself for the biggest performance of my life.

My heart breaks, just a little, when I walk out of my bedroom with the puppy in my arms to see Jerome asleep on the couch, his bruised face pressed unconscious against a tiny throw pillow, a scanty blanket draped over his legs.

And then I scowl at myself, because I'm not supposed to feel bad for him, my betrayer.

But I sigh, because Kent explained more of it to me last night - the whole story, at least from his perspective - and I know that I owe Jerome a long talk. And he owes me a great deal more.

And, because I love him, I'll give him that when all of this is done.

So I walk over, and, balancing the puppy on my hip, I lean down, stroking my fingers through his hair until he, too, blinks awake.

"Hey, 'romey," I say, smiling down at him.

Jerome groans and rolls over on his back. "Hey, Fay," he says, trying for a smile and failing, that guilt already coming back into his eyes. "You ready to get to work?"

He frowns a little and sits up. Behind me, I hear Kent's feet moving across the room and down the hall, intent on waking Gio and Daniel.

"Work?" Jerome asks, looking up at me, his eyes curiously moving over me and taking in that I'm dressed for the day. "What - what are we doing? Are we still going to Monaco -"

I quickly shake my head as I take a step back, letting him put his feet on the floor. "Change of plans," I say, my voice steady. Then I look at the puppy and over at the coffee machine, anxious suddenly as I feel a contraction coming on. "Will you make me a cup of coffee? I want to take the dog out -"

"Fay," Jerome says, grabbing my hand before I can skirt away. I bite my lip, anxious. "Please, we need to talk -"

"Coffee first," I bite out, pointing towards the machine and turning to the back door as I grit my teeth at the pain. And as I scurry away, I silently thank my contraction, because it's certainly making me look sterner to Jerome than I actually am. I barely get outside before the pain hits, making me gasp.

 

Chapter 273

outside.

And while I didn't walk or breathe, instead standing quietly next to the puppy, I'm pretty confident that I could do both. Bolstered with this knowledge, I cheer for the puppy as he finishes up, congratulating him heartily on being clever enough to go to the bathroom I don't bother to pick him up then, and he cheerfully gambols at my side as we go back into the house.

Kent takes a moment to look me up and down, as he always does, but when he assesses that I'm fine he moves back to his task.

"Good morning, Fay," Daniel says, opening an arm to me and pressing me tight to his side as I fill the gap. "And good morning, Lil Kent!" he says, leaning over to smile at the dog.

"We're not calling him that," Kent says dryly as Gio laughs, hearing the name for the first time.

"Then what are we calling him?" Daniel asks, turning his grin on his dad.

"Anything. Else." Kent snaps, turning to hand coffee to Gio and Daniel. He nods to me, letting me know I'm next.

Gio leans forward to give me a kiss on the cheek as my morning greeting before sipping his coffee. "So?" he says, looking around. "Am I to assume..."

"Plans have changed," Kent interrupts, all business. "Fay's mother threw a wrench in the Monaco plans - they're being postponed. You," he says, nodding to Gio, "are going to the airport to pick up Janeen."

"Oh," Gio says, surprised, looking around at all of us. I smile at him, leaning into Daniel and hoping he doesn't see through my expression. Because we're all aware that Janeen could get a very expensive cab from the airport, or take the train or a bus, or rent a car. But...quite frankly, we want Gio out of the house.

And at last minute? This was the only reasonable excuse Kent and I could think of.

"Her plane lands in two hours," I say helpfully, raising my eyebrows at him.

"Yes," Kent murmurs. "So, drink up. We need you on the road."

"What -" Daniel says, his arm slipping from my shoulders. "What is happening? Why didn't you -"

"Daniel," Kent snaps, his focus still on the coffee. "Go get dressed. Jerome too. We'll see you out here in a few minutes."

His tone brooks no compromise, and even though Daniel hesitates for a moment, he and Jerome go. Kent stops Jerome on his way, handing him a cup of coffee that makes Jerome smile far too wide. It's Kent's first kind gesture to him all night and all morning. As the two of them leave, Gio looks carefully between us. "Is everything...all right?"

