Fall For My Ex’s Mafia Dad
Chapter 287

To my surprise, Kent throws the first blow. "Why have you called us here," he says, his voice cold, "the day after Fay has her child, threatening my son's safety if I didn't come running? Are things so broken between us that this could not wait?" Bianci has my full attention when he answers. "To speak of broken things," he says slowly, a cat's smile playing on his lips, "is a bit ironic here, Kent. Considering it is your word that was broken this weekend."

I hear the sharp inhale of Kent's breath at my side, but I don't look at him. I know he's working hard to keep his temper - that this is more emotional for him than Bianci knows.

"I am aware that we missed the deadline for the Monaco deal. But there's nothing there that can't be salvaged -"

"You gave your word, Kent," Bianci snaps, glaring at him, knowing he has the upper hand. "What kind of man am I if I allow someone to give me their word and then break it. It is unacceptable." "Circumstances," Kent objects, gesturing towards me now," were beyond our control -"

"So you say," Bianci interrupts, shifting his eyes to me now.

"Though I have no proof of the rather ridiculous story."

My mouth falls open a little bit at this - I mean, the story is a little bit ridiculous, but it is very real.

"A road-side kidnapping?" Bianci says, his voice twisting a little with disbelief, "and the convenient return of Fay's long-lost mother, who just happens to be an FBI agent?"

"Are you," I say, stepping forward and speaking a little despite myself, "are you suggesting that I'm lying about my mother? When I've turned her over into your hands?"

As I wait for his answer I'm a little struck by the irony of my accusation - because I am lying to this man about the child I'm claiming is his great grandson. But some part of me is still appalled that he'd doubt the other parts of the story.

"I do not doubt that she's your mother," Bianci murmurs, his eyes moving over me from head to foot, "the striking visual connection between you two is proof enough of that. But the short, too-convenient timeline? The hasty demand that I accept her in place of the deal we set up in Monaco?"

He clicks his tongue and shakes his head, slowly sipping from his coffee cup, clearly indicating that it is not something he accepts.

I laugh a little in disbelief at this man, but before I can speak again Kent takes charge.

"It's a fair trade," Kent says, folding his arms over his chest.

"The information that Victoria Thompson can give you -

-"

"Is nothing," Bianci snaps, slamming his espresso cup down on the little table next to him. Behind him, Natalia smirks, pleased. "And even if the woman has some value, it was not what we agreed upon. You, Kent Lippert, do not manage the terms of this deal. That is for me to decide.

And you failed to uphold your end of the deal, offering a cheap substitute in its place -"

"Cheap substitute!?" My words are appalled as I stare at this man, aghast. "On top of everything I own - industries worth millions I saved you from her plan to take you down, and then I gave you my mother!"

My final word is a shout, ringing out into the room, which falls silent as everyone stares at me.

Bianci's stare bores deepest of all.

"Yes, Fay," he says, turning his head consideringly after a long moment of silence. "Why did you give me your mother?"

I gape at him, not knowing what to say. I mean, as far as I'm concerned, that question has been answered.

"Why," he continues, steepling his fingers and resting them gently on top of his knee, "would you - Daniel's soft-hearted bride - offer everything you own for his rather estranged father's freedom? And Gios, on top of it? Two men who are largely strangers to you. And yet you trade your mother for them."

I stare at him, remembering how Kent pointed out this hole in my plan that day in the shower. And I come up blank. I hitch Dominic a little higher in my arms, glancing down at him, but I have. absolutely no answer to that question.

"None of that matters," Kent growls, stepping to my side." What matters is that Fay has paid enough - the deal is complete. You accepted Victoria Thompson - she's in your power now. If you felt her an insubstantial replacement for Monaco, you should have sent her back -"

"That's not how it works, boy!" Bianci snaps, leaning forward to meet Kents glare.

"It is," Kent seethes, leaning forward to tower over the smaller, older man.

"Be very careful, Kent," Bianci says slowly, holding Kent's gaze, "because you are very close to sparking a war between our families. And considering that you cannot go back to America, you are on my territory? I will destroy you if it comes to that." Bianci moves his gaze now to me, to Daniel, and my heart goes cold as his eyes finally land on my child. "I will destroy all of you if you push me to it."

I find myself absolutely shocked to see this frail man speak so boldly to Kent, who could so clearly kill him with a swipe of his hand. But Bianci's power - it goes deeper than that, doesn't it?

Not an ounce of me doubts that Bianci could do it - that's the true power he holds over people. Kent's power is at least in part his extreme physical prowess - but Bianci? He makes you believe that he can destroy you without even lifting a finger. If we don't bow now, if we don't give into his terms, it will be war between us. And Bianci will win it.

"I'm not giving in on this, Bianci," Kent snaps and my eyes go wide as I glance up at him. "You accept the exchange - the American FBI agent for the Monaco deal. Everything else is the same. If you do not accept it, I'll take your offer of war. And I will destroy you." Kent stares into Bianci's eyes then and I go completely cold, my knees starting to again go weak in my exhaustion and my fear. Because this - this was the opposite of everything I wanted -

I wanted peace, and freedom and safety -

War, between these two men - what does that even mean?

What would it look like? What -

I stumble back a step, my eyes shutting for a second as my vision darkens in my sudden panic -

Kent gasps, grabbing me instantly, one arm around my waist, the other at my elbow where the baby is. He takes my weight against his arm and I work hard to steady myself, to find my feet again -

God, I'm just so tired -

"Is this your final word on it, Kent?" Bianci snaps, his voice cold. "Because I am prepared to do this. Do not try to bluff me, boy."

Kent whips his head to Bianci, his arm still hard around me, and opens his mouth to reply -

But before he can do anything, a door at the back of the room - a door I didn't even know was there - suddenly bursts open.

"No!" A voice shouts, and small footsteps pound into the room. I blink in surprise to see nonna stride forward, her hand held high above her head, a single finger pointed into the air. "No!" she shouts again, and then she faces her husband, who stares at her in shocked surprise, before beginning to hiss at him in fast, vivid Italian.

"What.." I say, working hard to stand up straight again as Kent keeps his hand firm on my waist. I glance between him and Daniel. "What is..happening?"

Kent doesn't answer, but Daniel leans closer to me."

Nonna's taking our side," he whispers to me. "She says she won't have war. Give me a second, I'll translate..."

And the three of us listen, rapt, as the old Italian couple begin to argue in a language I don't understand.