Fall For My Ex’s Mafia Dad
Chapter 108

We're all absolutely silent in the limousine on the way home. Kent sits in the back corner of the car by the door, resting his forehead in his hand and staring down at his knees. While he's still and silent, I can feel the tension radiating off of him - a mix of anger, and anxiety, and something else...maybe resentment? I don't know. I'm too pissed off and exhausted myself to figure it out. But I watch him closely regardless, looking for some kind of signal regarding his next move.

Natalia, seated next to Kent, her thigh just accidentally, casually pressed against his in the close quarters of the car, is likewise motionless, simply sitting with her tired eyes closed. Alessi, next to Natalia, and Daniel, on the long bench next to me, both stare out the windows, giving no hint about what they're thinking or feeling.

I wonder if they're all fuming, like I am. If they are, they're probably doing a better job of hiding it.

The party went on for hours, until my cheeks ached from my fake smiles as I mingled with Kent's family, everyone taking their time to greet and consult Natalia and Alessi. I went through the motions, playing my role as Daniel's perfect bride, but I kept my eyes on Natalia the whole time. Just waiting.

I knew the moment when she made her move. I watched her do it.

I watched her tug Kent's sleeve, so hesitant, probably looking to anyone else like she just hated to be the bearer of bad news as she drew him away to a quiet corner. I watched her stand on her toes to whisper in his ear, her face motherly and anxious for Daniel's sake. I watched Natalia's hand brush up her own thigh as she told Kent all the details about how Ivan had me pulled against him when she caught us.

And I watched Kent raise his eyes to mine after just a few seconds of Natalia's report, focusing instantly on me as if he had already known exactly where I was standing and didn't have to search for me in this busy room. I watched his face go dark with anger as he listened. And as Natalia ratted me out in what I'm sure were the most scandalous terms she could think of - honestly, she probably did it in Italian, just for the effect - I held Kent's gaze even as his turned lethal. Through all of it, I kept my face totally impassive. Because, honestly? I didn't do a damn thing wrong. I have nothing to apologize for.

Kent glared at me for a long moment before turning back to Natalia, thanking her quietly before moving away. And it was done.

I know that I'll have to face him sooner or later, and frankly I'm looking forward to it. Because, honestly, fighting with Kent? It's going to be way easier than parsing out what the hell happened with Ivan tonight.

I lean my head back on the leather headrest in the limousine and sigh roughly through my nose, trying to wipe my mind clean, to calm the hell down.

Perhaps sensing my mood, Daniel gently takes my hand and gives my fingers a little squeeze. I turn to look at him and can't help but give him a tiny smile when I see him give me a tentative little grin and a shrug.

It's over, I read on his face, so clear I can almost hear him say it. What's done is done. Don't let it get to you.

I nod, agreeing and taking a deep breath as I put my head on his shoulder and try to let it all go. I find myself staring down at the engagement ring on my left hand.

This ring, with such a complicated history. To which I am currently adding, I guess. Poor ring.

Twenty minutes later the limousine pulls through the gate of Kent's house, looping around the driveway to drop us at the front. Slowly, still silent, we all climb out of the car. Alessi takes Natalia's arm, speaking to her quietly as he leads her up the stairs. As Daniel and I climb out we find Kent standing at the back of the car, facing away from us.

"Dad?" Daniel asks, his voice hesitant.

"Just...go inside, Daniel," Kent replies, clearly keeping a leash on himself. I feel my anger flare up inside me again, apparently wanting something to latch onto, anything. Why the hell is Kent being mean to Daniel? Daniel, after all, was perfect tonight.

I open my mouth to say something but Daniel just takes my arm and pulls me towards the stairs. I scowl but follow, holding my tongue and glaring over my shoulder at Kent's tense form as he looks into the night.

"Easy," Daniel murmurs to me, like you would to a spooked horse, so I turn my glare on him.

"I'm fine," I hiss, pulling my arm from his grip and using my hands to bunch up the skirts of my dress so that I can more easily climb the stairs. Daniel holds up his hands innocently, letting me know he meant no harm and I scowl at him. Together, in silence, we enter the house and head up the stairs, Natalia and Alessi already gone.

"How do you think that all went," Daniel asks quietly as we reach my room, glancing around the hall to ensure that we're alone.

"I don't know," I sigh, wrapping my arms around myself. "I hope....I hope I didn't f**k it up as much as Natalia clearly wants me to. Why does she have it out for me like she does?"

Daniel cocks his head to the side and considers me for a moment. "Actually," he replies, "I don't really know. That's a good point. She has...not been on team Fay for a moment since she got here. And I don't really know why." "Right!?" I hiss in response, glad that he finally sees it from my point of view.

"Maybe," Daniel considers, looking away from me a bit as he gathers his thoughts. "It's a hint about where the Bianci allegiances really lie. Perhaps...not with your dad."

"Oh," I say, my eyebrows going up as I take his point. Until now I had thought that Natalia's objection to me was a completely personal one. But actually...that kind of makes sense.

Daniel and I are both a little lost in our individual trains of thought when we hear a door open down the hall. We both jump a bit and then swiftly head to our rooms, wanting to get inside before having another encounter with an Italian tonight. Daniel gives me a fond little wave as he gets to his door and I blow him a kiss over my shoulder as I scurry inside mine, leaning back against it as I push the door closed.

But then, alone in my room...

Ugh.

I grimace and cover my face with my hand, realizing that now that I'm alone...I have to finally face my thoughts and figure out what the hell just happened.

I groan and make my way to wardrobe, yanking the doors open and quickly sorting through it. Wanting something more casual than the silky sets that Kent supplies for me, I quickly throw on a little tank top and a cheap pair of pajama shorts that I ordered for myself from Amazon. Striding towards the bathroom, I leaving my gorgeous dress in a heap on the floor, too angry to contemplate it now or to feel sorry about wrinkling that stunning silk.

As I brush my teeth and stare at myself in the mirror, I realize that I honestly have no idea what happened with Ivan tonight, and it pisses me off that I still can't figure it out. What the hell was he playing at, pulling me away in the middle of a family party?

I sort through my memories of those few brief minutes, trying to remember everything - but it all happened so damn fast. I spit out my toothpaste, thinking closely about the way Ivan made sure everyone was busy before he pulled me back to that secret space. Did he really want it to be secret? And why? So he could kiss me, or so he could tell me something that he didn't want anyone else to know?

I groan as I head back into my room, throwing myself onto my bed, staring at the ceiling and trying to sort through everything Ivan did, every inch of it.

But as much as I try to concentrate, I find myself wondering, passively, what it would have felt like if we hadn't been interrupted - if Ivan had actually kissed me in that moment.

Not what it would have felt like physically - that, I know, would have been great.

But honestly, how would it have made me feel?

And what would it have meant for me and Kent?