Fall For My Ex’s Mafia Dad
Chapter 232

patio that actually reminds me a great deal of the patio at Kent's house.

Valentina calling some instructions to Alessi over her shoulder as we go and I glance to see him give a confirming wave, moving to a large brass coffee machine. Daniel takes his grandmother's hand and the four of us move through a back door onto a gorgeous little I smile when I realize that this must have been his inspiration, and a warmth runs through me. Even though he's not here, it's so lovely to finally be getting these insights to Kent's life, his personality, his past.

"I am Valentina," the woman says to me, leading me to a little wooden chair at a cozy patio set and grabbing a pillow. I smile up at her as she solicitously tucks the pillow behind my back, ensuring my comfort. "I am Alessi's wife - we are so glad to have you here, Fay. I heard so much about you from my husband and from Natalia."

"Oh!" I say, smiling at her, feeling a bit stupid for not putting it together before. Because of course I knew Alessi was married, and I've heard his wife's name before, but - well, I guess I was just overwhelmed, meeting Daniel's big Italian family all at once.

Daniel takes a moment to settle his grandmother in a chair next to me before moving to a chair on her other side. Daniel introduces her to me, telling me that her name is Rosa but to call her Nonna like everyone else. "Nonna," she says in confirmation as she reaches over to take my hands. "Me Nonna."

I laugh and repeat the word affectionately, and then point to my chest and say "Fay."

"Fay," she repeats, nodding deeply as Alessi comes out of the kitchen, bearing a tray of espresso that I sit up straight to see.

Alessi laughs when he sees it. "Fay, I did not forget your affection for espresso," he says, setting down the tray and handing around the little cups, mixing milk into mine before he hands it over.

"You're too good to me, Alessi," I say with a sigh, leaning back and taking a sip. "Thank you all so much for welcoming me into your home. I feel stupid now for not taking more time to learn Italian."

Valentina clicks her tongue and dismisses the point. "We most of us - besides Nonna - we speak enough English to make it work, and you will learn, yes? You will stay here?" She looks between Daniel and I expectantly now.

"No, no," Daniel says, and I smile to see him using his hands and adopting a little bit more of an Italian accent than he has with us. He's already falling into the rhythms of this house which must be like a second home to him. "We have rented a place - we wanted our own space for when the baby comes."

Valentina sits up straight and glares at him a little. "You will need help when the baby comes - there is no better place than here, your home - you will move in immediately -"

I grin, a little, to see the fire and vehemence in this woman, but Alessi just laughs lightly and puts a hand on her knee. "Let them do as they please, Valentina. I'm sure you will see the child enough."

"I love children," she says to me, placing a hand on her heart. "You should live here, I will raise the baby for you -"

We all laugh and Valentina rolls her eyes and tosses up her hands, muttering something about nobody taking her seriously. Alessi puts an arm around her shoulders, tugging her close and giving her an affectionate kiss on the cheek, murmuring kindly to her. I smile at them, pleased to see the warmth between them - they are clearly very dedicated to each other, which I suppose is important in a family like this.

Cheerful conversation carries for a while as we drink our espresso, Daniel filling in his family on the story that we've practiced about wanting to quietly flee the country after Kent's escape. As time passes I begin to grow a little impatient, because while this it's very nice meeting Daniel's family...

Well? We're not precisely here for a social call, are we?

I sit back quietly in my seat for a moment, letting the family take over the conversation, trying to think of a way to prompt Daniel to request an audience with his grandfather, Don Bianci. But...how do I do that, while still playing the blushing bride?

After a moment of quiet contemplation, I notice that Nonna has gone quiet too, and I look up to see her studying me with a little smile on her face. I sit up straight, worried that she's seen through me, or that I've let my mask drop too much - But she clicks her tongue and places a soft hand on my arm, leaning in to whisper something in Italian.

Daniel turns to us, curious and I cock my head at him. But he just smirks and shakes his head at me slightly, letting me know - in his own Daniel way - not to worry about it just now. So I just smile at him, and then at Nonna, and do my best to be engaged in the conversation as Alessi updates Daniel on things that he's missed in Italy since they last spoke.

But I admit, I'm getting antsy. How the hell do I turn this conversation?

Before I have a chance to consider the problem much further, there's sudden movement at the door as a young man comes skittering out of it. He gasps a breath as his head whips towards us. "Daniele!" he shouts, and Daniel leaps to his own feet, sending his chair across the flagstones behind him and making me jump.

"Gio!" Daniel shouts, and suddenly Daniel is tripping over the patio furniture as the young man dashes across the patio. The two collide, wrapping their arms around each other as my eyes widen.

"My eldest," Valentina says, leaning closest to me. "My Giovanni - Daniel's cousin, and his best friend."

"Oh," I say, my eyes going wider. Because, honestly, Daniel never mentioned him. And considering that Daniel is my best friend...

Well. You'd think that's someone I'd have heard about, right? I mean, I knew Alessi had children, but Daniel never once mentioned to me that he was close with any of them.

Daniel and Gio chatter excitedly to each other in Italian as I look the young man over, impressed despite myself with how handsome he is. He's not dark like Daniel is, nor is he as tall or as broad, but he has a very distinct Italian charm with his lighter brown hair and his close-cut beard that does nothing to hide the deep dimples on his cheeks.

Daniel turns to me then, and I hear my name mixed in with the Italian words, knowing that I'm being introduced.

Gio moves eagerly to me, reaching for my hand. "Fay," he says, his voice light and charming, "it is so nice to meet you, finally my father has told me so much -"

"And you as well, Gio," I say, grinning at him but flicking my eyes to Daniel, who gives me a chagrined little shrug.

I'm absolutely going to have some questions for him on the way home. But, right now? I suppose that's not the point. Gio wraps me in a warm hug and then dips to kiss his mother and his grandmother on the cheek before turning to his dad.

"Well?" Alessi says, looking Gio over from head to foot, and I'm shocked to hear what sounds like disapproval in his voice. I take a minute to study Gio a little closer and blink when I realize that he, unlike the rest of his family, is not dressed in luxurious leisurewear. Instead, he's wearing a pair of hospital scrubs.

"He sent me down," Gio says, his voice more serious now as his gaze passes quickly over me to fasten on Daniel. "He says that...he's ready to see you now. So, um. You should go up."

The table grows quiet then, and I realize quite suddenly that while I thought that we'd have to request an audience...

Well. It seems that the Don is already aware that we're here.

And that he's waiting for us.

And I scowl at myself, inwardly, for being a bit stupid. Because of course he knows - this is his house, after all. And he didn't become the most powerful boss in Sicily by letting people come into his home without his knowledge. All of this - Alessi escorting us to the kitchen first, letting us be greeted and pampered by the women - all of it was a diversion so that Don Bianci could be informed and make his own plans.

I

Come on, Fay, I growl at myself inwardly, though I keep my face placid as Daniel moves to my side. Pull yourself together.

"All right," Daniel says, nodding to his cousin. "Lead the way."

And Gio's face breaks into a grin almost as if he can't help it before he nods his head back towards the house. "Follow me."

So, we do. Valentina grabs my hand on the way, giving it a supportive little squeeze that I return. And I wave to Nonna on my way out, pleased when she blows me a little kiss. Because the women, at least - it looks like I have them on my side.

I take Daniel's hand then as Gio leads us into the house. We step away from the kitchen, heading up a dark set of stairs that branches off the kitchen. The cousins chat eagerly to each other, catching up, but I ignore them, inwardly working to steel myself. Because now?

Now I meet the boss.

And I've got one chance to get this precisely right.