Fall For My Ex’s Mafia Dad
Chapter 244

Kent turns towards the house, rolling his eyes, and he bumps Jerome hard on the shoulder as he goes.

"Oh!" Jerome says, spinning back to the group of us still on the patio, his eyes going first to Daniel and then Janeen. "Oh, uhm...no, baby!" Jerome says, and I groan just a tiny little bit to see how incredibly bad he is at being Janee's fiancé. "You come to bed too!" Gio, a sly little smile on his face, stands up. "Thank you for the offer, Janeen," he says, steadier on his feet than I thought he'd be. "But I think I'll go to bed too."

Gio walks to Daniel and I, heading inside with us while Jerome goes to take Janeen's arm. I roll my eyes when I see that she doesn't even bother to hide her scowling disappointment.

Together, we all troupe into the house, Jerome and Janeen leading the way.

"You're lucky the guest bedroom's all set up," Daniel says, turning his charming smile on his cousin. "We just got here."

Gio nods his appreciation as, ahead of us, Jerome stops at his and Daniel's room, starting to step into it. I grit my teeth and press my eyes shut, a sigh on my tongue, as Janeen pulls him away.

"No, Jerome," she growls, pulling him down the hall towards her own room. "Our room is this one."

I look up at Daniel to see him fighting his laughter as he pushes open the door across from his own. "You're in here, Gio," he says, his voice soft. "You'll let us know if you need anything?"

"I will," Gio says, turning to study Daniel. "Though, I very much hope we get a minute alone tomorrow, Daniel," he says, his voice soft and genuine. "We did not leave things on good terms the last time you were here - I'm sorry for it. There were things that were said that -"

"I know," Daniel says, nodding his agreement. "I'm sorry, Gio. You're right. We'll have a moment tomorrow."

"Good," Gio says, his face genuinely eager - at least, as far as I can tell. And then he murmurs something in Italian that makes Daniel smile before heading into his dark room.

Daniel sighs as he turns and tugs me along into his and Jerome's room.

"What was that?" I ask when we're inside, pressing the door shut behind me. "What Gio said?"

"Just something we used to say as kids," Daniel says on a sigh, heading for his closet and starting to pull out pajamas. "Something from The Three Musketeers, which we liked a lot. What do you want to wear to bed?" he asks, and I don't miss his abrupt change in topic. But I just turn my head to the side a little, considering him and letting it pass. Daniel and Gio, I suppose, have a more complicated relationship than I had previously thought. But Daniel's entitled to his privacy on this, even if I want to know more. "I want to wear my pajamas to bed," I say, sighing a little and moving to the window.

"Shame," Daniel says, turning towards me. "Best I can offer is Jerome's pajama pants or one of my t-shirts, which on you will be a nightgown." He smiles at me, holding up both options in either hand. "Or a combination thereof." "Thanks, Danny," I say, wrinkling my nose and twisting the handle that opens the window to his bedroom. "But I meant what I said. I'm going to sleep in my own pajamas tonight." And then, as his jaw falls open, I start to climb out.

"Fay!" he gasps, dropping the pajamas and darting to the window, grabbing my arm and holding me back as I get one leg out. "Are you insane!?"

"Daniel, it's a first-floor window," I say, rolling my eyes at him. "Your dad dropped me off a balcony earlier - this is actually much safer -"

"Dad what!?" Daniel gasps.

"A story for another time!" I sigh, trying to tug my arm out of his grip, though he holds fast.

"What are you even thinking!? Just sleep here tonight!"

"Old habits die hard," I say with a grin, looking up at my handsome husband. "A wardrobe in the old house, a window in this one." I shrug. "What's the difference?" "The difference is that Gio is already suspicious -"

"All the more reason for me to go to Kent and make a plan! I mean, do you want to come along!?"

"No," Daniel sighs, letting my arm go as he realizes that I'm stubbornly determined to do this. "Just...would you please be careful, Fay? Don't let Gio see you."

"He's on the other side of the house," I say, waving a dismissive hand as I slip out. "He doesn't even have a window that faces this direction. Night, Danny! Sleep tight!"

"Stop calling me that," Daniel grumbles, sticking his head out the window and watching me trot away across the front of the house to the windows which I know open into me and Kent's room. Grinning, I wave over my shoulder at him, confident that it will be fine. It's the middle of the night, after all. Who on earth would be watching?

When I get to my bedroom windows, I smile to see that a little light spills through the folds in the curtains, suggesting that Kent's already in there. I tug at the bottom of the window, but I'm unsurprised to find that it's locked from the inside. Of course it is - it's Kent's room. Not likely to be any insecure entrances.

So, I raise my hand and use my fingertips to tap lightly on the glass, hoping it's enough for him to hear me.

I lower my hand, peering curiously at the curtains, wondering if he heard me.

Sighing, frustrated that I'm still out here in my bathing suit - honestly, it has gotten cold - I raise my hand and start to tap again -

The curtain whips back and my eyes go wide as I stare down the barrel of a gun.

I shriek and cover my head, instantly dropping to my knees and curling into a little ball -

The window creeks open above me a second later.

"God damn it, Fay," Kent growls. "What the hell are you doing!?"

"Where the fuck did you get a gun!?" I hiss, staying crouched but turning my angry face up towards him. He glares at me, his head and shoulders leaning out of the window.

"Why did you think I didn't have a gun?" he snaps, the gun no longer in sight as he reaches a hand out a hand for me. "Come on -"

"You almost shot my head off!" I protest, still mad. Honestly- we're going to have a baby soon, and his first instinct when he hears a tap at the window is to go waving a gun around!?

"I did not," he returns, his voice tight, dismissive. "Come on - you wanted to come in, didn't you? So come in."

Scowling, still shaking a little with adrenaline from - you know - having a gun pointed at me - I stand and accept his hand. Kent pulls me close to the window and then, when I boost myself up, he tilts me into the room and then reaches out, sliding a hand beneath my legs and neatly turning me so that he lifts me into the room in the safety of his arms.

"You're lucky that I'm in love with you," he growls, glaring down at me and shaking his head as I start to grin. "Because otherwise, you would be off my staff, Fay Lippert."

I sigh and snuggle against him, happy despite myself because, well, while I don't appreciate his response it is nice to be back in his arms. "I wasn't aware that I was on your staff, Kent Lippert," I say, taking an inconspicuous sniff of his shirt. God, he smells so good. "Can you put me down now? I want to get changed. Wearing a bathing suit all day is cold."

"Not a chance," he murmurs, pushing the window closed and flicking the lock before carrying me immediately to bed.