Fall For My Ex’s Mafia Dad
Chapter 284

Kent gets two or three hours of sleep as well, after Fay drifts off. He takes a minute alone with his son, studying his face and his tiny form, but when he feels himself slipping off he lifts both Titus and Dominic from the bed, slipping Titus into his little crate, where the pup promptly curls up into a little sleepy ball of fur. Then Kent swaddles Dominic and place the baby in his little bassinet, wheeling it over to his side of the bed.

Because as much as Fay insists upon being woken up in two hours? Kent's absolutely not letting that happen. Fay - she did too much today, and she hasn't slept in more than thirty-six hours. He's determined to let her rest, no matter what the consequences. His eyes drift shut, but they immediately spring open again a few hours later at the first noise from the baby. Kent groggily blinks his eyes but forces his body into action, sitting up and reaching for the child. Before he can even begin to wail, Kent has Dominic up in his arms and is headed for the door to the room. When the baby really gets started, Kent's already out in the hallway, gingerly pulling the door shut.

When Kent emerges out into the living area, he smiles to see eyes already turned towards him.

Gio and Janeen, he sees, are seated close together at the kitchen island, enjoying a little cup of coffee.

"I'll take some of that," Kent says, stifling a yawn and lifting a chin towards the coffee as the baby starts to fuss and cry. "If there's any left."

"Here, zio," Gio says, holding out his own mug. "A fresh cup - I haven't had a sip yet."

Kent murmurs his thanks, reaching for the mug and downing it all in one go, willing his body to wake up.

"Little guy," Janeen murmurs, getting to her feet and reaching for the baby. "Why so angry?"

"Hungry," Kent murmurs, handing Dominic over to his aunt and moving to the cabinet and starting to rifle through it.

"Well," Janeen says, hesitating, "why did you bring him out here? Dinner is in there, with Fay."

"Fay's too tired," Kent says, yawning himself as he produces a small tin of formula. "I'm letting her sleep."

"Ohhhh," Janeen says, cuddling the baby in her arms and grinning down at him. "Mommy's going to be mad, she wanted to breastfeed."

"She still can," Gio says, crossing his arms as Kent mixes up a bottle, coming close to Janeen to peer down at the unhappy little baby. "But I think Kent is right - Fay is absolutely exhausted right now, her body needs rest, and a little formula won't hurt..." He hesitates now, looking up at Kent. "Does he have a name yet?"

"Dominic," Kent says quietly, a little smile tugging at the corner of his lips as Gio nods and Janeen gives a little coo of happiness to hear her nephew's name.

"Dominic," Janeen murmurs, "little Dom. Very good." When Kent comes back with the prepared bottle and reaches for the baby, she hesitates. "Can I feed him?" she asks, hopeful.

Kent just smiles and hands her the bottle. "Be my guest. Do you need any instructions?"

"Nah," Janeen says, carrying the baby and the bottle away to the couch. "Lots of girls at the club bring their kids by. We're all practiced babysitters alongside our other gig as alluring temptresses."

Kent laughs, shaking his head as Janeen seats herself, talking quietly to Dom. Honestly, it's actually kind of convenient. Because Kent? He needs to talk to Gio.

When Kent turns his eyes on his nephew, he finds Gio already looking at him seriously, waiting.

"Well?" Kent says, pitching his voice low as he turns to the coffee machine and starts to make two fresh cups of espresso.

Gio, knowing precisely what his uncle is asking, moves close. "I'm afraid it didn't go as well as planned, Kent," he murmurs, pulling his phone out of his pocket and placing it on the counter between them. "My grandfather...he is not pleased that the Monaco plan was hastily cancelled." Inwardly, Kent scowls, frustrated and angry at Bianci. But outwardly he doesn't let any of it show. "Tell me," he commands.

Gio complies. "Daniel and Jerome delivered the woman and explained the situation. How she disrupted the plan, her offer to Fay. They did their best to paint Fay in a generous light, but my grandfather..." Gio hesitates and shrugs. "You know him, Kent."

"I do," Kent says, watching the coffee splash into the waiting mugs. "He's suspicious of betrayal, and beyond that he'll take any failure as an opportunity to grasp for more. Shit." Kent's hand folds into a tight fist against the counter as his mind turns, trying to figure out Bianci's next moves.