"It is," Kent says, handing me my own coffee and turning to look at Gio sternly. "I'm asking you to trust me for a few hours, Gio. Our deal still stands. Are you all right with that?"

Gio's silence implies that he is decidedly not okay with that, but then he sighs, his head dipping a second before he meets Kent's eyes again. "I trust you, Zio."

"Good," Kent says, his eyebrows going up as he nods Gio back towards his room. "Go get dressed, fast. Fay wasn't kidding about Janeen's scheduled arrival."

It really isn't a ploy - we spoke with Janeen last night and she agreed to get on a plane this morning. A little thrill of happiness runs through me at the idea - because as much as I love this house full of men, it will be good to have my girl back at my side. Gio nods once, a good soldier, and heads off. I sip my coffee, looking up at Kent, who wraps an arm around me. We stand quietly for a long moment as our troops get themselves together, as Gio comes out - surprisingly first, though I suppose Daniel and Jerome are taking a minute to make peace - and says his goodbyes to us, taking the keys to Janeen's Porsche and hitting the road.

When Daniel and Jerome emerge, they look around confusedly for Gio.

"He's gone," Kent says, and I grit my teeth and lean against the counter, trying - impossibly - to look cool and nonchalant as another contraction hits.

Daniel frowns at me as he walks over to us, but I just wave him off and sip my coffee, yawning and pretending my pain is...sleepiness. I don't know. Inwardly, I sigh with frustration at myself, because I sincerely doubt I'm being very convincing.

"Dad," Daniel says, letting me off the hook and turning to Kent. "What the hell is going on?"

"We're making a move," Kent says, his words clipped. "And we need the two of you two be part of it."

Daniel looks between us, confused, but Jerome's face brightens before he turns to me and sees my scowl. "That is," I say, "if we can trust you. Jerome."

"Fay," Jerome says as my contraction finally passes. He reaches out a hand towards me. "You can trust me - honestly, the reason I never said anything was because I knew it would make you doubt that -" "Which is not an excuse," I growl.

"I know," he replies, genuine sorrow on his face. "And I know we need a longer conversation that there's no time for today - but Fay?" He holds my gaze, willing me to believe him. "Whatever you need me for today - for any day, for the rest of your life. I'm your man. I swear it."

"Good," Kent snaps, drawing all of our attention to him. "Because you're with Daniel this morning. We'll discuss the rest of her life later. And Daniel?" Kent turns his singular, not insubstantial attention on Daniel now. "If he does anything worth doubting - you're going to shoot him. All right?"

Daniel goes pale at the prospect, freezing.

My own eyes go wide. So do Jerome's.

But then Daniel looses a breath, holding his father's gaze, not glancing at Jerome. "All right," he says, nodding sharply. "If those are the stakes, dad? All right. Because I trust him, I agree to these terms."

Kent turns to Jerome then, silently asking if he agrees to this as well. Fervently, Jerome nods, which goes...a very long way towards making me trust him.

Although, honestly...I kind of did anyway. But seeing him say that he's willing to be shot by his boyfriend if he steps out of line?

Yeah. It's pretty good insurance.

"All right," Kent says, turning to me with a nod. And out of my back pocket, I pull Kent's phone.

"What we need," I say quietly, entering Kent's code and placing the phone on the counter between the four of us, "is for you two to...play fetch."

As I say the words I open the app on the phone and let Daniel and Jerome see what Kent and I already know: the location of my phone, about forty-fives minutes away.

"Fetch what?" Daniel asks, confused. "Fay, where is -"

"I left my phone in Ivan's car," I say quietly. "In the seat cushions, so he wouldn't know where it was." Jerome lifts his head and smirks at me, pleased and proud. I don't change my expression, looking between the two of them. "We want you two to go here, and only when Kent and I give you the word, we want you to take Ivan. And bring him back to this house. All right?"

Then, a little frantic, he looks between me and his dad. "What - what the hell are you two planning?"

 

Chapter 274

"We'll tell you when you need to know," Kent says, his voice dry as he leans back and slips his hands i more."

pockets. "And when your boy here proves that he can complete this without betraying us?" Kent shifts his gaze to Jerome here and shrugs. "We'll tell you

Daniel heaves a sigh and glares at Jerome, nodding before grabbing Kent's phone and pressing a few buttons, sharing the location of my phone - the one in Ivan's car - with his own. That done, he nods to Jerome. "You ready?" Daniel asks his boyfriend, who nods solemnly.

