Fall For My Ex’s Mafia Dad
Chapter 213

"Jerome went to get snacks," Janeen says with a contented sigh, leaning back against the pillows. "Ohhhh, clever Jerome," I say happily. "I knew he was useful."

Just then Jerome does come around the corner, bearing a full tray of snacks that he places on a larger table between us. Cheerful conversation reins then, with Jerome siting next to Daniel on the lounge chair and handing around snacks and sodas for everyone. Jerome and Janeen get to talking then, asking Daniel questions about Europe and what they can expect the food like to be there. Daniel, having taken several trips - of which I am very jealous - fills them in on the snack situation of a variety of countries. As they talk, I settle comfortably against Kent, enjoying the convivial atmosphere and not really feeling the need to add anything. It's enough, I think, in this moment to just have those I love around me, safe and happy.

"It's good," Kent murmurs, his lips close to my ear so that our conversation is mostly private even though we're sitting with everyone.

"It really is," I say, sighing. He wraps his arms tighter around me, resting his forehead against my hair and inhaling a deep, contented breath that makes my heart sing with pleasure. Because I gave this to him, and I was happy to do it but... Well, I want to give him even more.

But still, I have to know what he wants.

"Kent," I say quietly, turning to look at him a little. He makes a soft sound low in his throat, encouraging me to continue. "What is it that you want next?" I ask, quiet.

He smirks, considering me. "Is that what you were talking to Daniel about?" he asks, "in your secret meeting with the horses?"

I scowl a little, frustrated at his implications even though...well, he's kind of right. "Daniel and I met by chance, Kent -"

"It's fine," he laughs, shaking his head a little and letting me see that he's fine with it. "You two are allowed to have conversations by yourself. I don't need to be privy to everything."

I smile here, because this is indeed a very different Kent than we've met before. But he's showing us that he trusts us, which is a new side of Kent that I can really get on board with. "Well?" I prod, pushing him back to my original question. "Do you know?"

"What are you asking me, Fay?" Kent says, leaning back a little so he can clearly see my face when I respond.

"I'm asking," I continue, my hand going to stomach, "what you want our life to look like on the other side of this. Because we're not going to live on a boat forever, are we?" "We could," he suggests, turning his head to the side and considering it, making me laugh.

"No," I say, shaking my head vehemently. "I mean, as much as I love our little container ship home, I'm going to want to be on the ground. And I think Heathcliff does too."

"All right," Kent says, smiling at me. "So, what do you want that home to look like?"

Slowly, I shake my head, not letting him turn the tables like that. "No, Kent," I say softly, staring into his face, forgetting for a little bit the family that sits around us, still chatting away and letting ourselves have our own conversation on the side. "I need to know from you. You've always been the master of your life - and as good as you're being to me now, letting me take control and direct us in my own way...I know that you've got something in mind. And I want that - I want what you want."

"Even if it's different than what you want?" he asks quietly.

"It can't be," I reply, instant. I slip my hand into his. "I'll go with you, Kent. What you choose is what we'll do."

He's quiet for a moment, studying me carefully. "Are you asking me if I want to leave the criminal world? To stop being a mafia boss, and to do something else?"

Slowly, I nod, letting him know that that's precisely what I'm asking. Because frankly, if he wants it back? He can have it. We have all the pieces here now, and a new alliance with Fiona that I know is loyal, and new, stronger ties to the Bianci family now, who believe they have a grandson on the way.

If he wants his world back? He can have it, stronger than ever. I mean, not without new challenges - Ivan is alive, and surely pissed - but...

Well, it is stronger now, isn't it? I can give him that.

But what Kent says next? It doesn't surprise me at all.

"I want out, Fay," he says quietly, reaching forward to tuck a strand of my still-drying hair behind my ear. "That was always the plan - to go legit, to turn away from the criminal and to cut the ties as much as I can, especially now with the baby on the way. I want to build a safter, simpler life. Does that...is that what you want? Is that even possible, after everything you've put in motion?"

A little smile starts on my face then and I nod, eager. "Yes," I say. "It's possible, Kent. It's very possible. And I think it's right - it's what I want most too."

He smiles at me for a moment, I think relieved to be on the same page - to be making the decision together that what we both want, most of all, is to leave this world in which he was so successful. To start again somewhere else.

And then I sigh with happiness, settling back against him and biting my lip, a warm well of happiness building in me. Kent sighs, settling his arms loosely around me as I tuck my head under his chin and close my eyes, pleased. "So," I say, curious. "What will you do now that you're not a mafia boss?"

