Fall For My Ex’s Mafia Dad
Chapter 171

"Do you take this woman?" the justice asks, smiling kindly at Daniel, "to be your lawfully wedded wife?" Daniel beams down at me and I can't but smile back at him, laughing a little at the joy on his face.

"I do," Daniel says, and I wrinkle my nose at him. We're putting on an act, of course, but honestly? Honestly, a lot of it is real. I love my best friend. I'd marry him and live in a sexless marriage of convenience to raise this baby as his child instead of his brother any Of course, I have other plans.

day.

But this? It's not a bad backup.

"And do you," the justice turns to me now, looking at me like the fond mother I never had. "Take this man to be your husband?"

"Yup," I say, laughing a little as I do so, and then I take a step closer to him, squeezing his hands with my own. Daniel rolls his eyes at me and looks at me incredulously, mouthing the word "yup?!" like he can't believe I just said that and I laugh and correct myself. "Yes!" I say, laughing outright now, "yes, sorry, yes. Yes, I take him, I do." "Then I pronounce you man and wife!"

A small cheer goes up from our gathered loved ones as Daniel wraps an arm around my waist and pulling me lightly against him. Then he kisses me, gently, sealing the deal. I wrap my arms around his neck and kiss him back - just a small, chaste kiss. Because even though Daniel is my best friend...

Well, I don't really allow myself to consider what I'm really feeling at this moment. What it does to me to marry Daniel, when what I really want...

He pulls away from me, smiling and turning towards our little crowd, raising our joined hands for everyone to see.

Janeen and my dad, standing with Jerome, whoop and holler with joy, while Natalia and Alessi, sit on the other side of the tiny aisle with my father. All three clap politely, my father and Alessi beaming at us. My father, to my shock, wipes a tear from his eye. I smile and blow him a kiss, knowing I need him on my side.

Daniel and I complete some quick paperwork and then scurry down the aisle, our family coming happily with us. Outside of City Hall Natalia, Alessi, and my father give us a series of kisses and well-wishes, knowing that it's time for them to go.

"Are you sure, daughter," my father says, looking mournfully down at me. "That you will not come to dinner? Tristan and I will take you somewhere wonderful, truly celebrate the day -"

"No," I say, pitching my eyes down and pretending to regret it. But then - as I've been doing too much lately, though it's so effective that I don't know if I'll ever stop - I slide a hand over my belly. "I - I don't think I can keep any of it down. The morning sickness has gotten really bad..."

It's a lie, of course. I'm thoroughly pregnant - we had a doctor confirm everything a few days ago - but I still haven't felt any different in my body.

"Ah," my father says, leaning forward to kiss me on the forehead. "Your mother was just the same. But, soon, yes? We will celebrate."

"Of course, papa," I say, smiling fondly up at him. His eyes get a little wet as he gazes down at me, but then he pats my cheek and turns away, heading for his car.

"And we," Natalia says, standing on her tiptoes to kiss Daniel on both cheeks. "Will see you tomorrow!"

Alessi sighs a little to have it brought up again - he likes peace in his family, I know, and wishes to avoid awkward subjects like his nephew's paternity test - but Natalia pays no mind.

"Yes, Natalia," Daniel says, laughing and kissing her back. "Tomorrow morning. I'll bring you coffee."

"Please, don't," she sighs. "Your American coffee..." she shudders as if it's the worst thing on earth.

Not missing that Natalia doesn't say a damn word to me, I wrap an arm around Daniel's waist as we wave goodbye to them.

"Well, husband?" I say, grinning up at him. "What's next?"

"Well, I'd say we should do the heteronormative thing and go get you knocked up," he says, sighing, "but you already did that."

I grin up at him, laughing as Jerome, Janeen, and my dad join us.

"They're some real pieces of work, aren't they," my dad murmurs, watching the Italians go.

"You have nooo idea," Daniel sighs, turning to smile at him.

"Let's get out of here," Janeen groans, tugging at my arm. "This is so boring - this is the worst wedding I've ever been to, there's not even any booze!"