"Take guns," Kent says, nodding towards our bedroom. Daniel and Jerome nod, heading towards our door

"Wait," I say, frowning and standing up straight. "Where are they - Kent!" I gasp and turn to him. "You keep guns in our bedroom!?"

"Where did you think I kept them," he murmurs, frowning at me. "In the freezer?"

My jaw drops open as I stare up at him and then I scowl and point a finger up into his face. "You had better make sure those guns are locked down and that the baby can't get to them, Kent Lippert," I growl. "Fay," he says, reaching for me and pulling me close. "If you didn't know they're there, the baby won't either. At least, not until she's six. And then we'll get a better lock."

And I scowl and put the issue of Kent's arsenal to the back of my mind.

Because honestly, we've got enough on our plates today.

And it's just getting started.

When Daniel and Jerome come out of the bedroom and move to the door, I look closely to see where they've hidden guns on their bodies - but...nothing.

"Are there just guns everywhere, all the time?" I muse, resting my chin in my hands and watching as the boys grab their keys and wave goodbyes over their shoulders, heading out to Daniel's car.

"Yes," Kent answers distractedly, glancing towards the hallway where the rest of the bedrooms are. "Is your dad up? He...might not want to walk into this."

"It's too early," I sigh, straightening up and looking anxiously at the clock, knowing I've got about five minutes before the next contraction hits - if not sooner. I mean, they're supposed to speed up, right? Shit. Is that enough time for a phone call?

"All right," Kent says, pulling out the little slip of paper my mom wrote a phone number on. "Are you ready for this?"

I sigh, putting my anxiety out of my head, knowing that I need to concentrate right now and also that have to stop trying to micromanage this whole situation.

Because all of it - it's happening so fast, and it's completely out of my control, the kind of fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants job that Kent, quite rightly, said is not my forte.

"Hey," he says sharply, putting a finger beneath my chin and turning my face up to his. "Are you having ends doubts? Because if you are -"

"No," I say, scowling and pulling my chin from his grasp. "I'm just...out of my element, Kent. You know that."

"Luckily," he says, wrapping an arm around my shoulder and pulling me close, "I'm in mine." He dips his head then, pressing a warm kiss to my mouth that floods me with warmth - even makes me almost forget the cramping that's starting low in my stomach. Shit. Not even five minutes now. They are speeding up.

Kent pulls away and looks down at me with his eyebrows raised, a question in his eyes.

I nod, ready. "Let's do it," I say, staring up into his green eyes. "I love you."

"I love you, Fay," he says, utterly serious, knowing it's important for me to hear it.

And then I nod, and he grabs the phone, dials the number, and presses the speaker button.

Anxiety floods me along with the pain of my contraction as the phone rings once. Twice. And then it picks up.

I take a small step back as Kent leans forward, hoping to hell he doesn't look back at me as the pain of the contraction sweeps through me. I take long, deep breaths, hoping that if he hears anything strange about my breathing he'll attribute it to the anxiety of the moment.

"Hello?" I go rigid - even more rigid - at the sound of my mother's voice.

"Hello, Victoria," Kent says smoothly, adopting his Mafia Don voice, deep and steady, all business.

There's a long pause and I bite back a groan as my lower back begins to ache, the pain wrapping around my abdomen as the contraction continues.

"Kent," my mother says, her voice light, interested. "I didn't expect to hear from you. Where is my daughter."

"She's here with me."

"And," mom says with a low chuckle. "May I have some proof of that?"

Shit. Shit shit shit.

Just before Kent turns, I wipe my face clean of pain, forcing my face into steady lines. "I'm here, mom," I say, calm, even.

Kent nods to me and turns back to the phone as I exhale a huge, silent breath, letting my face crunch with the pain of the contraction again. Mentally I curse and force myself to take deep, deep breaths.

"All right," my mom replies. "So, are you in charge now, Kent?" she asks, dry.

"I should have been in charge from the start of this," Kent snaps, his voice harsh. "It was a mistake to go to Fay, Victoria. You should have come to me."

