Fall For My Ex’s Mafia Dad
Chapter 41

A few minutes later, Fay and Daniel are curled up on her bed, sharing a bottle of white wine and a box of donuts that Daniel swiped from the kitchen. The rest of the room is still a complete wreck - furniture overturned, clothes and books thrown everywhere - but Fay ignores the mess as she bites into her second powder donut, overlooking the dusting of sugar that falls all over her shirt and comforter while she chases her food with a sip of wine.

the bed they were able to set to rights pretty easily.

"So," Daniel says, holding his still-full glass of wine uncomfortably in his hands, "you're seriously okay?" "Yeah," Fay says, shrugging one shoulder at him. "Seriously, I mean, it was scary. But it didn't hurt." "And he just chained you to floor and yelled at you? And then hit you on the...b**t? Once?" "No, he chained me to the table first," Fay says, taking another bite. "To interrogate me."

Daniel stares at her, shocked that she's being so blasé about it. Almost as if she didn't mind it.

And considering Kent's expression when he had stormed up from the basement, it certainly seemed as if Fay had come out of the situation with the upper hand.

Daniel sighs then, looking down into his glass. "It sounds like the sort of thing he does pretty often," he says, letting her in on a few family secrets. "That's why he has the chain in the middle of the floor. He uses it to... initiate people. Into the trust of the family." Fay raises an eyebrow at him, seriously doubting that Kent's previous interrogations have gotten...well. That hot.

But she doesn't say that to Daniel. Instead, she asks another question. "Does that mean I'm like...made now? A made man? Officially in the family?"

Daniel scoffs. "No way," he says with a little laugh. "If you were made you'd be way more shaken by it. He makes you take all kinds of oaths, lets you see the sort of stuff he'll...do to you. If you go against the family." He grimaces a little at this.

"How do you know," Fay says, cocking her head to the side curiously. "Are you made?"

"I've been made since I was born," Daniel murmurs, looking down.

"But you didn't go through like...a ceremony."

He shakes his head no.

"Then how do you know what it's like?" she asks.

Daniel pauses before answering. "He made me...watch. A few times. Made me...participate, a little bit. So I'd know what to do when the time came for me to do the same."

"Oh," Fay says, raising her eyebrows. Then, she considers for a moment. "I think I'd actually like to see that."

"What?!" Daniel exclaims, looking at her with a little disgust on his face.

"What?" she replies, frowning at him. "This is my world now. I'm curious."

He narrows his eyes at her. "I thought we were leaving," he says.

Fay pauses a second. That conversation in the back yard - was that seriously just two hours ago? But it seems like a lifetime ago now.

"Yes," she says slowly. "But in case we figure out that we...can't. Like if we can't get passports or something. Then I guess I want to know everything I can about this life I'm marrying into."

It's Daniel's turn to shrug now as he turns to look out the window. Fay studies him, considering that Daniel has done everything he can to avoid learning more about this life. That he actively avoids it.

So why was she, who was his match in so many ways, so curious?

After a moment, Fay clears her throat. "Daniel," she says slowly, quietly. "Why do you think it is that you don't want this life. I mean, I know why I don't. But you were born into it. Do you think it's something about like...who you are, intrinsically, that makes you a mismatch? Or is it something else?"

He turns to glare at her then. "Are you asking if I don't belong here because I'm..."

Fay blinks at him, not understanding, before the pieces snap together. "No!" she says, genuine surprise on her face. She certainly hadn't been thinking about whether it was because he's gay. "No, not at all. But..." she pauses a moment and takes a sip of wine. "Well, that's where your mind went. Do you think that's why?"

Daniel shakes his head ruefully. "No," he says. "I think it's impossible to be in this life and not be married, not have a family - family, lineage, is...everything. But," he looks her in the eye then, "it's not possible that I'm the only mob heir to have certain...desires. Predilections. Preferences."

She nods, understanding. "I'm sure that you're right."

He stares off into space for a minute, brooding, but Fay bites her lip, unable to help herself from asking her next question. She's in a strange mood today, feeling a little impulsive and powerful, having come out of that basement unscathed. So, she doesn't hold back. "So are you like...seeing anyone?" she asks quietly.

"What!?" he says, surprised, and then scowls. "No, Fay," he murmurs. "I'm not."

"What about Colin?" she asks, surprised. "The baristo at the book shop?"

"That was...nothing," he murmurs, embarrassed. "We were never dating - we just hook up sometimes."

"Oh," Fay says, resting her chin in her palm and taking another bite of donut. "That's disappointing. He was cute."

Daniel sends her another little glare and then looks away. Realizing that he won't hold her gaze, Fay gasps a little.

"Nooo, wait," she says, giggling. "You're lying! You are seeing someone!" She sits up straight then, thrilled. "Daniel! Tell me!"

"Keep your voice down," he says, bossy, unable to keep the little smile from the corners of his mouth as he flings a tiny decorative pillow at her.

"Oh my god," she says, leaning forward and whispering. "Come on, you're my fiancé. We have no secrets. You have to tell me everything."

"Seriously?" he says, raising an eyebrow. "You're not...mad at me?"

"Daniel," she says, leaning forward and putting a hand on his cheek. "We're not together. And we've been through a lot. Whatever happens with us, I'm rooting for you. And I hope that you are for me. I hope that we both find people who love us, under whatever circumstances."

Daniel traces the rim of his wine glass, considering this. Then, after a moment, he responds. "Thank you, Fay," he murmurs. "That might be the kindest thing anyone's ever said to me."

She leans forward and presses a kiss to his brow, not pushing him any further. He's confessed enough today, she thinks. He'll tell her when she's ready.

"Come on," Fay says, leaning off the edge of the bed to grab the bottle of wine on the floor. "Drink up. We've got nothing else to do today. And I'm not going downstairs again until we're sure your dad has cooled off."

Daniel toasts her refilled glass and then takes another sip, looking at her closely. "And," he hesitates for a moment. "You're not mad at me...otherwise?"

She frowns at him. "What do you mean?"

He looks down at his wine again, ashamed of himself. "For not...coming downstairs, in the midst of it all. For not...interrupting. Taking you away. Saving you."

Fay's mouth rounds in surprise. She takes a moment to think about it and then blushes, laughing a little. Actually, she's very glad that Daniel hadn't come into the room in the middle of that. What would he have thought if he had seen - Frankly, what did she think of it all, all that had happened, the heat between them?

She shakes her head, deciding to mull that over when she had a moment alone. Instead, she turns her attention back to Daniel.

"Actually," she says, "no. I'm glad you didn't. I'm starting to learn that I can handle myself in this world. Learning...methods. Of managing your father. Of...figuring out my own power."

Daniel laughs darkly at this. "Don't ever let my dad hear you say that you've learned to manage him."

Fay smirks. Of course, she would never. Unless she really wanted to piss him off, which...well, which she might actually enjoy.

Her face grows serious, then. "I wonder, though," she says quietly. "If your dad would have liked to have seen you interrupt."

Daniel just frowns at her, so she continues.

"Well," Fay says, looking down into her glass. "I think he's expressed that he wants you to...learn the business. Take control. This could have been an opportunity to show him that of what happens to me, at least, you are in charge." Daniel nods contemplatively and Fay is grateful to see that she hasn't hurt his feelings.

"That's...an interesting point," he says, taking a big gulp of his wine. "That's definitely some food for thought." He looks at her then. "I could start with you," he says, "to show him that I'm in control."

Fay smiles and nods happily at him, agreeing.

But deep down, she's starting to figure out the truth:

That secretly? At the heart of it?

She had the control. Every bit of it.