"Groom's hot though," Jerome says, smiling at Daniel and taking his arm when Janeen pulls me away and down the stairs towards our car.

I laugh, pleased at our bizarre little family. "Where are we going?" I ask, grinning at Janeen. I know she's got something planned - she's been too sneaky for days. "Home," she says, innocent.

I just laugh, ducking into the car and letting her take the reins. But then, as we hit the highway and actually head back to the beach, I twist in my seat to stare at her. "Seriously?!" I gasp. "We're just going home?!"

"Where did you think we were going?" she asks, turning her head curiously.

"I don't know!" I say, gasping suddenly with sadness. "But it's my wedding day! I can't believe you didn't plan anything!"

"Your fake wedding day!" she insists, laughing. "To your gay ex-boyfriend! Whose actual boyfriend is right there!" she continues, pointing to him in the driver's seat. Jerome gives us a little thumbs-up as Daniel laughs next to me.

I pout, crossing my arms over my little white wedding dress which only goes to my knees. "First you make me sit in the middle seat, on my wedding day," I grumble, "and now I don't even get a reception?"

"Sorry, baby," Janeen says with a sigh, grinning at me. "I'm saving the good stuff for your next husband."

The rest of the car ride home is a cheerful one, I think all of us wanting to take a day to ignore the realities of our life and just...have a good time. Dad is laughing hardest of all of us, telling stories about his own two weddings (to Janeen's mom, and then mine) that have us all rolling as we pull into the driveway.

I'm thoroughly cheerful, if not a little tired, when I climb out of the car and head to the door.

But as I walk to the house, someone grabs my hand.

"Where do you think you're going?" Daniel asks, pulling me back to him with a smile.

"What?" I ask, confused. "Insi..." but then, as I look at Janeen and Jerome grinning on either side of him, I gasp with delight.

"You did!" I shout, throwing my hands up in the air. "You did plan a surprise reception! You did!"

They all burst out laughing then and I smack each of them on the chest in turn for teasing me like that. And then a taxi pulls up to the driveway, beeping twice as my dad waves from the door of the house.

"You're not coming?" I call to him, my face falling.

"You know me," he calls back, waving as he turns into the house. "Two beers and I'm done. I'll keep the house warm for when ya come back."

And I grin at him, blowing a kiss as I allow Daniel to take me by the arm and lead me down the driveway.

"Your chariot awaits, my bride," he murmurs in my ear.

"How gallant of you, groom," I reply, grinning up at him.

And then we all pack inside the taxi, determined to have a good time and ignore our real lives for one more day.

Because tomorrow? Tomorrow it really begins.

One hundred miles away in a state prison, Kent sits staring at his hands. It's recreation hour - a forced activity. If it were up to Kent, he'd stay in his cell rather than come to this room with all of its shouting and noise. Most of the other prisoners like it - it's some of their only time to socialize, to play cards, to watch TV. He would rather be alone.

He doesn't really know why, not anymore. It's not like he does anything in his cell except stew, and think, and go over and over his options that never turn up any real plans. And it's not like he needs silence to do that. Still.

He doesn't want to be...here.

"Hey Lippert," someone says from over in the TV corner.

Slowly, Kent lifts his head.

"Ain't that your kid?" The man gestures towards the TV where the image shows a tall dark-haired young man coming out of city hall holding the hand of a red-haired girl. Text rolls across the screen.

Son of disgraced mafia don Kent Lippert gets married in civil ceremony today. His bride, rumored daughter of the famous Alden mafia family, is two months pregnant with...

Kent watches passively for a moment until he sees Daniel take Fay in his arms, leaning close, bringing his face to hers.

And then Kent looks away.

"Hey?" the guy asks again, more forcefully this time. "Ain't that your kid?"

But Kent doesn't reply. Instead, he turns his attention back to his hands, shaking his head a little.

"Couldn't even marry her properly, in a church," he mutters, clenching his jaw. "At the very least, he could have gotten that right..."