Fall For My Ex’s Mafia Dad
Chapter 221

Kent laughs a little at my impudent question. "No," he says. "I didn't know Jerome was gay - I had no idea. Honestly, Fay, I thought he was into you. I'd heard him talk about girls before - just locker room kind of things with the other guys in the alley - which could very well be a defense mechanism in this kind of work, but," he sighs, "when Ivan casually dropped that Daniel and Jerome were together?" He shakes his head, still baffled. "It was a shock."

"Kent," I say quietly and then I lift myself up, turning and slinging one leg over his lap so that I'm straddling him and able to look him in the face, looping my hands casually around his neck. Kent rests his hands on my hips, looking at me seriously. "Is it possible..." I hesitate now, still putting together my thoughts.

"What, Fay?" he asks, encouraging.

"Well," I say, looking into his deep green eyes. "Is it possible that even though you are the one who noticed Jerome...that someone...placed him there? On purpose? So that you could notice him?"

Kent's hands momentarily tighten on my hips as he realizes what I'm saying. Then the loosen, a deep breath coming with them. "Yes," Kent whispers, nodding. "It is...I mean, I hadn't considered it before, but it is...possible."

My heart sinks then, because I...I don't want to be asking these questions, and I feel guilty even considering it. "Jerome has been so good to me, Kent," I say quietly. "He has always been on my side. He believed me about the baby even before you and Daniel did - took my word for it. And I entrusted him with so much on the day we left - I had him go get you over anyone else -"

Kent laughs a little here, and I frown at him.

"Did you know anyone else who could ride, Fay?" he asks, dubious.

"Well I can ride, Kent," I say, looking at him with wide eyes, a little offended. "I could have gone and -"

He laughs harder at this. "Fay, you're four months pregnant and have only gone riding in the ring -"

"Not true!" I protest, a little offended. "I rode around...the pastures..."

Kent shakes his head a me then, taking my face between his palms with a little sigh. "All right," he concedes, though I can tell he didn't mean it. "You could have done it too. You're very capable."

I narrow my eyes at him, knowing that he's pandering to me, and his face breaks into a wide grin. But I move on, dismissing it. "Either way," I say, shaking my head a little and obliging him to drop his hands. "What I'm trying to say is that I didn't just choose Jerome because he was my only choice. I really do trust him, Kent."

He nods slowly to me, returning his hands to my hips and slowly beginning to slide them up and down the sides of my body. "I'm sensing a 'but' is coming, Fay," he murmurs, looking at me seriously again.

I nod. "But," I say, and then I sigh. "Kent, I can't get it out of my head, how he reacted. Something in my gut is telling me to push here - to get to the bottom of it. Do you...do you think I'm being paranoid? Should I forget about it? I trust him and I love him - he is like family to me."

Kent sighs and stops petting me, instead wrapping his arms loosely around me and pulling me forward so that I lean against his chest. "Even if you are being paranoid, Fay," he murmurs into my hair. "That's your job now. You're in charge - you have to follow these instincts, get to the bottom of everything. If Jerome comes out clean, it will only make you trust him more for passing your test, though he - and Daniel - might resent you asking these questions."

I sigh, hating that idea - I love them so much, I don't want them disappointed.

I'm quiet for a long moment, nestled against Kent, thinking. And then I come up with a great idea.

"Well," I say, my voice soft and bright now. "Can you do it for me?"

"What?" Kent asks, his arms tightening a little.

"You can ask," I say, sitting up a little and grinning at him, my face close to his. "And not tell him I asked you to. Come on, isn't this a perk I get for carrying your child? Just a little favor?"

Kent growls, his eyes narrowing. "You can't use that for everything, Fay," he murmurs.

"Sure I can," I say, my grin growing now. Kent laughs a little and I press a quick kiss to his mouth.

"This is dangerous," he sighs. "This is precisely why I didn't let myself get close to women - I don't want to be obliged to do your dirty work -"

"Ohhh," I say, dismissive, "it isn't dirty work, Kent! Just, you know, a little chat."

