Fall For My Ex’s Mafia Dad
Chapter 76

At eleven, I walk through the door to the garages, a sigh on my lips. I see Jerome immediately, waiting by one of the black cars. He gives me a big smile, which I return unenthusiastically. It's not him - I just...really don't want to go to lunch at my father's house. Jerome gives me an understanding little grimace as he opens the back door for me and I climb in. "You doing all right?" he calls over his shoulder as opens the driver's door and sits down in the front seat, genuinely curious.

"Just ready for this to be over," I say back to him, leaning my head back and closing my eyes. Jerome makes a little grunt of understanding and begins to pull out of the garage and down the driveway.

When we're on the road, I pull out my burner phone to send some long-delayed texts. I feel safe using it in my room, but not really anywhere else in the house. Not that my room is really safe anyway - Kent is very likely to have it checked daily, after the note from Fiona. Still, better safe than sorry.

I'm pleased when I see that a text from Ivan is waiting.

Ivan: Good morning, beautiful. I hope you slept well. Any chance I get to see you tonight?

I sigh, really wanting to say yes, but knowing it's impossible.

Fay: Sorry, already have plans. Send me a pic so I know how desperately sad this news makes you.

I laugh, a few seconds later, when Ivan sends me a picture of him with an exaggerated frown, tracing a finger down his cheek like a tear. Jerome looks curiously at me in the rearview mirror so I do my best to wipe my face clean, not wanting him to know what I'm up to. Then, I reply to Ivan.

Fay: You're pretty even when you're sad. Check in with me later.

Then, I'm pleased to see a text from Janeen pop onto the screen. I'm eager to see it - she never texts first unless she has a good reason for it.

Janeen: Lawyer came by this morning - gave us the deed to the house! Dad was so thrilled he cried. Wish you were here to see it. Lawyer also gave us a list of potential beach properties - insane!

A picture of a gigantic white and blue beach house pops up next, along with her assessment.

Janeen: This one is my fav, though I'm really looking for one with a hot tub.

I stifle my laugh by biting my lip, but I can't help the smile that bursts out on my face. A bad lunch with my dad is definitely worth it, if I can make my sister and my dad this happy. Quickly, I type a reply.

Fay: Pick whichever one you want. But the biggest bedroom is for me. Don't forget who got you that beach house.

Janeen's reply is prompt.

Janeen: Or how you got it! Proud of you sis. Make that $$$

She ends the text with the emojis of a cat with heart eyes, a peach, and an eggplant that, in combination, make me blush. I tuck my phone away, newly bolstered for the afternoon ahead of me.

We pull up to my father's house not long after and I see my stepmother Tristin waiting by the door, her arms crossed. Little Romulus stands next to her, waving enthusiastically. I smile at him, grateful that at least someone is happy to see me. When I step out of the car, Romulus dashes to me, wrapping his arms around my leg in greeting.

"Hey kid!" I say, laughing and ruffling his hair.

"Hi, sister!" he exclaims, grinning up at me. "I missed you! Why did you stay away?"

"Oh," I say, frowning and feeling guilty all of a sudden. "I didn't mean to - I'm sorry -"

"Romulus," Tristin calls, and I look up at her, still standing stern by the door. Romulus lets go of me and runs to her. I follow closely behind.

Tristin gives me a steady stare as I climb the steps to her house, her expression unchanging when I attempt an awkward smile. "He's mad at you," she informs me, stern, as I approach her. I don't have to think very hard to figure out that "he" means my father, not little Romey here. "You watch what you say - or you'll make hell for all of us, even when you leave."

"Oh," I say, red creeping into my cheeks. "I'm sorry - I never meant -

"No," she responds, narrowing her eyes a little at me before turning to open her door. "I don't suppose you do think about how any of your antics affect us. Not at all."

I open my mouth to protest but then shut it as I follow Tristin into the house. Because it's right - I haven't thought about it. Not at all. But then again, it's not really my fault that my father treats her poorly. I sigh, feeling a headache start at the back of my head as I follow Tristin and Romulus into the sitting room. This is a level of family drama I never signed up for.

My father starts in on me the moment I step into the room.

"What the hell do you think you're toying with, girl," he demands, glaring at me as Tristin and Romulus make their way to the couch. Romulus goes a little pale as he looks at his dad and then back at me with wide eyes.

I sigh and look down at my feet. "Can you please tell me what you mean?"