"And why," she asks, dry, "would I do that?"

"What?" he asks, a little humor leeching into his voice now, and I have to admit that I'm impressed with his performance. "You didn't think I'd buy your threat? Admit it, Victoria, you went to Fay because she's naïve. She wouldn't know how to handle it, which was to your benefit."

Kent's words bite, but I remind myself that we decided on this method together - we practiced this conversation, all the ways it could spin out. Mercifully, the contraction starts to ebb, and I step closer, finally able to pay more attention, my hand stroking over my stomach.

"Partially," my mother agrees, admitting it. "But it changes nothing, Kent. I want Bianci on a platter, or you go down."

"I understand the terms," he growls. "But unlike Fay, I'd like to take the opportunity to counter."

My mother laughs a little then. "Why on earth would I accept a counter-offer, Lippert? I hold all the cards here."

"No, Victoria," Kent says, turning to look down into my eyes. "You just think you do. Besides, in exchange for your silence, I might be willing to offer...much more."

"And what would that be?" she asks, newly curious.

"The Alden family, likewise served up," Kent says. "The largest Italian and the American families, together, on a platter."

"You can do that?" she asks, her voice a little more breathless than I think she'd prefer at this moment.

"I can," he replies, nodding even though she can't see him. "I want out of this, Victoria - all of it. You've been following me for years - you know I've been trying to go legit. We're on the same side, you and I. We could have negotiated this as equals, if you'd just come to me first."

"All right," she sighs. "And what do you want from me to make this happen?"

"A face-to-face," Kent snaps. "Today. Now."

"No," she replies. "It's impossible -"

"Then the offer goes off the table, Victoria," Kent says, sounding almost bored.

"I'll turn you in -"

"You won't," he snaps, impatient. "You're not leaving Sicily with nothing - and you won't play the trump card you've got hanging over my head out of spite. Don't forget, Victoria," he seethes, perhaps genuinely angry at her now, "I know you. You're not turning me over unless you get something out of it."

My mother is quiet for a long moment and in that long silence I know that we've called her bluff. Kent looks up into my eyes and nods once. The corners of my mouth start to turn up.

"All right," she says, her voice dry. "I'll meet. Though I'm bringing backup."

"Be my guest," Kent says. "How long will it take you to get here?"

"One hour," she snaps, and Kent hangs up the phone call without another word said.When he turns to me, I find that I'm shaking just a little, from fear, or adrenaline - or - god, who knows. Whatever. I'm too exhausted by it all to parse my emotions right now. "All right?" he asks, moving close and stroking a hand down over my hair.

I hesitate but then give a shaky nod and Kent gathers me to him, holding me and rocking me back and forth, murmuring sweet things as I bury my face against his chest.

Because...I mean, there's no going back now, is there?

I exhale a long, long sigh.

"Everything all right in here?" I hear dad ask, and I jump a little, turning to see him standing in his pajamas at the edge of the kitchen. He looks around. "Where did everyone go?"

Kent sighs and releases me. I bend down and pick up the puppy, not able to meet my dad's eye.

"David," Kent sighs, slipping his hands into his pockets. "I think we should have a talk -"

"No," dad says, and I look up at him with wide, curious eyes. "Kent, I have a feeling...well." He looks between the two of us now. "Whatever's going on? I have a feeling I just don't want to know. Is that all right?" Kent looks at me and I look between him and my father before giving a small nod.

If that's...really what he wants? Then I'm okay with that too.

"I think I'm going to town," my dad says, looking out the front door where two cars still sit. "I'm going to stay there all day. And you'll call?" he says, raising an eyebrow at me. "When...well, when I should come back?" "Sure, dad," I say quietly, working hard to keep my voice from shaking.

"All right, doll," he says, coming forward to press a kiss to my cheek and then heading back to his room to get changed.

"Class act, your dad," Kent says, running a hand through his hair.

"He's the best," I sigh, exhaling another long breath.

Kent picks up his phone again, and I watch him dial Daniel's number. "Are you on your way?" he asks, and I don't hear the answer, but Kent gives a curt nod.

And then he tells Daniel the rest of the plan.

