Fall For My Ex’s Mafia Dad
Chapter 235

The Don sits back in his chair, his white eyebrows almost at his hairline. And then he laughs, surprised and pleased.

I straighten up and take a deep breath, knowing that we're in the thick of the game now. And I've just gained quite a bit of credit, I think. Don Bianci isn't someone who is used to being surprised.

"And why, donna," he murmurs, settling back into his chair, his eyes now greedy, wanting what it is that I have laid on the table for him. "Is the price of all of this?"

"Nothing material," I murmur, giving a little shrug of my shoulder and looking up at Daniel, who nods at me, encouraging me to continue. "Just...a little matter between family."

"And the connections," Bianci pushes, speaking more quickly now, wanting the details. "If you're here, playing the little mother in Italy, who is in America running your family? Your father and all of his capos are dead."

"My cousin," I say, my answer immediate. "Fiona D'Agostino. She's an Alden on her father's side."

The Don raises an eyebrow at me. "Quite a coterie of women you're building here," he murmurs. "Is that a problem for you?" I ask, raising the same eyebrow, mirroring him.

"It is not," he murmurs, his eyes flashing to my stomach. "As long as you are not hysterical."

"Don't worry," I say, snapping a little, my voice low. "The money will flow."

"And will it flow to me?" he asks, his question instant, his voice sharp. "Kent did a great deal of work these past months convincing Natalia and Alessi to reinvest with Alden, largely for your benefit, girl. To keep an engagement between his son and Alden's daughter - an apparent love match. But I am not such a romantic that I did it for you - I want what I was promised."

"Fiona is loyal to me," I say quietly. "She will be happy to work with you if I ask her to. But my hope is that after I hand my industries to you that she will transfer her loyalties as well - become your girl in America, not mine."

The Don tilts his head at me now, curious again. "So, is that your price? Freedom from this, from all of it? To simply be...the little mother, instead of the donna of the Alden and the Lippert families?"

"It is," I say quietly, "though not the price in full."

He nods to me, pleased to get to the meat of it now. And I take a deep breath, because this is the moment when it all comes together or falls apart.

"Freedom," I say, holding his gaze again. "For Daniel, for me, for our child...and for Kent."

A slow smile spreads across the Don's face here, because the first three...well, we're easy, aren't we? He's well aware that while I currently hold the Alden and Lippert organization in name, that I'm in no way capable of actually running a criminal organization - I don't have the experience.

But Kent?

Kent's been Bianci's golden goose for twenty years now, making him millions in America while he reigns here in his Italian villa.

Kent's freedom - forgiving the life debt he owes to the Bianci family. That is the real ask here.

And I'd give anything, anything to get it.

And so that's what I've come here today to offer: absolutely everything I have, everything I've stolen and killed for, in exchange for Kent.

"You should take the deal, nonno," Daniel says softly. "It will make you the most powerful man on two continents."

"I'm aware of the stakes, Daniele," Bianci growls, glaring a little at his grandchild, clearly not seeking his advice.

Still, he leans back in the chair and studies us, clearly considering it. He lets us hang for a long time, so long that Daniel shifts his weight beside me. But I stay perfectly still, waiting, knowing that I've played my not-insubstantial cards to the best of my ability. And also aware - very aware - that it is a good offer. And that Don Bianci wants it very much.

But he didn't get to be as powerful as he already is by being a calm, grateful man.

No, greed is in his bones. And if there's a chance he can get more, if he can have all of this and keep Kent too?

He'll try for it.

"I'll think about it," the Don says with a gentle shrug before reaching a hand to his side. Gio is there in a moment, offering his own hand to help his grandfather stand from the chair.

Then, as the Don drops his grandson's hands and moves towards us, his face shifts completely, becoming the familial patriarch instead of the calculating criminal King. Bianci moves to Daniel first, taking his face between his hands and smiling at him before leaning forward I'm surprised, a little, to see that Daniel is actually taller - and kissing Daniel on both cheeks.

"Daniele," he murmurs, "it is good to have you home. You should stay, yes? We will find you a role in the family, help you raise this child."

Daniel frowns a little bit but nods, not accepting the invitation but acknowledging the generous offer it includes.

Then the Don turns to me, coming close and slipping a finger under my chin to turn my face up to him, studying me. "It was a pleasure, Fay," he murmurs, his voice genuinely pleased, "and a curiosity to met you. I must say, I did not expect our Daniele to marry so well."

I blink rapidly at what is surely high praise, and then smile a little as the Don leans forward and gently kisses both of my cheeks as well.

"You will stay for dinner?" he asks, taking a step away and looking between us.

"Not tonight," Daniel says with a sigh, running his hand through his hair. "We have...plans."

We don't have plans, unless you count getting yelled at by Kent. But, well. We do have to go do that, and it will indeed take most of the day.

"Then you will come back soon," the Don says, turning away and stepping towards the fire. "My wife will want to feed you, and you should spend time with family. And I'm sure we will need to have more...chats." His words are less an invitation than an order. He waves a hand and Gio steps towards us, gesturing towards the door, clearly understanding our dismissal.

Daniel calls some words of farewell over his shoulder, assuring his grandfather that we'll be back soon, but I don't say anything, my mind racing over everything that happened as we step out the door. Because - well, it went well, didn't it?

Or did it?

I mean - he didn't give us an answer, didn't agree to my terms...

But he didn't say no?

Should I have gone in a different way - should I have gone in asking for more, so that when Bianci counters I can ask for less but still keep the one thing that really matters to me, Kent's freedom, on the table? Should I -

But I'm so distracted in my thoughts that I trip, stumbling a little down the formal staircase that I suddenly realize we're walking down.

Luckily, Gio grabs my arm before I can actually pitch forward.

"Fay!" Daniel gasps, and then he glares at me, scolding me a bit. "Would you pay attention!?"

I wrinkle my nose at him a little, frowning. "I was thinking."

"Can you concentrate on walking first? God, you have to be careful - "

I open my mouth to retort but Gio cuts in smoothly with a laugh.

"Don't be too hard on her, Daniele," he murmurs, holding my arm steady as I find my feet and smile up at him. "She just went to battle with nonno - she's bound to be a little distracted."

"Thank you, Gio," I say perkily as we start again down the stairs.

"What do you think?" Daniel murmurs to his cousin, who laughs a little again.

"I think you were right to let her talk," Gio says, keeping his voice low so we're not overheard. "She did better than most. And nonno -" Gio shrugs here, a little apologetic, "he thinks you are a little lazy."

I frown at Gio now, defensive. "Daniel is not lazy -"

Gio grins at me as we reach the ground floor, clearly pleased. "A loyal wife," he says, looking me over. "I admit, I am impressed. I underestimated you. Though I think, perhaps..." he shrugs again, a very Italian gesture, "that you want people underestimate you. Yes?"