Filed to story: Falling for My Ex's Mafia Dad Novel Free PDF (Fay Alden & Kent Lippert)
Dad leads me immediately to the couch while Jerome moves to the coffee maker, making me something warm to drink. Daniel grabs a blanket and wraps it around my shoulders as I sit down.
â??Seriously, guys,â? I say, smiling around, â??Iâ??m not even cold â??â??
â??Let us do something, Fay,â? Daniel sighs, shaking his head at me as he sits on the other side of the L-shaped couch, resting his elbows on his knees and shaking his head at me. â??After we completely failed you today, the least we can do is get you a blanket.â?
â??You didnâ??t fail me,â? I sigh, putting the puppy down on the floor so he can stretch his little doggie legs, which have been cooped up for so long. He stays still for a moment, intimidated by his new surroundings, but then begins to tentatively explore. â??It was very carefully planned â?? I think theyâ??ve been watching me for weeks, waiting for just the right moment.â?
â??Wait,â? Daniel says, going still as Jerome brings me over a cup of coffee. I smile my thanks at him as I accept it. â??They?â? Daniel continues, his brow wrinkling in surprise. â??I thought you said it was Ivan â?? who is he working with?â?
I hesitate then, glancing at my dad and then at the door, wanting Kent here â?? because Iâ??m not sure I have the strength to tell this story twice. My spine straightens suddenly when another pain stretches across my back, my belly tightening just a little, but I do my best to ignore it and not let the men see. The pains are still really far apart, and we have other things we really need to concentrate on right now.
â??How far away is Kent?â? I ask, sipping my coffee and awkwardly avoiding Danielâ??s question.
â??Not far now,â? Jerome says, slipping his hands into his pockets and looking down. I focus on him suddenly, realizing that his energy is totally different. Heâ??s usually energetic and fun â?? Iâ??d expect him to be cracking jokes in his relief but this Jerome? He looksâ?¦beaten down.
I lean forward suddenly, peering at him, and realize that Jerome looks â?? he looks actually beaten down.
â??Jerome,â? I gasp, blinking to clear my eyes and realizing that Iâ??m not seeing things. His face â?? itâ??s all red on one side, darkening to purple on his cheekbone and beneath his eye. â??What â?? what the hell happened to you!?â?
Jerome raises his head and looks at me, I guess realizing that he canâ??t hide it any longer. â??Iâ??m sorry, Fay,â? he says, looking at me with such sorrow and guilt in his eyes that I actually sit back against the couch cushion, my eyes going wide.
â??Sorry?â? I ask, my voice shocked. â??Sorry for what!?â?
â??Jerome,â? Daniel says, turning a little to glare at his boyfriend. â??Has been keeping secrets.â?
â??What?â? I gasp, my coffee cup starting to shake in my hands. My dad reaches out and takes it from me, not wanting me to spill. I hand it over without looking at him.
â??Weâ??ll get into that in a minute,â? Daniel growls, clearly pissed at Jerome, his concern for me the only thing keeping the two of them from a major fight. â??Right now, we need to hear what happened to you â??â??
â??But who â??â?? I ask, shaking my head at Jerome and touching the side of my own face, wondering how he got the bruises. I spin towards Daniel then. â??Did you do that?â?
Slowly, he shakes his head. â??Not my style, Fay,â? he sighs. â??Who do you think did it?â?
But before I can come to the obvious conclusion, the door to the house slams open and Kentâ??s frame fills the doorway.
Iâ??m on my feet, across the room, and in his arms before I can even take my next breath.
Kentâ??s whole body shakes as he holds me tight against him, and I hear him breathe a little moan of relief as he presses his fingers hard against my body, as if checking to make sure that Iâ??m here, that Iâ??m real.
â??Fay.â? My name tumbles desperately out of his mouth as he pulls me even tighter for a moment. I cling to him just as hard, crying again despite myself just so, so glad to be back in his arms.
â??Itâ??s okay,â? I whisper, my fingers fisted in the fabric of his shirt as I press my face against his chest. â??Iâ??m okay, Kent â?? Iâ??m perfectly fine â??â??
