Fall For My Ex’s Mafia Dad
Chapter 211

And then I feel guilty for making him feel guilty - and it's all a terrible spiral-

"Oh no," I murmur, tears slipping down my cheeks as I take his face between my palms. "We can't live like this Kent - with both of us feeling like we've asked too much of each other without giving enough- He laughs, then, shaking his head. "I know that you're right," he says, "but I...don't know how to ever stop feeling that way. What you've done, Fay -"

"It wasn't even really that big a deal -" "It was -"

"I just...made my dad give me a bunch of companies, one of which was a shipping industry, and made my husband learn how to smuggle things - honestly, after I figured that out the rest was very easy - I did it all from my kitchen -"

He laughs then, tugging me closer and pressing a kiss to my hair. "You're underplaying it, Fay," he sighs. "Which is fine with me, because I know you, but if you ever want anyone else in this world to respect you, you'll have to find a way to let them see the cold calculation behind those moves. Which I'm very aware is there."

I sniff a little, my tears coming to an end, and consider what he says. "Um...do I want people in this world to respect me?" I ask, quiet, wondering what he's thinking.

"I suppose that's up to you," Kent replies, his voice even. "They'll certainly know your name now that this is done. You own what, all of Alden's legitimate ventures? And have passed the illegitimate to Fiona? People will be aware of who you are, and will be following your moves. It's up to you to decide what you want to do with that."

"Kent?" I ask, leaning back now and brushing at my cheeks with my hand to get the last of the tears away. "What do you want me to do with that?"

He just slowly shakes his head at me, unwilling to answer. "It's not for me to decide," he says softly.

I scoff now, frustrated, and push him on the shoulder. "Yes it is," I growl. "We're in this together - all of this. I'm not going to just make decisions and drag you along with them -"

"And I'm not just going to seize control of the power that you built for yourself and do what I want with it -"

"Even if that's what I want you to do?" I ask, my eyes wide.

"Fay," Kent says quietly, turning his head to the side. "Is that what you want me to do? Is that why you did all of this - to give me my position in the criminal world back?"

I take a moment to consider his words.

"No," I whisper, holding his gaze, letting him see the truth of it. "That's not why I did this. But if you want it, I'll give it to you."

He hangs his head a little, clearly torn. And I run my fingers through his hair, feeling guilty again, wanting to fix it but knowing...well, that I've got to let him have his own time, don't I? To sort through everything he is feeling as well.

"I have to talk to Daniel," I say quietly, leaning my head on his shoulder and continuing to run my thumb over the short hairs over his ear. "I need to see where he's standing too, before we make plans to move forward." "Daniel?" Kent asks, looking up at me, a little confused. "What does he have to do with it?"

"He's my husband, Kent," I say, grinning a little and looking at him with wide eyes. "My other half? The father of my child? He should have a say -"

Kent growls then, tugging me possessively closer. "Stop saying things like that," he murmurs, bending over me and bringing his face close to mine. "Making me jealous of my own damn kid, even if you're kidding -"

"I'm not kidding!" I laugh, though I am teasing him, enjoying seeing him jealous. "Our wedding was legit -"

"Was not," Kent mutters, leaning me further backwards now so that I'm horizontal again, so that he can move his shoulders and loom over me, intimidating and powerful and just...incredibly sexy.

"Sorry, Kent, it was," I sigh, allowing my hand to curl around the back of his neck. "But, luckily, I am willing to cheat on him, if the tempting party is good looking enough -"

"Cheat on him," Kent huffs, laughing a little, "ridiculous -"

"The bonds of marriage are very important to me, Kent! I -"

But I don't get any further, because Kent seals his mouth to mine, shutting me up like he can't stand to hear any of it. And then he takes his time showing me precisely how much I belong to him, wiping the thought of any other men - or anything except him at all, frankly neatly from my mind.

My hunger comes back to me in full force a little later, after I get out of the shower. I move immediately to the little tray of food, looking around the room and a little surprised to see that Kent isn't there. But I find a little note, letting me know he's gone up on deck to get fresh air and that I should come join when I'm ready.

I smile, pleased at the prospect, and then grab half a sandwich from the tray as I hurry to dress myself and get ready. I head out the door a few minutes later, my hair still damp and a couple more sandwiches wrapped in a napkin tucked under my arm. But I don't head immediately up to the deck - instead, I take a little detour, heading downstairs to see the horses.

Because the poor horses - Daniel assured me that they would be fine, that horses are shipped across the Atlantic like this all the time, and that the container in which they're living has plenty of fresh air - it even has portholes that open out onto the sea - But still, something about it just feels...so wrong.

But would it have been any better to leave poor Heathcliff behind?

I sigh when I reach the door to the horses' container, pulling it open.

But I'm further shocked when I see someone already standing there. "Daniel!" I say, laughing with surprise.

He turns and smiles at me, one hand in his pocket. "Oh hey," he says, a genuine smile of pleasure lighting his face. "I didn't think you were coming out of the cabin maybe...ever."

"Well that would have been my preference," I mutter, moving to his side and wrapping an arm around his waist in a hug. "But your dad wanted fresh air."

"You can't blame him for that," Daniel sighs, dropping a kiss to the top of my head. "Cooped up in prison for so long. Probably wants to see the sky."

"I'm sure he saw the sky, Daniel," I say, rolling my eyes and passing him my little bundle of sandwiches. "He wasn't locked up in a cell beneath the ground like the Count of Monte Cristo or anything. What are you doing here?"

"Just checking on them," Daniel says, raising his chin towards the horses as I take another bite of my sandwich and move over to Heathcliff, who eagerly reaches his nose out towards me.

"I'm surprised," I reply, beginning to pet Heathcliff's face and feeding him a piece of my bread. "Considering you hate horses."

"Just because I don't want to be around them doesn't mean I want to see them suffer. And considering that I didn't think you were going to come around any time soon," he shrugs. "I thought I'd do the right thing."

"Well you're very sweet," I say, turning to grin at him as I move to Butterfly's side, petting her as well. "I won't tell anyone, because you're supposed to be a very tough Mafia husband now. But...well, those who need to know already know."

Daniel laughs and follows me, shying away a bit when Heathcliff reaches out his nose to lip at the sleeve of Daniel's sweatshirt, wanting more bread. I laugh when I see it.

"So," Daniel says, his voice slow and serious now. I turn to him, curious. He doesn't usually talk in that voice, but when he does it means he's been thinking about something. A lot. "On the subject of mafia husbands...what's the next move for us, little wife?"

I sigh, turning my attention back to Butterfly as I consider his words. "Are you asking me because you really want to know what I think?" I ask quietly. "Or because you're looking for an opportunity to tell me what you want?" "Fay," he says quietly. "I want to do what we planned."

I look up at him, worried. "It was never a full plan, Daniel," I say, my voice even and serious now. "It was always an idea. And Kent? He's..."

"He's going to hate it," Daniel finishes for me, heaving a deep sigh.