He snarls now, playfully, his arms tightening as he twists me to the side so that I'm laying back in his arms and he looms over me, which I know he prefers. I bite my lip as I look up at my sexy mafia boss, because I like it too. Very, very much. "I'm done having your prescribed chats," he growls, bringing his face close to mine.

"Fine," I say, starting to run my fingers through his hair. "Just - you know, whenever you have a minute. Have a little chat with Jerome, please, and see where it takes you. And don't tell him I'm behind it."

"And what do I get," Kent murmurs, dipping his head and kissing my jaw, and then my neck. "In return for this favor?"

But I don't bother to answer as my back arches, pressing me closer against him. Kent lifts his head and a little moan slips from my lips before I press my mouth to his.

Because, quite frankly, we both know that Kent's going to give me whatever I want.

And that I have my own very particular ways of thanking him.

Later that evening, before dinner, I walk around the ship looking for Jerome. A big smile breaks onto my face when I find him, finally, out on the deck with Daniel by his side, quietly chatting and watching the sunset. But when Daniel turns to me with a frown on his face, my smile drops away and I bite my lip, suddenly worried.

"Ignore him," Jerome says, laughing. "He's feeling extra defensive because someone got him morning drunk, and then someone else kept him going all day."

"You better 'poligize to 'Romey," Daniel says, pointing a finger at me.

I burst into laughter then, quickly crossing and wrapping my arms around Daniel's waist. "That's what I came to do!" I promise, grinning up at him. "But, um, do I owe you an apology too?"

"Yup," Daniel says, giving me an exaggerated nod. "You made me have a really weird talk with my dad. About Johnny Depp."

"What?" I ask, baffled but pleased.

"I'll fill you in," Jerome sighs, putting a hand out to me, which I take. "Danny," he says, nodding towards the lounge chairs, "go lay down for a second. I'll be over in a little bit."

Daniel narrows his eyes at Jerome now. "Don't boss me 'round," he mutters, but he does as Jerome suggests, walking over to the lounge chairs and flopping down in one, closing his eyes peacefully.

"Where's Janeen?" I ask, smiling a little, my eyes still on Daniel, who I'm pretty sure is already almost asleep. "Is she in just as bad shape?"

"Worse," Jerome says, laughing. "She went to bed an hour ago."

"Oh my god," I say, shaking my head. "They're going to regret it tomorrow."

"I know," Jerome says, giving my hand a little squeeze. "Which is a shame, because tomorrow we'll reach Europe. And they'll be all hungover." "Really?" I ask, my eyes going wide as I look up at him. "So soon?"

"It's been a long time at sea, Fay," Jerome says, grinning at me. "I mean, I know you've been distracted, but yeah, we're really almost there." "But we're not..." I frown, confused.

"Yes," Jerome says, confirming my thoughts. "We still have to pass into the Mediterranean and get to where we're going but," he shrugs, pleased, "we should start to be able to see land, which will be exciting after," he gestures out towards the expanse of blue Atlantic stretching out before us, "days of nothing."

"Aw," I say, turning towards the sea and leaning against the rail, admiring it. "I'll kind of miss it. It's been peaceful."

"It's been dull," Jerome says, turning with me. "I can't wait to see Europe - something new."

I nod and grin up at him before my expression drops into something more serious. "I'm sorry, Jerome," I say, taking a step closer to him. "Really, I am. It wasn't right for me to -"

"Nah, Fay," he says, shaking his head at me and dropping my hand to wrap his arm warmly around my shoulders. "I over-reacted. I was too sensitive. I know I upset you, and I'm sorry. Me and you - we didn't say anything we're not willing to take back, right? We're good?"

"We are," I insist, suddenly feeling a little bad for urging Kent to ask Jerome more questions. But...well, I don't really intend to tell Kent not to do it. So, I guess it's just a guilt I'm going to live with. "We really are, Jerome. I love you and I trust you, I don't want you to ever doubt that."

"Me neither, Fay," he says, resting his head against mine. "Let's move on from it, right? Focus on the future."

"On the future," I say, looking out at sea and admiring the way the sunlight dances across the water. "Which, apparently starts tomorrow." "Tomorrow it starts," Jerome confirms, nodding. "But the next day? That's the big one."