Fall For My Ex’s Mafia Dad
Chapter 116

Natalia goes perfectly still, except for her eyes, which narrow almost to slits.

"Who are you going to see?" she asks, her voice sharp.

"Family business, Natalia," I murmur, aloof, taking a big sip of my coffee and then placing it on the tab "Family?" she asks, leaning forward. "Which family? This one, or your father's?"

"Well, they're one and the same now, aren't they?" I reply, cryptic. And then I let my lips curl in a secre "Will you do all right without me today, sweetheart?" I ask, my voice soft and intimate. I raise a fond h Daniel turns to look up at me, already onto my game and ready to play along. "No," he says, wrapping I laugh and pout at him, looping my hands around his neck and leaning back a little so that my hips p "Prove it," Daniel says, grinning at me wickedly, daring me.

And, laughing a real laugh because I'm so grateful to have him on my side, I let him tug me close and ...well, as if he's his dad.

It's a long, deep kiss, and when I pull away I'm smiling widely at him, genuinely grateful that he's so w calculating. But I ignore her, leaning over the table a little to grab a croissant off the plate in the midd "You guys have an amazing day," I whisper, giving them both a pretty smile. "I'll miss you!" And then I straighten and head for the door.

I'm already past Natalia and Alessi when I see Kent leaning against the wall next to the kitchen door, absolutely falter in my steps when I see him there. But he just nods his head once at me, uncrosses hi Taking this non-censure as rare approval, I smile and head towards the door, thinking that it's done. But as I pass him, I feel the knuckle of Kent's index finger gently, just barely, graze the side of my a*s. And I can't help the huge smile that breaks out on my face as I push through the door. It's not much, but from Kent?

He might as well have given me a high-five.

As soon as I come through the door, though, I almost bang straight into Jerome.

"Whoa, speedy," he says, catching me by the shoulders before I can knock him down.

understand."

le smile before turning to Daniel and ignoring her completely.

run it down the back of his head, taking a moment to trail my fingers through the ends of his hair. around my waist and pulling me close. "Not if it's a choice and pleading incompetence will keep you here."

ose against him while I look down at him with adoration. "Sorry, babe," I say. "You know I have work to do. I'd rather be with you, though."

ower my face to his, kissing my best friend as if...

play along. I turn my head to Alessi and Natalia then, pleased to see Alessi grinning proudly at his nephew and Natalia glaring coldly at me, her eyes

s folded over his chest, watching my every move with a little smirk on his face. And I'm damn lucky that the Italians have their heads turned because I and moves into the kitchen as if he's got better stuff to deal with.

I stumble a little but then gasp as I look down at my crushed croissant, which collided with his chest. "Why are you always outside doors I'm coming out of?" I ask, frowning up at him. "Do you just lay in wait outside of every door I go through?" "How could I do that, Fay," Jerome asks, looking at me slyly, "when sometimes you go into one room and, inexplicably, come out of another?"

My mouth pops open a little but then I snap it shut, wondering what the hell he knows. Has he guessed something about secret passages? Or is he just baiting me into saying something?

Jerome lets me dangle for a moment and then lets my shoulders go, trusting me to stand on my own. "Lucky timing, then, I guess. Where you off to in such a hurry?"

"Gotta go see an important man," I reply, giving a little shrug.

"Which one?" he asks, genuinely curious.

"Nooooooo idea," I say. Then, I cock my head. "Want to come with?"

Jerome hesitates, looking towards the kitchen, but I grab him by the arm. "Oh, come on," I say, pushing him towards the garage. I know Jerome has access to the car keys and I want to get out of here before Natalia can come call my bluff. "Kent will let me take you." Jerome laughs at this, but he lets me push him. "What am some Ken doll you guys trade around for the day?"

"Precisely," I confirm as we pass into the garage and he snags the keys to the Lexus from the key cage. I grin at him over the top of the car as we open our doors. "Want to buy me breakfast, Ken? This..." I hold up my sad little semi-crushed croissant, "isn't cutting it anymore."

"You got it, Barbie," Jerome quips, winking at me and climbing into the car. I grin and do the same, closing my door behind me.

Once Jerome and I finish our breakfast - he takes me to a place downtown where they serve a full English breakfast, something we'll never get in an Italian house - and we get back in the car totally stuffed, I know precisely where I want to go.

I'm not looking forward to it, but I know what I have to do. Jerome blanches a little bit when I direct him to our next stop, but he doesn't ask questions. Instead, he just drives me up to the front of the house and gets out to lean against the car and watch my back as I climb up the steps and ring the bell.

About half a minute later, the door opens.

"Hey, Tristin," I say, giving my step-mother a little smile in response to her deep and hateful glare. "Is my dad home?"

"He is not," she snaps, hoisting baby Estrella higher on her hip. The baby, thankfully, greets me more graciously with a giggle and a little flap of her hand in my direction. I can't help but smile back at her.

"Um," I say, looking back at Tristin. "Can I come in and wait for him, then?"

Tristin rolls her eyes at me and begins to close the door.

"Tristin!" I call, putting out a hand to stop her. "Please, I'm sorry - I know whenever I come over it always causes trouble -"

"Causes chaos, you mean," she replies, still trying to shut the door - but she's only got one free hand, and I've got two.

"Okay, I buy that," I say, holding my weight against the door until she gives up, glaring at me. "Please," I say, my eyes wide and, I hope, showing my earnest desire to make piece. "Just... let me come in for a little bit. I'll help! I'll watch the baby! I'll...whatever you want! Just let me wait for my dad for a little bit."

Tristin clenches her teeth but then steps away from the door. "Fine," she snaps. "You can watch Romulus for a bit, keep him out of the electrician's hair. But one hint of drama," she says, pointing a finger up in my face, "and you're out. All right?"

"You got it," I reply, holding up my hands innocently. Tristin nods once and steps out of my path so that I can enter. I shoot Jerome a thumbs-up over my shoulder and head into the house, where I see Romulus peeking over the stairs.

"Hi!" he says, popping up and grinning widely at me when he sees me being welcomed into the house. Or at least, tolerated.

"Hi," I reply brightly, going over to him. "So," I continue, peering up at him, "word has it that I'm seeing a very important man today," I inform him. "I guess that's you."

"Makes sense," Romulus says honestly, giving me a little shrug. "I'm very important."

I laugh and hold out my hand to him, beckoning him to come play.