Fall For My Ex’s Mafia Dad
Chapter 69

Ivan laughs a little and shakes his head, coming forward to take me by the arm. "I'm sorry, Fay," he says, and I look up to see real apology on his face. "I shouldn't have said that - you look beautiful."

I'm still blushing, though. I never should have worn this dress.

"Come on," Ivan says, wrapping an arm around my shoulders and nodding his head towards the restaurant. "Let's go get something to eat."

I stop in my tracks, though, realizing - quite suddenly - that I don't want to go in there. I don't want to go to another mafia hotspot, the place Daniel took me because his daddy has connections here, where Ivan was able to get a last-minute reservation because he, too, has connections.

Kent sent me on this date, but I get to decide what happens from here on out. In the end, I'm in control.

Ivan looks down at me, curious about my pause, but I flash him a big smile.

"Actually," I say, eager. "Do you want to go somewhere else?"

He cocks his head, curious. "I thought you wanted to come here."

"Did Kent tell you that?" I ask.

"I told him to send the car to a restaurant I picked, and he said he was sending you here. Because it's your favorite." A slow, dangerous little smile starts to form on Ivan's face.

"Yeah well," I say, wrinkling my nose at him. "Kent doesn't know me as well as he thinks he does."

Ivan simply nods, his smile growing, and raises a hand to signal the valet to bring his car back.

Thirty minutes later, Ivan and I are sitting on top of a picnic table in my old neighborhood, our feet resting on the bench and an enormous spread of tacos set out between us. I directed Ivan to drive here, knowing that my favorite food truck sets itself up on the edge of this little park on Tuesday nights. It's dark out, but the owners have strung up some cheerful lights and are playing some traditional music. It's not a busy night, either, so Ivan and I have the place mostly to ourselves. It is, overall, kind of perfect.

"This is amazing," Ivan murmurs, taking another bite of a carne asada taco. "How did I not know that this place was here?"

I give him a little wink. "Neighborhood secret," I say, lifting my beer to my mouth and taking a sip. "We don't usually let outsiders in but," I give him a surveying glance from head to foot, "for you, we'll make an exception." Ivan smirks at me. "Gracious of you," he says, and then takes another bite, finishing his taco and reaching for another.

I smile, pleased that he approves, and nestle a little further into the warmth of Ivan's suit jacket. He spread over my shoulders when we got here, intuiting that I might get cold sitting outside. I watch Ivan as he eats, observing the tattoos on his forearms that are revealed by his rolled-up shirtsleeves.

"What's this one for?" I ask, pointing to an image of the Virgin Mary on the outside of his left arm. Ivan looks to where I'm pointing and then takes a moment to swallow before answering.

"My dad," he says, looking seriously into my face. "He died, about five years ago."

"I'm sorry," I say, frowning and wondering, suddenly, what his life is actually like. All I know is that he's the ambitious young prodigy of the underworld, and that he's smart and powerful. But I have no idea, really, where he comes from or who he loves.

"It's all right," Ivan replies, shrugging it off. "We all have our trauma. He was a good guy." He gives me a little smirk as he looks me in the eye. "He'd have liked you, though, for sure. He loved redheads."

"Yes, well, we're quite irresistible," I murmur, flipping my hair back over my shoulder and pretending a haughtiness I don't really feel. I'm rewarded with a laugh and I grin back at Ivan.

"Irresistible for sure," he says, always the flirt as he looks down at the table and reaches for another taco. "But also, apparently, a woman of mercurial affections."

My breath hitches a little at this - what does he mean by that? Suddenly, I'm terrified that he knows, somehow, about me and Kent - about the plans I have for later - commands, really - to meet him after midnight. "What do you mean?" I ask, anxious but trying to keep my voice nonchalant.

Ivan glances up at me as he brings a plate of shrimp tacos into his lap, totally at ease. Then, he raises his left hand and wiggles his fingers at me. "No ring," he says, and I glance down at my own hand to realize that he's right - I'm actually not wearing Daniel's ring tonight. "Everything all right with you two?"

I hesitate, wondering how to play this. I actually hadn't left the ring at home on purpose - I just...hadn't remembered to put it on after my shower. But could I use this to my advantage? Do I want Ivan to know that I'm free? I hesitate inwardly, wondering what Janeen would do.

