Filed to story: Falling for My Ex's Mafia Dad Novel Free PDF (Fay Alden & Kent Lippert)
Instead, I wrap my arms around his neck, half for balance, half for
Fuck, because I want him to kiss me
I feel my lips part as I close my eyes, giving in
But then I feel Ivan flinch and almost drop me as I hear a woman’s cold laugh ring out.
“Shit,” Ivan curses, releasing my leg and turning away from me, frustrated, as I find my feet and spin to see Natalia standing there, shaking her head at me and smiling her wicked cat’s grin.
“Well,” she says, her eyes boring into me as I flush bright, bright red, my breath coming fast as I realize how fucking fucked I am right now. “I was looking forward to meeting this Ivan I’ve heard so much about,” she says, shifting her gaze to him. Ivan turns to look at her, his face still angry, his hands in his pockets.
And as he glares at her I’m shocked to see him…discomposed.
And suddenly I realize that this…this was not part of Ivan’s plan. Not at all. That he didn’t sneak me back here so that Natalia could follow us, and catch me, and screw up my engagement to Daniel as well as Kent’s relationship with my father. That somehow, Ivan has been outplayed here that he either let himself go too far, losing control with me, or that he underestimated Natalia
“A pleasure to meet you, Natalia,” Ivan replies finally, his voice lacking all of his usual charm. “But if you’ll excuse me, I have to go.”
“So soon,” she coos, cocking her head at him like she’s disappointed.
“Yeah,” he replies, glancing at me with his regret clear on his face. “I’ve got somewhere to be.” And then, to my shock, Ivan turns on his heel and heads through the far door that leads down to the kitchens. My mouth drops open a little as I realize that Ivan has left me alone to deal with this she-wolf.
Slowly, I turn back to Natalia, having no idea what to do.
“I knew it,” Natalia says the moment I turn to look at her, shaking her head at me but unable to suppress her smile. “I knew you were up to something, little Fay,” she continues, taking a few slow steps towards me. “I knew you didn’t love my Daniel that you are a greedy slut who is in this for something else ”
And as she continues to approach and berate me and tell me how awful I am for betraying Daniel
Something snaps in me. And I realize that I haven’t betrayed anyone that Daniel and I aren’t actually engaged. And as much as Natalia treats me like a bug she wants to grind under her shoe….I’m actually just as much of a player in this game as she is.
After all, I’m the daughter of one Don and, as far as she knows, the future Donna of the Lippert family.
And I’m spending my nights in bed with the Don of the Lippert clan, who hired me to be his spy.
And who the hell is she? Some puffed up maid of honor? She’s not blood, after all. She’s an employee.
“Shove it, Natalia,” I suddenly interrupt, not letting her finish her long string of insults designed to strip me down. I stopped listening, after all, about twenty seconds ago. I set my shoulders and glare at her. “I’m back here on Kent’s orders, performing the duties that he assigned to me, which you interrupted. If you don’t like it, take it up with him.”
And then I shove past her, starting down the slim corridor back to the party. I don’t even look over my shoulder to see if she’s following behind.
As soon as I get back to the party, Daniel finds me, coming swiftly to my side. “Fay,” he asks, looking me over anxiously. “Are you all right? Where did you go?”
“Ivan,” I reply honestly, looking up at him, too tired to keep secrets. Natalia’s going to spill everything anyway, the moment she gets Kent’s ear. “He wanted to tell me some stuff. Natalia interrupted, though, and spooked him off, so I didn’t get much out of him.”
“Really, Fay?” Daniel asks, raising an eyebrow at me. “You want me to believe that you and Ivan were just talking?”
I look at him blandly and shrug one shoulder, letting him know that his suspicions are not far off. But, frankly, if he wants to question my methods and, right now, I have to tell myself that they’re just my methods, or else I’ll go insane then he’s going to have to take it up with Kent as well.
Daniel sighs and nods, recognizing that it’s complicated. He puts an arm around my waist and turns me back to the party. “Let’s just get through this, okay?” he says, taking a deep breath.
“Sure,” I sigh, putting on my best smile and letting Daniel pull me forward towards a group of people. As we towards them, I narrow my eyes at Mila across the room, who smirks at me.