He gives a shuddering little groan of relief at my words, pulling me tighter â?? if thatâ??s possible. I can feel his heart pounding against me, his deep and ragged breaths.
We take a long moment then, holding each other, murmuring reassurances.
â??I thought Iâ??d lost you,â? Kent whispers, pulling back an inch to peer down into my face, his eyes roving over it to make sure that every one of my features is untouched. One of his hands slides down my back and to my side, touching the edge of my baby bump. â??Both of you.â?
I shake my head as I stare up at him, denying it. â??Weâ??re both here,â? I say, nodding, reassuring. â??Weâ??re both fine.â? Even as I say it, though, a pang of pain passes through my abdomen. And itâ??s not that I donâ??t think the baby is okay â?? I think the babyâ??s justâ?¦ready.
I curse inwardly, wishing the baby had better timing.
Kent shakes his head and pulls me close against him again, tucking his head down close to mine. â??We searched everywhere. I sent Gio east â?? Fay, Iâ??m so sorry,â? he whispers â?? and the absurdity of it makes me laugh, just a little.
â??Kent, this is so not your fault â??â??
â??I should have kept you safe!â?
â??I went to the grocery store â??â??
â??I should have made you stay home â??â??
â??Kent!â? I pull back from him seriously now and put my hands on his cheeks, shaking my head again. â??It canâ??t be all your fault â?? you canâ??t take that much on your shoulders. Some things are beyond your control â?? they were watching us for weeks, waiting for me to leave â??â??
â??They?â? he asks suddenly, his arms tensing around me as his gaze turns into a glare. â??Who, Fay?â?
I hesitate, then, looking back at my dad on the couch, at Jerome and Daniel who are waiting patiently for us to have our moment.
â??Who?â? Kent presses, shaking me just gently, bringing my attention back to him.
I open my mouth to protest, to say that we need to talk as a family, but before I can Kentâ??s head whips to the side because he heard â?? as we all did â??
The little puppyâ??s sad whine as he comes around the corner of the couch, looking for me.
â??Oh, baby,â? I murmur, unwrapping myself from Kentâ??s arms â?? which is easy, because they go slack â?? and taking a few steps over to the puppy, who basically jumps in my arms when I lean down to pick him up. I pet his head, cooing to him, sorry to have left him â?? because Iâ??m the only friend heâ??s got in the world right now, as far as he knows.
â??Is thatâ?¦â? Kent says, a little breathless in his shock, â??is that a dog!?â?
I stare at Kent, a little incredulous. â??Are you all right?â? I ask, holding the pup up so Kent can see him better. â??Yes, Kent, obviously itâ??s a dog â??â??
He storms forward three steps to me, staring slack-jawed at the animal. â??Where the hell did you get a dog?â?
â??He got kidnapped with me! Didnâ??t you, little puppy?â? I answer, cooing to him and stroking his velvet ears. â??He was in my arms when Ivan pulled me into the van â??â??
â??Ivan!?â? Kent booms out and I canâ??t help but smirk and glance at Daniel â?? because their reaction was precisely the same. Daniel works very hard to keep his face straight, but I can tell that he sees the humor in it too.
â??That reminds me,â? I say, spinning back to Kent, â??we need to go back to the grocery store â??â??
â??What!?â? Kent gasps, disbelief all over his face.
â??We have to pay the farmer! I stole the puppy! Itâ??s not right, Kent â??â??
He groans, putting his face in his hands and turning away like he canâ??t stand to look at me right now.
â??Iâ??m serious, Kent!â? I say, stomping my foot. â??Itâ??s not right to steal a puppy, even if it wasnâ??t my fault â??â??
â??Weâ??ll take the puppy back,â? he growls, turning to glare at me, his hands sinking into his pockets. â??Weâ??re not keeping it, Fay.â?
I gasp and glare at him, holding Lil Kent tight in my arms and lifting him so that his face is next to mine. The puppy eagerly licks my cheek. â??How dare you, Kent,â? I say, honestly a little appalled. â??This dog and I are bonded by trauma â?? I am never giving him up â??â??