Fall For My Ex’s Mafia Dad
Chapter 298

Two months later, were all gathered together again. And it is only with frustration that I see Gio and Janeen standing so close together that their arms nearly brush, even though they're still not together.

I roll my eyes, dismissing the problem for a moment as I move my eyes down to Dominic and pull his little bonnet further over his face to shield his eyes from the bright sunshine outside our town's little chapel by the sea.

"I still don't see why we had to put him in a dress," I murmur, glancing up at Kent, who stands next to me, looking very sexy in his tailored black suit. "But this sun bonnet we can definitely keep."

"It's a christening gown," Kent murmurs, "you've got to stop calling it a dress, Fay." He shoots me a little glare as he looks around at our gathered friends and family - which, honestly, are mostly his friends and family, since I've still just got Janeen and dad. But I just smile and scrunch my nose at Dominic, who gurgles happily and kicks his feet as he looks up at me.

"You look pretty in your dress," I whisper to him, lifting him higher to press kisses on both his cheeks.

"Would you stop kissing my godchild?" Janeen says, sighing and reaching for him as she comes over to us, Gio close behind. "You've got lipstick on today, Fay, you're going to turn him all pink."

Haugh as I hand Dominic over to my sister and she licks her thumb, scrubbing at her nephew's cheeks. My baby has just gotten so damn cute over the past two months. I can't get enough of him, which means he gets kissed precisely like that every ten minutes. The photographer steps closer to us and, seeing an opportunity to get the godmother alone with the child, asks Janeen to step away with him. Janeen, ever vain, gladly goes. "Congratulations on the day," Gio says, smiling at Kent and 1.

"Oh, cut the crap, Gio," Kent says, dry. "Why the hell haven't you asked Janeen out yet?"

Gio's mouth falls open and he just stares between us, shocked.

"You're torturing her, Gio!" | laugh, stepping forward to give him a little shove on the shoulder.

"Oh, really?" Gio says, quirking an eyebrow at me and glancing over at Janeen, who is striking dramatic poses for the camera. "That, there, is a woman living a tortured life?"

"You're dodging the question," I say, tucking myself in against Kent's side and shaking my head. "Honestly, Gio, we all know you two are crazy about each other. What's holding you back?"

He sighs, and hangs his head, shaking it. "Janeen - she is..amazing. But she is also so free. I admit, I'm afraid that if I truly let myself fall for her.well. Does she have it in her to stay in a relationship for the long term, which is what I will want? If I get her, Fay.." he shakes his head again, looking over at my sister. "It will break me to lose her."

I nod a little, considering him, considering the truth in that concern.

"You're letting your fear win here, Gio," Kent says, his voice serious as he wraps an arm around me and pulls me close.

"I know how you feel, but...nothing ventured, nothing gained."

"Oh, like I was such a huge risk for you," I say, rolling my eyes up at Kent. "Considering I was on house arrest in your mansion and wasn't able to go anywhere."

"Hey," he says, frowning down at me. "I let you go visit your horse."

"Under armed guard!"

Kent laughs again, bending down to kiss me swiftly before turning back to Gio, who laughs along with us. "Come on, Gio," Kent says, dropping his arm from me and wrapping it around his nephew instead. "Let's go have a drink, we'll talk it through."

I smile as I watch the two of them walk away towards the little bar we've set up outside the church. Daniel and Jerome are there, chatting with my dad, Titus pounding excitedly around their heels. I tilt my head, considering that it's perhaps not precisely religious to have a bar at a baptism but... well. Jesus turned his blood into wine, so I'm not sure I think he's adverse to a little tipple.

My smile falters, though, as Don Bianci separates himself from his little group of family and slowly begins to make his way towards me. I mean, as much as I know that were on good terms now, he still makes me nervous. I shoot a look over at my sister, wishing she'd come to my side, but shes still posing for the camera with Dominic like a damn accessory -

I scowl and jump a little when I hear Don Bianci's voice at my side. "Congratulations, little Donna," he murmurs, and I do my best to smile back at him.

