Fall For My Ex’s Mafia Dad
Chapter 259

Unfortunately, our little errand today is a short one. I look longingly at the little coffee shop down the street, considering making Daniel and Jerome go for a quick espresso with me, but...

Well, Kent was serious about one hour, and if I'm not back he will get worried and come looking for me. I roll my eyes at how annoying he's being as Daniel parks the car and we all climb out, starting start into the charming little grocery store at the edge of town. I breathe deeply as I grab a basket and start to wander the aisles, staring at all the products labeled in Italian that contain...I have no idea what. I smile to myself, making a mental note to start learning Italian more diligently soon, because I think it looks like we're going to settle here and I want to be able to shop in the market by myself and not just buy a bunch of mystery items.

Daniel and Jerome move more purposefully through the store, gathering what we need for dinner tonight as well as what I'll need to stock the house with while they're all gone for a few days. They don't give me a list of any items to put in my basket, though, instead allowing me to just enjoy myself.

I pout a little as I wander down the aisle with row after row of wine, and then I feel a sharp twinge low in my stomach that makes me huff out a breath, my hand pressing low there until it passes.

"Oh, little baby," I sigh, rubbing my belly and shaking my head down at my tiny friend, big as a mini watermelon now. "Go easy on mom."

A contrary little kick comes next, making me laugh. "You telling me something, baby?" I ask, and then I look up and grin as I look at the wine. "You want a nice bottle of wine, baby?"

The baby kicks again, almost in confirmation, making me laugh harder. But I just shrug and think...why not? And so I start to fill my empty basket with whatever I want.

All the things I've been denied my whole pregnancy go into it - a couple of dusty bottles of red wine, and that bottle of fancy champagne that Kent promised me, and then I move to the cheese aisle and start stocking up on all of the unpasteurized soft cheese, and the delicious cured meats, and a bunch of crackers and bread to go along with it. I toss a can of tunafish on top, even though I don't really like it.

I just want it because I can't have it.

Daniel laughs at me as I carry my heavy haul to the counter, where the cashier is checking out our fairly massive amount of groceries. "What's all this?" he asks, and then he laughs and shakes his head at me. "Fay! You can't eat any of this!"

"So what? Kent's paying for it, and I want it." I'm stubborn now, as well as gleeful. Also, I'm rich for the next couple days until I turn my companies over to Bianci in addition to the proceeds of the heist. Why shouldn't I get what I want?

I plop the whole basket on the counter, determined. "Do you think they have Aperol?" I ask, looking around. "I want a spritz -"

"Fay," Jerome says, looking over at my selection. "Half of this is going to go bad by the time you have the baby."

But I just shrug, not caring, and...

Well."Wait," Daniel says, reading me openly. "Wait, Fay, do you...do you know something?"

"I don't know anything," I say cagily, looking away so he won't see the smile on his face.

"Seriously, Fay," Daniel says, spinning me so that I look at him, his words worried and sounding a lot like his dad now. "Do you - is something happening? Are you going to -"

"Oh, nothing's happening," I say, knocking his hands off my shoulders and cupping my hands beneath by belly to support it. "I'm just having some...pains. But Gio says they're Braxton hicks - fake contractions! It's just getting me excited," I say, giving a little shrug. "Just let me have the cheese, okay? If I don't have the baby by the time the cheese goes bad I'll make dad eat it!"

"Fay," Daniel sighs, looking me over worriedly and lecturing me on safety, but suddenly the woman behind the counter laughs and waves her hands at me, smiling and shaking her head at him. "What did she say?" I ask, grinning at Daniel.

He laughs too, heaving the sigh. "She said to let you have the cheese if you want the cheese - that we shouldn't say no to you when you're so pregnant. Fine, fine! Whatever pregnant Fay wants."

"Damn straight," I say, smiling as I stand on my toes to kiss him on the cheek. I do the same to Jerome before giving my benefactress behind the counter a happy smile. She nods to me warmly and continues to ring up the groceries, putting them in the canvas bags that Daniel brought with us.

I sigh, content, and move to the window to look out at what I can see of the little town. But as I peer, the most wonderful sight catches my eyes.

"Oh!" I say, clutching my hands to my chest in delight. "Daniel, Jerome! There's a farmer across the street, and he brought his puppies to sell at the little road-side stand!"

"Noooo," Daniel groans, freezing and looking at me. "No, Fay! Do not go look at those puppies - we are not -"

"Puppies!?" Jerome gasps, darting immediately to my side, ignoring Daniel as much as I am.