 

Chapter 275

Victoria sighs as she pounds on Ivan's door, hoping to hell that he's up. She clenches her teeth as she hears movement in the room, clutching her hands impatiently. A moment later the door swings open and Ivan flinches back from the bright morning sunshine.

"Why aren't you up?" Victoria asks, her voice frustrated.

"Why are you up?" Ivan retorts, glaring at her and rubbing his eye. Then he stands up a little straighter. "Did you hear from Fay?"

"Look at you," Victoria says, smirking. "Standing at attention at the mere idea that she would call."

"Shove it, Victoria," Ivan sighs, a little sick of her. "Just tell me what's going on."

"We have to go," she says, nodding over at their cars. "Lippert wants a face-to-face. I'm going to the house and I need backup." She turns to walk away but Ivan grabs her arm. "Victoria," Ivan says, shaking his head, "this is stupid -"

"It's a move I have to make -"

"It is not," Ivan snaps, his eyebrows going up. "What - why the hell would you go to their territory -"

"Just come, Ivan," she groans, rolling her eyes and tugging her arm out of his hand. "She's my daughter, it will be perfectly fine - it's just a counter-offer, completely normal. Which you should know, considering your years undercover."

Ivan just scowls and shakes his head more, leaning against the doorframe and studying this woman who is so like Fay and yet...so completely different. For someone who's not much of a mother, he thinks, she's got a hell of a lot of faith in her daughter.

"I'm going now," Victoria calls over her shoulder as she moves towards her rented car. "You have about five minutes to pull yourself together - follow behind, and for god's sake, stay out of sight when you get to the Lippert house, all right? They know I have backup coming, but it won't do any good for them to know where."

"Fine," Ivan calls after her, not liking this plan at all but backed into a corner by this woman. She's the only route he's got left, after all, to the one thing he's wanted since he was a kid.

Revenge.

Ivan ducks back into his hotel room, getting dressed fast and scowling the entire time because as much as he's going along with this plan? Something about it just doesn't feel right. When he's ready he grabs his wallet, his keys, and the shady black market gun Victoria gave to him when they arrived. After all, neither of them are technically here on official business - no way of getting a good gun into the country.

"Should just steal one from Lippert while I'm there," Ivan murmurs, checking the clip. "I'm sure he's got dozens."

And then, ensuring everything is neatly tucked away on his body, Ivan leaves the hotel room and heads for his car, lost in his thoughts and anxieties about what the hell Lippert has up his sleeve, asking Victoria to come to the house.

Is Fay even in on this? Does she know what's going on? Is she -

"Hey," a voice says calmly behind him as Ivan reaches for his car door. Ivan spins immediately, something ringing with familiarity about that voice -

But before he can even process it, a fist flies through the air and connects solidly with his face.

"That's for kidnapping my wife," Daniel growls as Ivan falls to the ground of the parking lot. Before he can react, Daniel presses a shoe to the center of Ivan's back, forcing him flat, and another pair of hands grabs Ivan's wrists, zip tying them together behind his back faster than Ivan can process it.

And then, suddenly, he's being hauled to his feet. Ivan shouts, kicking out at Daniel, but Daniel punches him again and he groans, tasting blood in his mouth.

"Don't be a fucking idiot, Ivan," Daniel growls. "It's done."

Ivan only has the opportunity to blink at Daniel once before a piece of duct tape smacks over his mouth and a sack descends over his head, making his vision go black.

When my mother arrives at the house, I'm standing on the front porch in a serious black dress. Not because I felt it fits the occasion - not really. Just because it's the only damn thing that fits.

The puppy jumps around at my feet, chasing a leaf, and I smile down at him as my mom's car makes its way down the driveway.

"Oh, little pup," I sigh, passively grateful that my most recent contraction passed just before the gate opened to admit my mother's car. "I wish I was you. You're having a great day."

The puppy looks up and yips at me, excited, and I can't help but smile at him as my mom parks and climbs out of the car, looking me over from head to foot.

"Where's your keeper, Fay?" she asks, her voice cold. "Or are you allowed to speak for yourself now?"

"Hey, mom," I say, my voice sarcastically cheerful. "Welcome to our home! Would you like to come inside? Can I get you something cool to drink?"

