Filed to story: Falling for My Ex's Mafia Dad Novel Free PDF (Fay Alden & Kent Lippert)
“Yeah, but I’m scrappy,” Ivan says, over-confident and optimistic in his usual charming way.
“Don’t underestimate Daniel,” I sigh, leaning back. “He boxes. And I’m pretty sure his dad taught him how to hit.” I let my eyes drift to the green spot on Ivan’s jaw and he turns to me, laughing, as Janeen sees the direction of my gaze.
“No way!” she says, laughing and hitting Ivan on the arm. “You told me you fell at work!”
“I did fall at work,” he murmurs, rubbing his jaw again and laughing at himself. “I just didn’t tell you whose fist I ran into that made me fall at work.”
“‘Ran into,’ my ass,” I murmur, shaking my head and making them both laugh harder.
____________________
Janeen and I quietly watch Ian drive away down our street a little bit later.
“Did you ever get the story behind the car?” she asks, curious.
“Nope,” I say, shaking my head. “You should get him to come to the strip club sometime. See if you can get him to give it to you as a tip.”
“Tempting,” she says, wrapping an arm around my shoulders. Then she gives me a bright, happy grin. “You know, Fay, if I’m being honest, I like that one. He’s my favorite of your three weird boyfriends.”
“That’s not fair,” I say, frowning at her. “You don’t know Kent very well ”
She laughs at me, shaking her head. “Seriously? Your first instinct is to defend Kent, when I live with Daniel?”
“Well, I was getting to that!”
“Seriously though,” she says, dropping her voice now. “Ivan is a nice guy, and he cares about you.”
“So does my husband, Janeen,” I say, frowning at her. “And Kent.”
“I know,” she says, nodding to me, fully serious now. “But your husband…he’s eventually going to leave you for that stone-cold cutie up there,” she says, nodding up the stairs to where Jerome is. “That’s inevitable. And this guy…” she looks down the street after Ivan’s car. “He likes you, Fay. And he’s not incarcerated. And he’s funny.”
“He is funny, isn’t he,” I murmur, cocking my head to the side.
“Yah,” she says, nodding. “And hot.”
“Janeen,” I sigh, ducking out from under her arm. “If you’re trying to convince me to date Ivan, it does not help to hear that you think he is hot. Maybe you should date him ”
“Fay!” Janeen objects, walking after me through the front door to the house. “It’s not that I think he’s hot he’s just objectively hot!”
“Talking about me?” Daniel asks, making us both jump when we realize that he’s sitting on the stairs, waiting for us.
“Of course, gorgeous,” Janeen says smoothly, coming forward and leaning over to give him a kiss on the cheek. “Who else would we have been talking about?”
“Oh, you know,” Daniel says, looking directly at me now. “Just the guy who, you know, ruined our lives.”
“Not my life!” Janeen says, stepping past Daniel and working her way up the stairs. “Mine just keeps getting better and better! Got my sister back, got hotties dropping by on the daily I like this new post-Kent world!”
I sigh, crossing my arms and waiting until she disappears onto the second floor. Then I look back at Daniel. “Well?” I ask.
“Well, what?” he says, leaning back against the stair behind him.
“Well, you obviously came down here to wait for me once I came in.” I point out. “Did you want to say something?”
“Yeah, Fay,” Daniel snaps, starting to release the anger he’s clearly holding back. “I wanted to say that you’re being really fucking dumb by letting him into our house ”
“Oh shut up,” I growl, pushing past him and starting up the stairs myself.
“You are!” he insists, quickly standing up and pounding up the stairs after me. “I can’t believe you even talked to him, after what he did! That you even ”
“One,” I snap, spinning at the landing of the second floor and lifting a finger right into his face, “don’t you ever call me stupid, Daniel. I won’t let you condescend to me, not now, not ever. If you have a critique to make, fine. But don’t you dare pretend that I did something because I’m dumb.”
Daniel’s angry face twists but he purses his lips, listening to me. I hold my finger steady, staring up at him until he nods once and looks away. “Fine,” he says in a rush. “You’re right. I won’t do that again, and I didn’t mean it. But Fay, you’ve always had a soft spot for him, and he manipulates you.”
He looks back at me now, shaking his head and putting his hands on my shoulders as I drop my finger. “You chose a life, Fay. Didn’t you? A life with my dad, and with me? Ivan destroyed that life that you picked. I…I don’t want you to forget that. He’s charming, but he’s bitter, and he’s jealous.” Daniel shakes his head slowly.
And I resent it every damn second of it.
Because Daniel? He’s doubting me.
And above all I cannot have my team doubting me.
But as I consider how much I actually laughed with Ivan this afternoon…
I don’t know. Does Daniel have a point?
“Okay,” I say, taking a step closer and nodding, looking up at Daniel. “I I hear you about my soft spot, all right? I’ll be careful. But Daniel,” I say slowly, shaking my head, making him listen. “You either trust me or you don’t. I told you last night I’m doing this because I love your dad. I’m not doing anything for Ivan, okay? And I’m going to need you to remember that in the upcoming weeks.”
Daniel sighs in relief but then he thinks about my words and snaps his gaze back to me, narrowing his eyes. “Wait, what are you saying?”
“What do you think I’m saying?”
“Are you…is he going to be coming around more?” Daniel asks. “Is that why I have to trust you?”
“He’s going to be coming around a lot more, Danny,” I say, patting his check with my hand and giving him a pained little smile. “And you’re going to have to hang out with him. And pretending you’re mad. And that you’re not into him, like everyone else is.”
“Oh my godddd,” Daniel groans, putting his hands over his face. “Why are you doing this to me, Fay?!”
“I have my reasons, Daniel!” I sing over my shoulder, giving my dad a wink as I head into the living room, “you either trust me or you don’t!”
Daniel murmurs something discontentedly as I sit on the couch with Jerome and Janeen. As I settle in the spot next to Jerome, he wraps an arm around my shoulder without even turning his head to acknowledge me, his attention firmly on some show on TV.
“Wait,” Daniel says from the kitchen. “What did you just say? Pretend I’m not into him?”
“Yup,” I call back.
“I am not into Ivan,” Daniel growls, making me smirk. Jerome laughs a little too, glancing at me. I wrinkle my nose at him.
“Wait,” Daniel says, storming into the living room and glaring around at all of us. “Are…are the rest of you into Ivan?”
“I am,” Janeen says freely, raising her hand. Jerome looks at his boyfriend stone-faced, not giving anything away. Daniel takes a step forward to interrogate further, but before he can my dad interrupts by clearing his throat.