"We are not getting a puppy!" Daniel calls to us.

"Loooook," I coo, pointing at them and trying to get a better look. "What kind are they? Can you see?"

"I think they're German Shepherds," Jerome says, his face as happy as mine. "Oh man, and they're so little -"

"We are not getting a puppy!" Daniel insists again, snapping at us now. The woman behind the counter starts to laugh at him again.

"We're not!" I say, turning to him with a big smile. "We're just admiring them Daniel, come on. Enjoy the beauty of life for a moment."

"You've have enough beauty of life today, Fay," Daniel grumbles, "you got your cheese. Dad was right - we shouldn't have taken you out of the house -"

"I'm going to go look," I say, skipping for the door.

"No!" Daniel protests.

Jerome moves with me.

"Jerome!" Daniel barks, and his boyfriend turns with a sigh. "Seriously, Jerome," Daniel says, his voice incredulous, "you're going to leave me with all of these bags? Get back here."

"I'll come over when the bags are in the car," Jerome whispers to me. "Pick a good one."

"Do not pick anything, Fay!" Daniel shouts.

"I won't!" I call over my shoulder as I press the door open and start to dart across the road, looking both ways before I cross so I don't get hit by a car in my excitement. See? I can be careful.

I really a have no intention of getting a puppy - I know that I have a baby coming soon and that a baby and a puppy at once will be a disaster.

Plus, Kent will kill me. So, no puppy today.

At least...unless one is really, really cute...

I hurry right to the farmer, who gives me a big smile as I come up to his stand, greeting me warmly in Italian. I press my hands to my chest and shake my head apologetically, saying the phrase that Kent taught me - "Mi dispiace, non parlo Italiano" - as sadly as I can. The farmer nods understandingly, still smiling, and when I eagerly point to the puppies he nods, giving me permission to explore.

"Ohhhh," I say, leaning over their little pen and gasping with delight when they press their little dark snouts against my hand, yipping and jumping excitedly, trying to get to me. "Oh, they are so cute!"

I laugh as I pet as many of them as possible, smiling over at the gorgeous German Shepherd that sits elegantly in the pen with them. She must be their mother.

"Bellisima," I say, smiling at the farmer and pointing to the mommy dog. He laughs and nods, saying the word back to me and watching with pleasure as I admire his puppies.

One sits alone at the back of the pen, watching curiously and peering at me around its siblings, but a little too shy to come forward. Obviously, my heart instantly breaks.

"Hey, little guy!" I coo, moving to the back of the pen to pet his precious little head. He peers up at me with big dark eyes, turning his head a little at the sound of my voice. "Ohhh, you're trouble," I laugh, scratching him a little.

The farmer comes close, lifting the tiny puppy up and placing him in my arms. My heart instantly melts as I cuddle him close, pressing my face to his soft puppy fur.

My mind is absolutely made up the moment he sticks out his little puppy tongue and gently, tentatively licks my cheek.

"Put the dog down, Fay!" Daniel yells from across the street, his voice frustrated and entertained at once as he and Jerome load up the groceries into the trunk of our car. He shakes his head like he knew this was going to happen.

"But look at him!" I laugh, carrying him around to the front of the pen. "How can I leave him here all alone!?"

"He has eight siblings Fay - he's not alone!" Daniel puts his hands on his hips as he turns to me, shaking his head.

"But he loves me!" I call back, laughing as the puppy licks me again, more eagerly this time. "I can't -"

But I don't get to say any more because a white van on the road drives between us. Smiling, I close my mouth, waiting for it to pass.

But it doesn't. My face falls as the van screeches to a stop three feet from me and, lightning fast, the side door rolls open.

My eyes go wide as I gasp because, too fast for me to think, hands are reaching out and grabbing me - pulling me hard forward. I shout - and then scream before a hand slaps over my mouth as I try to turn. My kidnapper hauls me backwards into the van, the puppy still clutched in my arms.

My arms tighten around the poor animal who lets out a whine of fear or pain - but it's too late - I kick, and bite, and scream against the hand pressed to my mouth -

But I'm yanked sharply backwards across the floor of the van.

And the door rolls shut in front of me before the van lurches forward, flying down the road.

"God damn it, Fay! Stop f*****g biting me!" A voice says behind me.

I instantly go still.

Because I know that voice - know it well.

I turn, shocked, to look right into Ivan's face.