"What do you mean?" he asks, his voice light and a little idle.

"For a job," I reply. A moment passes, and then he laughs. "What!" I protest, laughing too. "You're going to need a job, Kent. All of your accounts are locked down, and it was expensive, funding Fiona's takeover - and keeping Daniel well supplied with his clothes and his books -"

"I know," Kent replies, groaning a little, "he's so lavish - keeping Daniel in the life to which he is accustomed is like supporting three girlfriends at once -"

"Hey!" Daniel snaps, drawing both of our attention to him. "I heard that!"

I laugh and wave a lazy hand in his direction. "Accept the truth, Daniel - you're high maintenance."

"See? I told you that you were," Jerome sighs, nudging Daniel with his shoulder as Daniel scoffs.

But I turn my attention back to Kent.

"See? You're going to have to get a job." I sigh, resting my head against him.

"And what do you think I should do?" he asks, already laughing a little.

"I think..." I say, considering. "Well, I think you'd make a very charming grocer -"

Kent laughs for real then, letting his head tip back with it. "What? Why?"

"Because," I say, turning to grin up at him a little. "You already know so much about the fruits and vegetables that are in season, and you would be very good at helping the little old ladies pick out a ripe pear. And you'd look very handsome in one of those green aprons -" He laughs harder now, perhaps picturing it, as I am.

"But," I continue, frowning a little now. "Honestly, all those bored housewives around, coming to see you and weave their European wiles - I don't think I like the idea as much anymore."

"Well I like it even better," he says, making me give him a little glare. "European housewives chasing after me doesn't sound so bad -"

I smack him on the chest now. "No groceries for you," I murmur, shaking my head and resting it against him. "In fact, no grocery shopping at all. We'll send Janeen. We'll find you something else, all alone. At night. Maybe a grave digger or something."

Kent laughs more now, making me smile, and I catch a little glimpse of my dad, who is smiling at me as well. Because while I think he had doubts about me and Kent before, he never saw us like this - saw the way we are together, the way I make Kent laugh, the way that he transforms into a softer, kinder man when I'm at his side.

I give my dad a little wink, and he gives me a nod, and then I turn my attention back to Kent.

"Seriously, Fay," Kent says, his voice still happy but more deliberate now. "You know that's not necessary, right?"

"What do you mean?" I ask.

"I don't - I'm not going to need a job -"

"Why not? The money - it really is mostly gone, Kent. It was not cheap doing...all of this."

"And what of your new industries?" Kent asks, raising an eyebrow. "Do you plan to run them into the ground, never making another cent from them?"

"Well Kent," I say, pressing a demure hand to my b****t. "Those are my companies, and my profits. The question was not what I was going to do for work, but you were going to do."

He laughs again now, pleased, but he shakes his head. "Fay," he sighs. "If you think that I don't have other accounts in Switzerland, that the American government can't touch..." "Really?" I ask, my eyes going wide as I turn to stare at him, actually shocked. "Are you serious, Kent?"

"Of course I'm serious," he says, shaking his head at me, a coy and self-pleased smile on his face now. "Did you like it better? When you thought I was broke?"

"No," I say, my eyes wide as I shake my head and then start to laugh. "This is way better. Seriously, though," I press. "Are we like, rich? How much do we have in the accounts?"

"Um, Fay," he says, leaning forward and teasing me, "I think we just established that this is my money, in my accounts -"

I click my tongue and swat at him, which makes him laugh and grab my hand before it can smack him, pulling me again against his chest, where he likes me. "It's enough, Fay," he murmurs in my ear. "Enough to keep us safe. To buy a little farm, maybe start a vineyard. I had one before, and it did well. We could try it again. Do you think you'd like that?"

"I think I'd like that," I murmur, pleased, because suddenly the image comes to me of a little child running in the summer sun through the grape vines, free and easy, with Kent and I following behind. "I think I'd like that very much."

"Good," Kent sighs, tilting his head back and closing his eyes. "Then that's a good enough place to start."

And I settle my head against him, pleased.

But I don't close my own eyes just yet.

Instead, I look for Daniel, and find him already looking at me. Then, subtly, I nod, just once, letting him know that our plans are going forward.

Daniel nods back to me, understanding, before he turns his attention back to Jerome and the rest of our little group.

And I do close my eyes, pleased and at rest. Because now that I know Kent wants the same thing Daniel and I want?

I know just how to get it.