She rolls her eyes at me as she comes up the front steps and gestures to the door. "Shall we?" she asks, clearly not having any time for my fake niceties. "After you," I murmur, leaning down to pick up the pup as she pulls the door open and steps inside.

Kent's waiting for her in the kitchen.

"Victoria," he says by way of greeting, looking her over from head to foot. "You look well."

"Bodes well for you, doesn't it," my mother says, walking boldly into the kitchen and looking Kent over in kind. "Considering that you're getting a preview of what that one will look like in about twenty years." She gestures at me over her shoulder with a thumb. Kent looks over my mother's head at me and I just shrug, not knowing what the hell else to do. I mean, it's not like she's wrong. Kent smirks and then turns his attention back to my mother. "Can I get you something to drink?"

"What is with you two?" my mom asks, looking between us with her nose crinkled. "Offering drinks - this is not a visit, we're here on business. Let's get it done."

"Fine," Kent says, gesturing towards the hall. "This way, please."

"I'm perfectly comfortable right here," my mom says, moving for one of the stools by the counter.

"Actually," I say, taking a step forward. "We'd prefer you came to one of the back rooms, mom. Dad...he doesn't precisely know you're here."

It's a lie of course - dad's gone to town. But still, we need mom in a private room for the rest of what we've got planned.

My mom raises her eyebrows at me, complete shock on her face. I tilt my head to the side, wondering if she actually knows her husband is here at all. I mean - they've been watching us, right? But then again...dad doesn't leave the house often to go to town... A sly little smile finds my lips. "So, unless you'd prefer to have a much larger confrontation today..."

"Fine," she scowls, sighing and following Kent as he moves down the hall. "Though I'd like to remind you that my backup is here, and that if I don't come out of this house in one hour -"

"You are perfectly safe with us," Kent murmurs as he opens the last door on the right down the hall, his voice smooth and comforting.

I follow my mother slowly down the hall, only turning into the room when she's stepped inside. And then I lean against the doorframe, my hand moving slowly across my stomach as I watch my mother turn slowly around, her eyes roving over everything. "What...what is this," she asks, her voice breathless.

"It's the baby's nursery, mom," I say quietly. "We thought you'd like to see it. You're about to be a grandmother, after all."

She snaps her gaze to me and glares, not at all liking that term. "Cut the emotional subterfuge, Fay," she says, her voice withering. "It's not going to work on me."

"It's also the only private room we have that works conveniently for our conversation," Kent says, his voice bored. "So, emotional subterfuge or not, Victoria, would you please take a seat?"

He gestures towards the comfortable armchair I plan to use when nursing and my mother sits down.

"Okay," I sigh, turning away from the door. "I'll leave you to it."

"What?" my mom asks, surprised.

"Did you think I'd stay?" I ask, blinking innocently at her, the puppy in my arms looking her way with curiosity. "After all, I'm too naïve for these conversations." I give her a bit of my own withering stare as Kent nods to me. "Call me if you need me, sweetheart," I sigh, playing my prescribed sweet little mafia wife role and pulling the door shut behind me as I head back into the living room to peer out the window. "Just in time," I murmur, watching Daniel's car pull down the driveway as well.

As I watch, Daniel parks the car and Jerome steps out of the back seat, hauling a captive Ivan out with them. I glance down the hall, hoping to hell our soundproofing of the baby's room two months ago is as good as the contractor said it would be. And then I go to open the front door.

"All right," Daniel says, striding through the front door and gesturing for Jerome to follow. "Where do you want him, Fay?"

"Fay!?" I hear Ivan shout, the word muffled by his duct-taped mouth.

"In my bedroom, please," I say, gesturing towards my room, which is the furthest point across the house from where Kent and my mom are having their little chat.

Ivan moans in frustration as Jerome lifts his arm up, hauling Ivan across the living room and pushing through the door into my bedroom.

I sigh, hanging my head and kissing the top of the puppy's ear as I take a deep breath, praying to hell that the rest of this goes smoothly. Because there are way, way too many wildcards left in this game for my comfort.

But, I'm in it now. And so I stride forward, following the boys into the bedroom, grabbing a little baby monitor off the back of the couch on the way.