“If you leave me for anyone,” I murmur to Daniel, “Just make sure it’s not her.”
“What?” Daniel asks, and then he sees the direction of my gaze and laughs, pulling me closer to his side. “Seriously, Fay? After everything, you’re jealous because I danced with one girl?”
“I’m not jealous,” I correct. “I just…have a bad feeling about that one.”
And as the girl’s smirk turns into a wicked little grin that basically spells out I’m coming for him, I turn away from her and take a hold of Daniel’s tie, pulling him down for a kiss. A real kiss, not the pecks that we’ve exchanged before. Daniel goes still with shock at first and then he plays along, wrapping an arm around my waist and kissing me back.
It doesn’t mean anything to me, but I hope that this kiss spells out a clear message to that girl:
Go ahead and try it. He’s mine.
And as I pull away, smiling at my fiancé, I catch a look at Natalia standing behind us, her arms folded, watching me closely.
We’re all absolutely silent in the limousine on the way home. Kent sits in the back corner of the car by the door, resting his forehead in his hand and staring down at his knees. While he’s still and silent, I can feel the tension radiating off of him a mix of anger, and anxiety, and something else…maybe resentment?
I don’t know. I’m too pissed off and exhausted myself to figure it out. But I watch him closely regardless, looking for some kind of signal regarding his next move.
Natalia, seated next to Kent, her thigh just accidentally, casually pressed against his in the close quarters of the car, is likewise motionless, simply sitting with her tired eyes closed. Alessi, next to Natalia, and Daniel, on the long bench next to me, both stare out the windows, giving no hint about what they’re thinking or feeling.
I wonder if they’re all fuming, like I am. If they are, they’re probably doing a better job of hiding it.
The party went on for hours, until my cheeks ached from my fake smiles as I mingled with Kent’s family, everyone taking their time to greet and consult Natalia and Alessi. I went through the motions, playing my role as Daniel’s perfect bride, but I kept my eyes on Natalia the whole time. Just waiting.
I knew the moment when she made her move. I watched her do it.
I watched her tug Kent’s sleeve, so hesitant, probably looking to anyone else like she just hated to be the bearer of bad news as she drew him away to a quiet corner. I watched her stand on her toes to whisper in his ear, her face motherly and anxious for Daniel’s sake. I watched Natalia’s hand brush up her own thigh as she told Kent all the details about how Ivan had me pulled against him when she caught us.
And I watched Kent raise his eyes to mine after just a few seconds of Natalia’s report, focusing instantly on me as if he had already known exactly where I was standing and didn’t have to search for me in this busy room. I watched his face go dark with anger as he listened. And as Natalia ratted me out in what I’m sure were the most scandalous terms she could think of honestly, she probably did it in Italian, just for the effect I held Kent’s gaze even as his turned lethal. Through all of it, I kept my face totally impassive.
Because, honestly? I didn’t do a damn thing wrong. I have nothing to apologize for.
Kent glared at me for a long moment before turning back to Natalia, thanking her quietly before moving away. And it was done.
I know that I’ll have to face him sooner or later, and frankly I’m looking forward to it. Because, honestly, fighting with Kent? It’s going to be way easier than parsing out what the hell happened with Ivan tonight.
I lean my head back on the leather headrest in the limousine and sigh roughly through my nose, trying to wipe my mind clean, to calm the hell down.
Perhaps sensing my mood, Daniel gently takes my hand and gives my fingers a little squeeze. I turn to look at him and can’t help but give him a tiny smile when I see him give me a tentative little grin and a shrug.
It’s over, I read on his face, so clear I can almost hear him say it. What’s done is done. Don’t let it get to you.
I nod, agreeing and taking a deep breath as I put my head on his shoulder and try to let it all go. I find myself staring down at the engagement ring on my left hand.
This ring, with such a complicated history. To which I am currently adding, I guess. Poor ring.
Twenty minutes later the limousine pulls through the gate of Kent’s house, looping around the driveway to drop us at the front. Slowly, still silent, we all climb out of the car. Alessi takes Natalia’s arm, speaking to her quietly as he leads her up the stairs. As Daniel and I climb out we find Kent standing at the back of the car, facing away from us.
“Dad?” Daniel asks, his voice hesitant.