Fall For My Ex’s Mafia Dad
Chapter 101

"Fay," Daniel says, coming to my side and wrapping a happy arm around my waist. "This is my Uncle Alessi, my mother's brother," he tells me, and I raise my eyebrows, surprised by the news and pretending to be excited about it. But in reality, I find it unnerving - neither Daniel nor Kent has said very much about Daniel's mother, Lenai, and I certainly didn't know she had a brother. Especially one who makes Kent go pale like that. "And this," Daniel says, turning towards the beautiful woman, who looks at me like a hungry cat peering at a little canary, "is Natalia, an old family friend. My mother's maid of honor, actually, at her wedding."

"Fay was born in America, yes," Kent answers quickly before I can open my mouth. "But her father's family is Sicilian, like us. Her mother..." he hesitates, and I realize that he doesn't know.

"Scottish," I supply sweetly, holding Natalia's gaze and gesturing towards my red hair.

"Ahh," Natalia says, nodding and still studying me. "And you can cook?"

I blink, surprised at the question. What the hell does that matter?

Daniel, at my side, laughs a little. "That's something Fay's working on," he lies smoothly, smiling down at me and giving me a squeeze.

Natalia nods sharply, still holding my gaze. "We will teach you to cook," she says, folding her arms over her chest deliberately, "like a real Italian woman, before you marry my godson. He needs a good wife."

I smile a little, intimidated, and then nod, agreeing to her terms. But honestly, the last thing I want is to be trapped alone in a kitchen with this woman. She scares me.

A lot.

"So, not that I'm not thrilled to see you," Daniel says, smoothly changing the subject as he pulls me closer to his side, supportive, "but what are you doing here? Was I -" he glances at his father, "was I supposed to know you were coming?" "No," Natalia says, definitive, turning her cool gaze on Kent now. "We are a surprise."

"Yes," Alessi says, likewise shifting his attention back to Kent. "My father has been...interested. In your progress these past few months. He sent us here to," he shrugs here, apparently finding the words, "do a little tiny check. See how you're doing. See if we can be of any help."

Kent's eyebrows lower over his eyes as mine shoot up, realizing the depth of what Alessi is saying. Whoever his father is - someone important, I suppose - he's sending these two to monitor whatever Kent is doing with his underworld business. And whoever is watching the Mafia King, and sending along his auditors? He must be a big fish indeed.

"Well, I'm so glad to see you, and so glad you're here," Daniel says, pretending to be oblivious to what they just said and beaming at the two of them. "We'll have to throw a party! And show you some of the sights, while you're here!"

"The sights," Natalia coos, looking back at Daniel with those fond mother's eyes, coming forward to take his face in her hands and squeeze his cheeks a little. "So cute, you American boys, with your idea of beauty. Daniel, darling, we left all of the sights in Sicily and

in Italy." She drops his face and claps her hands, laughing a little. "You will come home," she states, definitive, nodding towards me but not looking at me, "you bring your bride, and then we show you the sights."

Daniel laughs with her, agreeing, but I find my gaze shifting to Alessi, who is staring down Kent with a slick little smile on his face. They stare at each other in silence for a moment before Alessi speaks.

"Yes, Kent," he says slowly, "your Daniel has a good idea. Why don't you throw us this party. Tomorrow night. Invite...everyone. We are family, after all." He shrugs. "We want to see the family."

I watch Kent grit his teeth as he processes Alessi's demand. "Of course," he says after a moment, his voice unreadable. I'm still watching them when Daniel drops his hand from my waist, moving to Natalia's side to take her suitcase by the handle.

"Come one," he says, still smiling fondly at his uncle and...well, someone who acts quite a lot like an aunt, even if she isn't biological family. "Let's get you settled upstairs."

"Such a good little host," Natalia says, pinching his cheek and smiling at him. Then, she shoots a little glance my way. "Though it is usually the hostess's job to settle guests..."

I feel my cheeks go red as I realize her critique. But she's already halfway up the steps before I can do anything about it. "There are more suitcases in the car, little Fay!" Natalia calls over her shoulder. "If you want to be useful!"

My mouth drops open and I start, not knowing what to do, but Alessi leans towards me. "Don't pay too much attention to her," he says, smiling and shaking his head. "She is...ah, what do you call it here?" he takes a moment to think, looking up at the ceiling, and then snaps his gaze back to mine. "Ah! Yes. A bitch."

I burst out laughing at this, and Alessi laughs with me, coming to link his arm with mine, patting me on the hand. "Come come," he says, "you will be my little friend, I will keep you safe from her. Do you have any espresso here, after the long flight?"

"Yes!" I reply, smiling at him, relieved that at least one of these new visitors likes me. I turn towards the kitchen and Alessi turns with me. "Come on, I'll be happy to get you something." Alessi smiles at me and nods and we both walk towards the kitchen. Before we pass through the door, though, Alessi calls to Kent over his shoulder.

"Ah, Kent," he says, a sly grin sliding over his lips. "You'll get the bags, yes? Thank you, brother. Such a big help."

I don't even glance at Kent over my shoulder as we head into the kitchen, not wanting to give anything away. But I know, in my heart, that he must be boiling with rage.

Kent is as good as his word, putting all of his best people to work planning a party to welcome Natalia and Alessio, even though they didn't bother to let him know that they were coming. As a result, I don't see much of him during the rest of the day. Luckily, Daniel stays by my side like a little burr, perhaps intuiting that I need his help navigating the innerworkings of his family. He also sooths me after each of Natalia's verbal barbs which come...frequently. We have dinner together as a family the night they arrive, in the back garden. Natalia shoos everyone out of the kitchen so that she can make us an Italian feast of fresh pasta and fish, complimented with amazing cheeses and cured meats that she and Alessio brought us from Sicily.

Kent comes late to dinner and doesn't say long. While he's there, he doesn't say much. He nods and laughs when appropriate, but excuses himself quickly, saying that he has work and planning to do. I watch him go with a little regret. I'm still mad at him, but he was stressed out yesterday - I have no idea how he's handling the surprise arrival of these intense Italians on top of everything else.

"This one," Natalia says, jolting me out of my reverie by placing a creamy soft cheese in front of me, "is illegal in your silly country. Unpasturized," she says, patting me on my shoulder and gesturing for me to eat. I take a bite, groaning at how delicious it is. "Good girl," she murmurs, moving away to bring more dishes to the table. "Eat more, it will help you put some meat on your body. Grow some tettas."

Daniel snorts, almost sending red wine through his nose while I gape and look down at my body. I mean, my boobs aren't gigantic, but...I'm slim...

"Do not listen to her," Alessi whispers, leaning over to nudge me familiarly with his elbow as he sips his Campari cocktail. "She is trying to see if she can get under your skin. She will be more impressed with you if she cannot."

"Fay's tough," Daniel says then, winking at me across the table. "She can handle it."

"I don't know," I murmur, taking another slice of the delicious cheese and eating it. "Maybe I need more meat on my bones to survive all of these knives she's throwing at me..."

Both Daniel and Alessi laugh, making me smile.