Filed to story: Falling for My Ex's Mafia Dad Novel Free PDF (Fay Alden & Kent Lippert)
And yet here I was, in the place she’d so desperately left. Why did I let myself get so wrapped up in this world? I cower away from my father.
“Enough,” Kent’s voice rings out behind me, cool and calm.
Alden turns angry eyes to him but Kent holds his ground.
“I’m pleased to announce,” Kent says, his teeth gritted, making clear that his pleasure is only a formality. He nods pointedly at the ring on my hand, “that our agreement, years ago, to unite our families through marriage is holding strong. Your daughter is engaged to my son. I anticipate that the wedding will be swift, in the next few months, if it can be arranged.”
My father’s growl is low in his throat. “This is a trick,” he says. “How can they be engaged, when you just found her yesterday?”
Daniel is quick to answer. “We met before, by some miracle,” he says, giving Alden a small but earnest smile. “We were already dating, actually.”
No mention, conveniently, of the fact that we broke up.
I look between Daniel and his father, and then over at mine, and suddenly realize that Daniel is in on this. He and his father carefully planned this meeting, this conversation. In one swoop, they gave Alden back his daughter and claimed me as their own.
Now they have the one thing Alden wants more than anything: the last remaining piece of his lost love.
I am suddenly angry again. It doesn’t matter what I want at all, whether or not I want to marry Daniel. Because Daniel, too, is a player in this game, moving me around like the pawn that I am.
I open my mouth to protest, but Alden interrupts me.
“Good,” he says, looking between the three of us, perhaps realizing that he has no real leverage in this game. “This is the best arrangement. A uniting of the families.”
He turns his attention back to me and I see his face soften again. Truly, he is a man of many moods and swift changes.
“It is wonderful to meet you, daughter, on this the occasion of your engagement.” He gives me a formal little bow and raises my left hand to his face, kissing both my fingers and the ring.
When he releases me, I give him a small smile. Then, I surprise myself by speaking, despite my wariness around him. “I I’d like to know more about my mother,” I say in a rush.
He raises his eyebrows, surprised. When he says nothing, I continue.
“David my dad he didn’t talk about her a lot. I think talking about her past made her sad. But, if you wouldn’t mind, I’d…like to know more.” I twist my fingers together, anxious.
He nods slowly, putting his hands in his pockets. “And I’d like to know you more, Fay. You are my daughter, my blood. It’s only right we should spend some time together, get to know each other,” he glances at Daniel here for a moment, “though I understand your fiancé is your priority now, as a husband should be.”
I look between them, not understanding the politics. But Alden continues before I can figure it out.
“We’ll spend some time together,” he says, rocking back on his heels and considering me, a little fondness on his face. “Get to know each other. And, though it may take me some time,” he rubs his hand across his chin, frowning and considering, “I’ll do my best to tell you what I can of your mother. She was…a remarkable woman.”
I give him a small smile and his eyes go sentimental, soft. “Beautiful, Fay,” he says softly. “You’re beautiful, like her.”
I bite my lip, tears coming to my own eyes.
One thing was for sure I wanted to know more about my mother, about what drew her into this world, what forced her out. Knowing more could open so many doors to the mysteries of my life, my identity.
But at what price would that knowledge come?
The party ended quickly after that. Alden left after one drink and, afterwards, since the apparent draw of the evening was gone, all of the rest of the guests began to filter out as well.
As I watched them all leave none saying a word to me, though they certainly looked me I wondered about the point of this party.
Why had Kent wanted to introduce me to my father in front of all of these people, instead of in private? It certainly hadn’t been a party to celebrate me. Instead, it was more like a proof of life. Kent was demonstrating to the world that I exist and that I’m in his power.
I stare down at the diamond on my finger, twisting the ring back and forth, seeing how it catches the light. Even though I’ve changed and into a pair of leggings and a super soft sweater honestly, how do these clothes keep showing up in my room? I don’t have the heart to take the ring off.
It’s just so beautiful. I’ve rarely had anything really pretty in my life and this was…stunning. And priceless, I think.
Maybe if I run away, I can sell this at a pawn shop and use the money to get to Europe, where Kent and my father can’t find me.
I grimace at the impossibility of all of that, though. I don’t even have a passport.
As I stare at the ring, I realize that I had higher hopes for that meeting with Alden. My father. I had kind of hoped he would be my ticket out of the Lippert house, maybe even to a place where I’d have a better chance to get back to my normal life.
But after this evening I realize that I’m just as much of a pawn in Alden’s world as Kent’s. And after seeing his crazy mood swings, I’m not sure Alden would be a better choice. Kent can be cruel, but at least he’s always in control.
Suddenly, outside of my door, I hear a huge thump and a groan. What
I jump up from the bed and stare at the door, expecting it to swing open like it always does.
But nothing.
I hear the groan again.
Scared, but needing to know, I run to the door and pull it open.
I gasp at the sight before me.
Kent Lippert is laying on the ground of the hallway, groaning, his eyes pressed closed as he clutches his chest.
“Oh my god!” I say, looking either way down the hall for help. No one’s there.
I fall to my knees beside him, reaching out to quickly feel for a pulse at his neck.
“Kent,” I say, “are you all right?”
“I’m. Fine.” He says, teeth gritted.
My eyes flick to his face because obviously he is not fine. But I’m relieved that he’s conscious, at least. I hesitate, trying to remember the First Responder course I took in college.
“What’s wrong? Are you having pain in your chest, your left arm?”
“I’m fine ” he says again, his eyes still pressed shut as he begins to pant. He tries to sit up but I put hands on his shoulders, pressing him down to the ground.
“Just stay still,” I say, my head whipping around, still looking up and down the hall for help. Still, no one appears. How can I possibly be the only one who noticed!?
“I’ll go for help,” I say, rising to my knee, but he grabs my wrist.
“Fay,” he says, opening his eyes a little to squint at me. “Don’t go anywhere. Tell no one.”
“What!?” I hiss at him, appalled. “Kent, you could die ”