"Sorry," Ivan says, and I look up into his face to see that he really means it. "I didn't mean to touch a sore subject."

"No, it's okay," I respond breezily, giving him a little smile. "It's just...Daniel is having a little....trouble. Being faithful."

I mean, it wasn't a lie. And Janeen said to stick to the truth as much as I can.

"Oh," Ivan says, his eyebrows going up in genuine surprise. Then he puts his plate of tacos back down and pushes all of the food to the back of the table so that he can scootch closer to me. "His loss," he murmurs, his eyes drifting down to my mouth. Suddenly anxious, I turn my head away from him and lift my beer to my lips, taking a sip. Ivan takes the note and leans back a little. "I actually don't know a lot about Daniel," he says casually. "I know he's in school, but he keeps a low profile as far as mob heirs go. He doesn't seem as...involved, as other sons might be."

"Yeah, well," I reply with a little bitter smile. "Apparently he's got other things on his mind besides Kent's work and marrying me."

"Oh?" Ivan pushes. "And what's his style there? Does he have lots of girls who he sees for a short time, or just one serious side piece?"

I blink at Ivan in surprise, realizing that he's pressing me for information. Simultaneously, I grasp that I actually do have information on Kent's heir - dangerous information that very few people have. And Ivan's looking for it.

And quite suddenly, I don't want to give it. Daniel is still my friend; his secrets are safe with me.

"Can we talk about something else?" I ask hesitantly, giving Ivan a sad little smile that I hope suggests my reluctance stems from a sore subject, not because Ivan is coming dangerously close to some serious dirt.

"Of course," he nods, again apologetic. "I'm sorry, Fay. I haven't been the most tactful tonight, have I? I didn't mean to pry...I'm just," he shrugs a little. "Genuinely curious about your life."

I bite my lip, deciding to push this a little bit. "Are you, though?" I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.

Ivan goes still, staring at me, waiting for me to continue.

"I mean," I start awkwardly, looking down at my beer. "I know that the dive bar that you took me to was filled with people from all of the underworld families. That was embarrassing for me and it caused a real rift between me and Daniel when he heard, from multiple sources, that I was out flirting with you. And whatever Daniel and I are to each other, I do care about him."

I look up into Ivan's face with real hurt in my eyes and see guilt pass through his own. He's either a crazy good actor or...maybe he actually feels bad, actually cares, at least a little, about how I feel.

"I like you, Ivan," I whisper, the truth spilling out despite myself. "I like you...maybe a lot? But I don't know if I can trust you, or if any of this is real, or if you're just using me to get a leg up on Kent."

Ivan nods, breathing out of his nose and looking down at his feet. He gives a sharp shake of his head. "You're right, Fay," he sighs. "I shouldn't have done that. It was....a little bit of a coup for me, to be able to shove it in Kent's face like that." Ivan looks up at me again, giving me a little smirk. "And I know you enjoyed that part a little bit too."

I blush, looking down at my beer as I remember what resulted from me shoving that day in Kent's face like that. I remember Kent pushing me up against the door, his lips hot on mine - I remember moaning into his mouth and pulling him tight against me, wanting more. Ivan probably doesn't know precisely how much I enjoyed it.

"But I'm sorry," he continues, using one finger under my chin to turn my face gently back to his. "If it means that I lost your trust, then I wish I hadn't done it. Because, whatever's here, Fay..." he shakes his head lightly, and I know that that little shake contains a wealth of emotion, "it's real for me. And I hope it is for you too."

I bite my lip, not wanting him to know that...well, that it's real for me too, despite myself.

"Damn it, Fay," he whispers, his eyes on my mouth again, where my teeth press into my lower lip. "You make it hard for a guy to be chivalrous when you do that."

Slowly, I let my lip drag out from beneath my teeth, my mouth open just a tiny bit. I swear a very tiny shudder passes through him.

"Whatever you want, Fay," he murmurs, bringing his eyes back to mine with an effort. "It's on your terms now. I promise, anything that happens between us is just for us." He takes a moment and then repeats his vow. "I promise. It's whatever you want." And suddenly, I know precisely what I want.

I raise my hand and place it, gently, on the side of his neck, my skin humming at the touch of his own against my palm. And then I pull his mouth to mine.