Fall For My Ex’s Mafia Dad
Chapter 291

And considering that Kent left Bianci alone with Daniel, of all people -

Kent moves quickly through the hallways of the house, eager to get back to the study and control the conversation there. Because as much as Bianci gave in on the deal, Kent knows that man - hes going to do everything he can to squeeze every last cent he can. He groans, hastening his steps, looking down at his feet as he loses himself in his thoughts.

Fay and Dominic, he knows, are in good hands with Nonna and Valentina and Janeen, so his mind turns to what he needs to do next - god damn it, but there's going to be a mountain of paperwork, and Fay has to sign it all-

"You're a f*****g traitor." Natalia's voice rips through the hall and Kent comes to a dead stop, whipping his head up to see her standing there, waiting for him, her arms crossed across her chest.

They're in a silent part of the house now, between the family bedrooms and the study, where Natalia knew they'd be uninterrupted. Of course she did - they spent years in this house, they know all of the in-between places where they can go to have secret chats. But this? This is one secret chat with Natalia that Kent does not want to have.

"Leave it, Natalia" he sighs, looking beyond her and resuming his steps. "It's done."

Natalia grabs his arm as he tries to brush past her. "She's a child, Kent! You f****d that child? And what, she tricked you into getting her pregnant? I always knew she was a vicious bitc-"

"Enough!" Kent shouts, spinning to glare down at her. A little glint of victory enters Natalia's eyes as she glares up at him. Inwardly, Kent curses himself for not just continuing to walk away, for giving into her taunts.

But Natalia - she's known him for decades. She knows all his triggers - she cut her teeth on them, after all.

"You won't say another word against Fay, Natalia," Kent says, wanting this ended, now. He takes a menacing step towards the woman, who doesn't budge an inch. "She is my wife, and -"

"Oh, she is not," Natalia says, rolling her eyes, derisive. "I was there at her wedding to your son, Kent - when you were not."

"She is my wife," Kent insists - because honestly, that's how he feels about here, even if there hasn't gone to the church, not yet. "In essence, if not in ceremony. Fay is my wife, and you will treat her with the respect she deserves.

"I will not bow down to the child who tricked you into bed, Kent Lippert," Natalia snarls, glaring up at him. "Not when I know what's between us - how you really feel about me -"

"Natalia," Kent growls, glaring down at her with such menace that she freezes, suddenly staring up at him in surprise. "I don't know what story you've told yourself about you and I, but it is fiction."

"Kent," she breathes, shaking her head at him, suddenly mystified.

"Did you not notice?" he asks, narrowing his eyes at her in frustration, "that Fay has been wearing my wedding ring since the second day I knew her? She has always been mine."

"But..." Natalia stutters out, taking a step back, confused." Daniel..."

Kent laughs at her then, which shakes her even more." Daniel was never going to use that ring, Natalia. And we both know it. Fay is the mother of my child, and beyond that - shes the one I want. I chose her, Natalia - I love her. You're only embarrassing yourself if you try to insist that anything else is the truth."

Natalia's face falls, devastated, as she finally understands.

That there were no tricks, no mistakes. Fay and Kent - they were written. God, he knew it the moment he saw her.

As Kent stares down at Natalia's clear grief, he finds a little space for pity in his heart, but not enough to give her any more of his time. Because Kent is well aware that Natalia has known about him and Fay for longer than she's pretending - even if she didn't admit it to herself. Natalia - who is always so good to Daniel, who she sees as her son?

She'd never have been so cruel to the girl who was supposed to be Daniel's bride.

No, Natalia had been jealous of Fay the moment she walked into the house. Some intuitive part of her must have noticed it, must have seen the way that Kent looked at Fay, how much he wanted her right from the very start.

No, Natalia had no grace for Fay, not a single moment of it in her envious heart. And so Kent has no grace for Natalia

- not anymore.

He turns, striding down the hall and away, ready to close this deal and this criminal chapter of his life.

His spirit soars at the idea - because as soon as this is done? The rest of his wonderful life begins - a life with Fay at his side, raising their little boy. And he's breathless with excitement for that. Natalia watches Kent walk away down the hall, her eyes filling with tears. But not just tears of grief. Those are there

- but anger accompanies them, and hatred, and jealousy, and rage. Because she has waited years for Kent to come back to her - to lay at her feet the life he's given to Fay, who he's known for months.