"He's...keeping Daniele," Gio says softly, and Kent whips his head to stare at his nephew.

"What?"

"Nonno," Gio explains, anxious. "He is not letting Daniele or Jerome leave the house. Instead, he's demanding that you come and explain yourself."

"Shit," Kent breathes, more vehement now. "So not only did he not accept Victoria as a stand-in for the Monaco job, but now he's keeping my kid as his hostage?"

Gio tilts his head to the side and presses his lips together. "You knew that him happily accepting Victoria instead of Monaco was a long shot, zio," he says, shaking his head. "Nonno, he says he wants you there - at the villa - now. Tonight." Kent goes still, staring at Gio. "And did you tell him that Fay just had a baby?"

"Of course I did," Gio insists angrily, leaning forward. "He doesn't care. He says he wants us all there, now, to speak for our choices. And if we don't..."

"He won't hurt Daniel," Kent snaps, turning away, grabbing the coffee and handing a cup to Gio.

"But Jerome..."

Kent curses again, low under his breath. And then he leans back against the counter for a long time, his mind racing.

After a few minutes, his cup drained of coffee, Gio nudges Kent with his elbow. "Well?"

Slowly, Kent turns to look out the window and assess the lateness of the hour. "Call him," he says, nodding. "Even if we get there tonight, it will be too late to talk. Tell him we'll be there first thing in the morning. Before he wakes up." "All right," Gio says, pushing himself up and giving Kent a warm pat on the shoulder. "I'll do it. And in the morning, I'll be ready."

"Thank you, Gio," Kent says, meeting his nephew's eyes with a steady gaze. "For this, and for everything today. I am very grateful."

"I was glad to be here," Gio says, his eyebrows raising. "You have a good family, zio. I am...grateful to be a part of it."

"You are part of it, Gio," Kent says, hoping his nephew believes it. The young man smiles and nods, heading away to his room.

As he does, Janeen stands, bringing the baby and the mostly empty bottle back over.

"Well, he's all yours now, daddy," she says, handing Dominic over into Kent's waiting hands. "I don't do the burb-and-barf part. That's all you."

"No problem," Kent says, smirking a little as he looks down at his little boy. "Thank you, Janeen."

"What's going on, Kent?" she asks, her voice serious as Kent drapes a cloth over his shoulder and holds the baby up against it, beginning to lightly pat Dominic's back.

"What do you mean?" Kent asks.

Janeen lifts her chin after Gio, questioning. "Whatever you two were talking about. What's going on? I'm part of this now - I want to know."

Kent looks at her steadily for a moment, assessing, before he speaks. "Bianci is pissed that Monaco didn't go down. He's going to ignore our situation and use our apparent failure to squeeze us for all we're worth." "Damn," Janeen says, slipping her hands into her pockets and shaking her head. "He sounds like a dick."

Kent smirks. "He is a dick. That's how he got to be so rich and powerful."

"Like some other people I know," Janeen says dryly, making Kent laugh, though he keeps it low, not wanting to disturb the resting baby. "So?" Janeen continues, cocking her head like a bird. "What do we do?" "We?" Kent asks, raising a questioning eyebrow.

"We," she insists. "I've got a little nephew to defend now, as well as a baby sister. I'm in this, Kent. Whatever you need," she shrugs, "you've got me."

"Thanks," he replies, meaning it genuinely. "But honestly, go get some rest - we're going to need our energy tomorrow. Every ounce of it."

"And will you rest?" she asks, already starting to drift towards the hall.

"Probably not," Kent sighs, glancing at the baby perched against his shoulder. "But, new dad stuff. That's to be expected."

Janeen just shakes her head at him, smiling. "You're a better man than I thought you were, Kent Lippert," she says.

"Don't give me too much credit, Janeen," he murmurs, lowering Dominic from his shoulder to his arms. "Rest up."

Janeen murmurs her own goodbyes, turning towards the hall, when suddenly Kent calls her name. Janeen turns, her brow raised, curious. "When I say get some rest, I mean sleep," Kent says, his voice dry. "No accidentally stumbling into Gio's room tonight, all right? Save it." "No promises, Lippert," Janeen says, giving him a wink. And then she turns and flounces down the hall.