He laughs, smiling at me genuinely. "Do I make you nervous?" he asks, blunt.

I laugh, unable to help it. "Has no one bothered to tell you, in all these years, that you're a little terrifying, Don Bianci?"

He grins and shakes his head at me. "Well, considering what you accomplished, young lady, I'd say you should consider yourself formidable enough to stand up to the best."

"Standing up I can do," I say with a little sigh. "Small talk?"

He nods gently. "Shall we cut to the chase then?"

My face falls a little and I step closer, suddenly anxious.

There's a chase?"

"I wondered," he murmurs quietly. "If you wanted to know what...happened. With your mother."

I go a little pale as I stare at him. Because, on one hand, what the hell is he doing bringing this up at my son's baptism!?

But then again...this is a mafia family. This sort of thing probably happens at baptisms all the time. Maybe this is what baptisms are really for.

I refocus my scattered thoughts on the powerful man before me, considering what it is, really, that I want.

My mother. Of course I've thought of her over the past few months, cried over her, felt horribly guilty and terribly justified all at once. Considered thoroughly that she was the one who set up the dominos which lead to her fate - I was just the one who toppled them backwards, in the way she wasn't expecting. But still, as I stared down at my little baby who I love so incredibly much, just as she must have stared at me...

I just can't imagine a world, any world, in which Dominic would turn on me in the same way.

But...I mean, I did it to both my parents.

My guilt is very real. But so is my dedication to my real family - not those tied to me by blood (except Dominic, of course), but those who fought to be at my side

"Is she ever coming back into my life, Don Bianci?" I ask quietly, knowing that the real question lurks beneath my words. "Will she ever be able to hurt me again?"

His mouth twists up into a heartless smile. "No, Fay," he replies, his voice soft. "She's not coming back."

"Then no," I say, raising my chin and staring him directly in the eye. "I've made my peace with that woman. I don't want to know anything more."

He nods then, and I know that it is done.

"Everything all right over here?" I turn to see Daniel and Jerome approaching, coming to my rescue, Dominic in the crook of Daniel's arm. "I stole him back from Janeen," Daniel murmurs to me. "He was getting in the way of her Vogue photoshoot."

"Everything is perfect, Bianci says, smiling first at Daniel and then at me as I take Dominic back into my arms, glad to feel him again against my chest. "Congratulations, again, Fay. Though, he c***s his head now, "I was surprised to not be asked to be godfather. It is rather a first

- I believe that I am godfather to.." he looks around with interest, "pretty much everyone else here, under the age of fifty."

"Yes well," I say, smiling at him, "I thought Daniel deserved a turn."

Bianci nods to me and laughs. "Still, I will consider Domenico a special case," he murmurs, running a hand over my son's little bonnet. "He can come to me anytime in his life if he ever needs a...favor."

I nod deeply to Bianci, acknowledging the significant boon he has extended to my son. He nods back and then begins to walk back to Nonna's side as they head for the chapel.

"We're never going to him for anything, are we little baby!?" I say to Dominic in a light, overly cheerful voice, grinning at him. "Too many strings attached to the mafia world!"

"That's right, son," Daniel seriously to Dominic, continuing his long-dead joke that this is his baby, at least on paper. " You come to me for all your mafia needs."

"Your big brother will help you with your screenplay, Dominic," Jerome says, laughing and leaning forward to stroke a finger across Dominic's cheek, "not killing your enemies. Know where your family's strengths lay, little guy."

"Hey!" Daniel protests, laughing, "I think that over the past year I have proved...

But suddenly his words fade out as his attention is snagged by a figure leaning against the stone wall that rings the chapel, his hands in his pockets as he watches us.

A very distinctive, very blonde figure.

"What the..." Daniel breathes, "why the hell is he here!?"

"Well, isn't it obvious, Daniel?" I say, frowning and starting off towards the figure by the wall. "He's here because I invited him."