"You'll pay for this," Natalia hisses under her breath. "Kent Lippert - you'll pay, and so will she. I'll die before I let you get away with this."

And then Natalia turns, striding down the hall towards her own room to begin her plans.

Hours later, when everything is finished, Kent walks slowly back to the room. His head is pounding with the exertions of the last few hours - because honestly, he really has been running on fumes, pushing himself to concentrate, to keep everything steady. It was all worth it, of course, to see everything come out right - but god, when was the last time he actually slept? A few rough hours in the car hadn't done much-

His jaw stretches wide in a yawn as he pushes open the door to his room - the bedroom he slept in as a child, which Nonna had lead Fay to this morning. It's different now, of course - a pleasant guest room, cleared free of all of Kent's old toys and possessions. But Kent doesn't mind that, because it contains now with the things that mean everything to him: Fay and Dominic.

And, well, Daniel matters just as much - but he's not here right now. Kent makes a mental note to seek out his son soon. Just...maybe after a dozen hours of sleep. The boy, he knows, can entertain himself for that long.

"How is she?" Kent nods towards the sleeping Fay as he whispers to Valentina, who comes to his side. Dominic is curled sleeping in her arms.

"Oh, she's fine" Valentina sighs, smiling over at Fay. "Just exhausted. Honestly, Kent, I'll never forgive you for dragging her -"

"Yeah, yeah," Kent says on a sigh, reaching out and taking his son from her arms. "Talk to the Don about that one, not me."

Valentina laughs a little and stands on her tiptoes to give him a kiss on the cheek. "I'll leave you. But come get me if you need me - or just shout, I'll be right down the hall -"

"We'll be fine, Valentina," Kent laughs, smiling at her. "You'll get to hold the baby again tomorrow, don't worry."

"I had better! Goodnight, beautiful little prince," Valentina murmurs, tapping Dominic on the nose before moving out of the room.

Kent gives his baby a kiss on the head as he walks slowly to Nonna, who has made quite a good bit of progress knitting a little cap and slippers for Dominic in the past few hours. "Where is Janeen?" he asks, glancing around the room.

"The purple one?" Nonna asks, looking up at Kent with a smirk that makes him smile. "I sent her away to go be with the boys - and with Gio. She was bored after a little bit - I could sense it. She is vivid, that one. I like her."

Kent nods, agreeing, but not needing to say much. Nonna, she likes to fill the room with chatter, speaking for both of them. Probably why I don't say much now, Kent considers, looking fondly down at the old woman as she gathers her knitting into a little bag. "You know," she says, looking slyly up at him. "I really shouldn't let you stay in here with your little Fay. You know I don't approve of people staying in the same room if they're not married."

Kent bursts out laughing at this and gestures towards the baby. "I think we're a little beyond that now, mama," he murmurs.

"Yes," she says, laughing and reaching for the baby, wanting to see him one more time before she goes. "And while I'm always glad to have another child in the family, I expect you to do right by that girl." She nods towards Fay now, and Kent nods back.

"I intend to," he says, very serious. It's been too long, frankly. He should have done it ages ago - should have done it the day he carried her out of the strip club. Just dragged her, kicking and screaming, off to a chapel. Hed known then, even if hed spent a great deal of time denying it.

"Well" Nonna says, reaching up to pat his cheek fondly. "I suppose one night won't hurt, my handsome boy."

Kent murmurs his agreement, turning his head to press a kiss to her palm. Nonna smiles at him with so much love in her eyes that Kent's heart aches to see it.

"I'm glad to have my boy back," she says, nodding to him. ~

Don't you run away again."

"I won't," he promises, meaning it. And then he bends down so that Nonna can press a kiss to his cheek, and she quietly pads from the room. Kent takes a deep breath in the dusky silence of the room, carrying his newborn son over to the bassinet that waits on his side of the bed.

Kent studies his son for a moment, and then presses a kiss to his cheek before he checks the little boy's swaddle, making sure it's tight.

When Dominic is lovingly tucked in, Kent settles him into the bassinet and climbs into the bed next to the woman he loves.

And then Kent gathers Fay into his arms, and tucks his head down against hers, and falls asleep for the first time as a free man.