Fall For My Ex’s Mafia Dad
Chapter 246

My eyes fly open when Kent's arm tightens around me the next morning, but it wasn't his touch that woke me.

Instead, it was the knock at the door.

"Shit," Kent growls, still not moving and holding me close, clearly working at once to wake the hell up and decide what to do. "Maybe it's Daniel?" I squeak softly, my voice hardly higher than breath. Kent shushes me anyway.

The knock comes again.

"Zio?" a voice calls, and Kent's arm tightens around me again.

I spin frantically beneath Kent's arm as I recognize the voice as Gio's, trying to read Kent face and figure out what he wants - me to go out the window? To...to jump off the balcony? What -"No time," he whispers, his voice soft. Then he lifts his head. "A second, Gio!" he calls, moving faster and snatching me up into his arms, carrying me with fast steps into the closet, snatching his phone off the bedstand as he goes. When we get into the closet, Kent puts me on my feet and presses me up against the wall closest to the door. Over my shoulder, I hear Gio call back his assent, but my eyes stay focused on Kent.

"Stay completely quiet, Fay," Kent instructs, holding my eyes so I see how damn serious he is. Then he opens his phone and presses a few buttons, handing it to me when he pulls up the sound recording feature. "Record every word of this conversation, all right? And don't even breathe loud enough to be heard." I nod fervently, taking the phone even as I start to shiver a little bit, though I can't tell if it's from adrenaline or cold.

Kent clicks his tongue in frustration and pity before moving to his shelves of clothing, tossing a big sweatshirt at me before pulling on a pair of sweatpants. I pull the sweatshirt on as he hauls a black t-shirt over his head -

And, by the way, damn - because I actually don't see him in a t-shirt very often and suddenly wish that I did -

But before I can even pat down my admiration Kent strides out of the closet, crossing to the door. As instructed, I press back against the wall and don't move an inch.

Listening carefully, I hear the door unbolt and then swing open. As soon as I hear that, I press the record button on the phone and do my best to hold my breath. Gio says something in Italian, his tone apologetic, but Kent speaks over him in dismissive English. "It's fine, Gio," he says, and I hear the door shut again before they begin to walk into the room. "You didn't wake me."

A lie, but...well, we did stay up late.

"I brought you a little coffee," Gio says, and a jealousy ridiculously rolls through me. As much as adrenaline has me instantly awake, I, too, would like a coffee if I'm going to be standing barefoot in this freezing closet.

"Thank you," Kent murmurs, and I hear the two of them sit on the bed.

"I wanted to talk privately," Gio says, his voice hesitant. "About what is coming next."

"Why privately?" Kent asks, and I hear his tone easily fall into its interrogation mode. Even if Kent was asleep and wrapped around me less than a minute ago, he's all business now.

"Because," Gio says, and I can imagine him giving a very Italian little shrug. "You know that I love Daniel, but I get the impression that he is...not as much involved in the business as is his wife."

"True," Kent says. "What about Fay? Did you speak with her?"

"I'll speak with her next -"

"Don't," Kent snaps. "Let me speak to her."

There's a long pause. "Why?"

"Fay is clever but she's impulsive." I narrow my eyes, a little pissed off at this assessment - but, well, I did crawl through my own bedroom window last night, and Kent might be telling Gio what he wants to hear. "Let me speak with Fay. I'll ensure we're all on the same page."

"All right," Gio says slowly before moving on. "Nonno suspected you'd be here, Zio. He didn't think that Daniel would leave you behind - and even said it was a good move, letting Fay negotiate your terms, if she's the one who is in charge of the industries being offered."

"How did she do yesterday?" Kent asks, abrupt. My eyebrows raise as I realize - quite suddenly - that he's asking that for my benefit, so I can hear Gio's honest answer. And that they're having this conversation in English for my benefit as well. I smile slowly, grateful for my considerate man. I listen carefully for Gio's reply.

"She did well," Gio says, his voice honestly impressed. "Nonno - he doesn't think women should be in business, but he learned about her before she came. And then, the little stunt she played with Natalia -" Gio laughs a little. "He was impressed by that." "What stunt?" Kent asks, suspicious, and I wrinkle my nose a bit because....well, because I may have left that out.

Gio quickly summarizes and Kent laughs darkly. "I admit," Kent says. "I'd have liked to have been there to see that. Well?" he says, moving on. "What's next?"

"Nonno said that if you were here, I was to bring you to dinner. Tonight."

There's a long silence in the room before Kent replies.

"All right," he says. "So, we'll go to dinner tonight. What can I expect?"

"A great deal of negotiation," Gio replies. "And then...a counter offer."

"Do you know the details of that?"

I listen carefully, but there's no reply - I curse inwardly, wishing I could see Gio's face right now, know if he's nodding or shaking his head.

"All right," Kent says slowly, and then silence reigns for a long moment. "What else is going on, Gio?" he asks when he speaks again, his tone suddenly sharp.

"I don't know if I should ask," Gio says.

"Out with it, kid," Kent says, his voice softer now. "I taught you how to kick a football. If there's something you need, ask me for it."

"I was intrigued by the deal Fay laid out," Gio says on a sigh. "I was...jealous."

My eyebrows go up and I imagine that Kent's do as well. But he doesn't say anything.

"I wondered," Gio says quietly, hesitant. "If there's any way you could...bring me in on it. Get me out of this business as well, no ties to the family except that of a son to his mother."

"How do I know this isn't a trap?" Kent asks, careful. "That Bianci isn't testing my loyalties, seeing if I'd take his heir from him?"

"Why would he do that?" Gio asks, confused. "He already knows I tried to leave when I went to medical school. Zio - please, I don't want this for my life. I asked to be the one to follow Daniel and Fay yesterday. I'll go home and do my job, but if you can offer me way out of this? To make my father pass the job to my brother instead of me?"

There's a long pause where Gio lets Kent answer the question for himself.

"All right, Gio," Kent says, his voice soft and sympathetic. "I can't promise anything. But if you are willing to join our side in this game? I will see what I can do."

There's a deep sigh from Gio and then the expression of what I think are many Italian thanks.

"All right, kid," Kent says, laughing. I hear a patting sound as well as the two get to their feet, presumably a hug before they move towards the door. "Give me a minute to pull myself together, and then I'll come out and see you off."

"And you'll come to dinner tonight?" Gio asks, his voice cheerful.

"Yes, I'll come to dinner," Kent says, his voice sounding like he's dreading it. "Go make me another cup of coffee, I'll be out in a second."

"All of you, Kent," Gio says, his voice wary. "He wants all of you to come to dinner."

There's another long pause.

"All right," Kent says, his words clipped. "Then all of us will come to dinner tonight at Bianci House."