"You know precisely what I mean," he snaps. "Ending the engagement that I negotiated for you at birth? Messing around with that boy - Ivan - behind my back?" Alden slams his hand on the arm of his chair, making me jump as my eyes snap up to his. "Isn't that what you wanted?" I ask, a little scared as I spread my hands wide. "I mean - you introduced me to Ivan - you wanted me to end the engagement -"

"No, you foolish child," my father counters, angry. "I wanted to end that engagement for you, on my terms. I wanted to negotiate a relationship with Ivan, or use it to leverage other connections. Instead, you're out there making ridiculous decisions - waving your cat all over town -"

"Waving my -" I blink as I interrupt, shocked. "Waving my what?"

"A slut!" he shouts, his face growing red as he spits the words at me. "A slut! My daughter, all over town, drinking with that boy-sitting in his lap on a picnic table - kissing him - I have pictures of it! Everyone does!"

I'm shocked as well as horrified as I listen to this. I had honestly thought Ivan and I were safe at the little taco truck - I had no idea my father's intel was so good. I grit my teeth, realizing that my privacy has been violated again - that a moment that I thought was precious, private, and mine was infiltrated and documented. And now, apparently, used against me.

"You will fall in line, girl," my father growls, pointing a finger at me. "To begin, you will move in here - it is ridiculous that you are still in the Lippert house even after your engagement has ended - people will think he's taken you as his mistress -"

I laugh, my body bending over almost in half as I hear this - hear my father accusing me of precisely the truth as if it's the worst thing I could possibly do in the entire world. As I begin to straighten up, I see that this bodily reaction may have been...a mistake. My father is shooting out of his chair, Tristin going pale across the room and gathering Romulus close to her side. My father strides towards me, his face livid with rage, a shade of red I haven't seen before on a human face. I back away quickly, bumping hard into the doorway as I go but eager to get away from this rhino charging right for me.

"You will fall in line!" he commands, grabbing for my arm. "You are my daughter - you will do as I demand -"

"I will not!" I shout, ripping my arm from his grasp and angry enough to find my feet and face him as we stumble out into the hall. "You have no right to make demands on who I marry - let alone belittle me by calling me a slut when I've done nothing to -" He silences me, then, with a sharp slap across my face.

I gasp, stumbling back, my hand instantly going to my smarting cheek.

I look back up at my father, aghast. My real dad has never-ever in my life - hit me. The rage it engenders surprises me as I clench my teeth and growl, fighting the desire to claw his damn eyes out.

But, instead, I remember precisely who I am, and I stand straight, dropping my hand and giving him a withering glare.

"Kent will have something to say about that," I say softly, looking him straight in the eyes. "And so, I think, will Ivan."

Then, my eyes shift to Romulus. "If you ever need to get out of here, kid?" I say quickly, before anyone can interrupt. "You call me." Then I return my eyes to my father. "Because my mother was right to run. And anyone who stays is a damn fool."

My father lets out a bellow of rage and throws himself towards me, but I'm already out the door, running down the steps. Jerome is leaning casually against the waiting car but he jumps up when he sees me coming, pulling the back door open and running for the driver's door. Jerome starts the car even as he sits down and slams it into drive the moment I hurl myself into the back seat.

"Go!" I shout, pulling the door behind me and looking over my shoulder to see my seething father stumble into the drive. Jerome does as he's asked and peels off of his property and onto the road.

"Do you ever not cause trouble, Fay?" he mumbles, glancing at me worriedly in the rearview mirror.

I pause and then levelly meet his gaze, still shaken. "Look who's talking, Jerome," I mumble, sarcastic.

Jerome gives me a little laugh that warms my heart. He drives swiftly down the road for a few moments before speaking again. "Come on, kid," he says kindly. "Let's get you a milkshake. You look like you need it." "Is that...allowed?" I ask, curious.

Jerome just cocks his head and glances at me over his shoulder. "Lippert told me to take you to lunch, right? Who am I to take you home hungry. Besides," he says, hesitant, "you're the boss' girl now. I'm yours to command." I settle back into the leather of the seats, a bit pleased at this, my heart certainly lighter to have Jerome be so nice to me after such a nightmare of a visit. I know, suddenly, precisely why Daniel likes him so much. "Well then," I say softly. "Milkshakes and cheeseburgers it is. Lead the way, Jerome."