Fall For My Ex’s Mafia Dad
Chapter 248

As we pull down the driveway I grin as I watch Janeen balk at the size and splendor of this house.

"Noooo wayyyy," she breathes, and then she stares wide-eyed at Kent and Daniel. "Are you serious? You - you two grew up here!?"

"Just dad," Daniel says over his shoulder, turning to smile at Jerome too, who is equally impressed if not more silent. "Yes," I say, putting on a hoity-toity voice. "Daniel just summered here -"

T

Janeen scoffs and rolls her eyes at that, and I open my mouth to add more but find myself distracted when I see a large group of family waiting in front of the house. They peer closely at the car, but as soon as they see Kent in the driver's seat they start to shout and cheer in excitement.

"Oh wow," Janeen says, her eyebrows raised. "Oh, so they like...like you -"

"Some people do, Janeen," Kent says, his voice dry, though I can hear the pleasure in it. "Don't sound so surprised." Janeen laughs as Kent parks the car and quickly climbs out, shouting a loud greeting to his family, who all rush to hug him.

Curious, Janeen gets out first and then reaches out a hand to help me. I glance over at the crowd enveloping Kent as I climb out of the car. And then I smile as I turn my eyes back to my sister, looking her up and down in her pretty purple-and-blue floral dress, all flowing silk and grace that sets off her purple hair, which she has demurely tucked back behind her ears.

"You look pretttttty," I say, grinning and teasing her.

"I always look pretty," she replies, turning me and tugging at my own cerulean-blue floor length gown to get the wrinkles out. "But you look fabulous."

"Do you think?" I murmur, turning a little so I can see down the back of the gown, the diaphanous ribbons that fall from my shoulders instead of sleaves twisting in the breeze. "I thought it was too much, but Kent liked it -" "Kent picked this out?" Janeen scoffs, staring at me.

"Kent picks out all my clothes," I whisper to her with a little frown. "Seriously? You didn't know that?"

Janeen's mouth falls open as she stares at me.

"I know," Daniel says, coming over to grin at us with his hands in his pockets. "Creepy, right?"

"You two," Janeen whispers, leaning close to me, "have the weirdest kinks -"

Daniel laughs and then takes my arm. "Come on, they want to meet you!" he says, grinning at both of us.

Jerome laughs a little as he comes up to Janeen, first wrapping and arm around her shoulder, and then hesitating before dropping his hand to her waist. "I don't know how to do this."

"At least pretend you think I'm hot," Janeen says, rolling her eyes and linking arms with him instead. Then, when we're all ready for our roles, Daniel sweeps us forward and begins to introduce us to the family.

It's all immediately overwhelming for the three of us who don't speak Italian. Some faces I remember from yesterday - nonna's in particular is unforgettable, though she stays pinned to Kent's side, wiping tears from her eyes as she gazes up at him while he greets his friends.

My heart twists with happiness as I realize again that, of course, this is in so many ways the woman who raised him - Kent's mother, if not by blood, as much as Daniel's grandmother. Kent smiles down at Nonna, wrapping an arm around her shoulder, and I can't help the grin that bursts onto my face.

Not even Natalia can make my smile falter when I see her leaning in the doorway to the house, glaring daggers at me. I just give her a happy wave and move on to whoever Daniel introduces me to next.

"Fay!" Gio says, coming through the crowd. "Daniel, Jerome, Janeen!" He gives us all our kisses, though I note with a little laugh that Janeen presses for a lingering hug as well, though Gio doesn't seem to notice as he obliges her. "Come over, this way! Everything is all ready!"

Gio then turns and shouts something to the crowd and everyone starts to move, sweeping us not through the house but towards the gardens. I smile as I look around at this gigantic, happy family, so excited to greet their long-lost son. I glance over my shoulder but just shrug when I see that Kent has been surrounded by masses of people, still pressing to say hello as we walk.

Children run by as well, many of them coming to stare up at Janeen's purple hair and then running away laughing when she turns to look back at them.

"Wow," Janeen says, shaking her head as we pass into the garden, which I now realize has been set with cocktail tables and antipasti that we can snack on before we go in to dinner. "Gio, seriously, it's incredible here -"

"Yes," he says, giving her a warm smile. "We're very lucky. Is it very different, where you grew up?"

Janeen bursts into scoffing laughter and I grin, thinking of the happy row home where we spent our childhood. "Yeah," she says, shrugging a little at the understatement. "It was different, Gio."

"You'll have to show me sometime," he murmurs, giving her a wink before heading off to speak with a servant and ensure that drinks begin to be served.

"That is so rude," Jerome murmurs, slipping a possessive arm around Janeen's waist. "I am right here."

"I like you jealous," Janeen says, bursting into a grin and tugging him closer. "Finally, some heat!"

I laugh too, looking around the garden as I lean close to Daniel's side, taking in the incredible roses and wild, rambling plants that seem to grow with abandon in the golden light of the sunset. "Seriously, Daniel," I sigh, looking up at him. "How could you have ever left this?" He shrugs a little before tracing his knuckles lightly down my cheek. "It's beautiful, but it's confining, Fay," he replies softly. "Dad will say the same. There's a price to pay for this."

"Well then," I reply softly. "Let's just enjoy it for a night."

Daniel smiles at me and then does a double take, his face bursting into a mischievous little grin. "Looks like we're not the only ones looking to enjoy something for a night," he murmurs, nudging me and then jerking his chin towards the large crowd surrounding Kent.

I frown for a moment, not getting it, but then I see who has taken Nonna's place pressed to Kent's side.

"Fucking Natalia," I grumble, narrowing my eyes as she tilts her head back and laughs at something Kent has said, letting her long hair fall back over her shoulders and pressing her hips and stomach more closely into Kent's side, her arm wrapped around his back. "If she doesn't stop touching him, I'm going to order her execution. Swim with the fishes, or whatever."

Daniel laughs, turning me away. "Let her throw herself at him," he says with a shrug. "We'll make a drinking game out of it. Every time Natalia embarrasses herself throwing herself at dad, drink!"

"Fun for you," I grumble as Daniel snags a glass of prosecco off a passing tray.

"Damn straight it is," he says, winking at me and taking a sip. "And trust me, I'm going to need every last drop."

I sigh, jealous, kind of wanting a drink too -

But honestly? Even if I could, I probably wouldn't take it.

Because as much as this is a gorgeous party and everyone's pretending it's all arranged to finally welcome Kent home?

Me? I'm well aware that this is business.

And as I look around and realize that Bianci himself isn't here yet?

I know that we've got to keep sharp, because something big is coming.

And I, for one, am going to be ready for it.