《Fall For My Ex's Mafia Dad》 Chapter 0001 Chapter 0001 My ideal lover would be a guy who is not in a hurry to getid, loves literature and books, and is polite. My sister says that such men are extinct in the 21st century. She used me of always daydreaming about nerd stuff, which is why I still haven¡¯t cashed in my v-card. I mean, why should I? I''ve never been in love before. I¡¯m just waiting for something more intimate. But I''m living in a fairy tale now that Daniel has shown up. We''ve been dating for a few months now after falling in love at first sight at a bookstore. He''s thoughtful and attentive and a good listener, which is often the role I y - after all, my specialty is counseling. He doesn¡¯t try to push me to go too far too fast, which sets him apart from other guys and suits my own pace perfectly. Today, in the bookstore where we first met, I take a sip of my cappino as I look over my boyfriend¡¯s tall,nky form, his curly chestnut hair falling into his green eyes. Daniel always dresses so nicely, today in perfectly-pressed grey pants, a shining silver watch at his wrist. Wait, I think, narrowing my eyes and looking closer. Are those diamonds below the ss face? I bite my lip, wondering why my boyfriend has a diamond watch. I mean, I¡¯m just a broke grad student ¨C is he rich? There¡¯s movement over Daniel¡¯s shoulder, and as I look, my eyes go wide. ¡°Daniel, there¡¯s¡­a guy over there. And he¡¯s staring right at us.¡± Daniel turns to look directly at the brawny guy, well over six feet and chorded with muscle. His professional suit does nothing to disguise the roughness of his hands, the cruel scar that runs diagonally over his face, almost splitting his nose in two. ¡°Oh, um,¡± Daniel says, shrugging. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about him.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about him!?¡± I whisper, a little scared. ¡°Daniel, he¡¯s looking right at ¨C¡° ¡°No, I mean, he¡¯s with me.¡± Daniel gives me an apologetic smile as my mouth falls open in shock. ¡°That¡¯s Parker, he¡¯s¡­well. He¡¯s kind of my body guard.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± I say, pulling my mouth shut into an awkward O. I stare at Daniel. He needs a bodyguard? How rich is he? ¡°Yeah, just ignore him,¡± Daniel says, giving me a cool smile. ¡°My dad gets overprotective,¡± he rolls his eyes at this. ¡°Honestly, he¡¯s so stressed out about safety that he could use a shrink like you to give him some counseling.¡± Danielughs at this, lightening the mood. ¡°Anytime,¡± I mutter, nervously ying with my long red hair, worrying about the mismatch between Daniel¡¯s wealth and my church-mouse status. I¡¯ve never met anyone before who has a bodyguard. ¡°Can I get you anything else?¡± Both Daniel and I look up at the baristo who smiles down at us, a really handsome blonde-haired guy who has an apron tied around his waist. ¡°No thanks, Colin,¡± I say, giving him a big grin. ¡°Actually, can we both get refills?¡± Daniel says, giving Colin a slow smile. ¡°Oh, actually¡­¡° I say, looking up at the clock and pushing my hair back behind my ears. If I don¡¯t leave now, I¡¯m definitely going to bete for my job doing psych evaluations at the state prison. ¡°She¡¯ll take hers to go then,¡± Daniel says, rising from our sofa. ¡°Here, I¡¯ll help you.¡± He follows Colin back to the coffee counter. I start to pack up my bag, intent on catching the next trolly, when I notice Daniel¡¯s phone vibrating on the table, a calling in. When the number disappears, Daniel¡¯s home screen shows a family photo. The tall man in the back is certainly his dad, the other maybe an older brother? As I try to puzzle it out, the phone rings again ¨C the same number. On impulse, I grab Daniel¡¯s phone and sling my packed bag over my shoulder, heading towards the coffee counter. ¡°Daniel,¡± I say, slipping behind the counter, ¡°you¡¯re getting a phone call ¨C¡° But there¡¯s no one back here. I look around, confused ¨C I definitely just saw Colin and Daniel head this way¡­ I hear a noise from the storage room, a strange and muffled thump and a moan. I take two steps forward and peek around the door, maybe they both ¨C Oh my god. Not two feet from me, my boyfriend presses Colin up against the wall of the storage room, one fist wrapped in the fabric of his shirt ¨C kissing him passionately - Colin¡¯s eyes are closed, his hands fumbling at the button of Daniel¡¯s pants, his belt already undone, whispering his name ¨C my boyfriend¡¯s name ¨C ¡°Are you kidding me!?¡± I yell, not even thinking as I hurl the phone at Daniel and his lover. Both boys jump, leaping apart. ¡°Fay ¨C I ¨C ¡° Daniel¡¯s face is full of shock. Tears in my eyes, I run from the room and from the coffee shop. ¡°Fay!¡± Daniel spills out onto the street behind me. ¡°You don¡¯t understand!¡± He grabs my arm, pulling me back to him. ¡°I really like you,¡± he says, his eyes filled with apology. ¡°You¡¯re amazing - it¡¯s just that my family wouldn¡¯t understand, wouldn¡¯t approve ¨C¡°Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org. ¡°So what,¡± I asked, surprised. ¡°You just want me to be your pretend girlfriend!? Sorry,¡± I rip my arm from his hand. ¡°Not interested.¡± ¡°Please, Fay!¡± Daniel calls after me as I run away. ¡°Please ¨C I can make this right! How much do you want? One million? Three million? I can-" I see him pull the checkbook out of his pocket. "I don''t want your money!" I say, my voice mocking. Daniel blinks and I turn away. "I¡¯ll keep your secret, you don¡¯t need to pay me off. I just don''t want to see you again." And just like that, my fairy tale with Prince Charming was over. I hurry down the street, my eyes filling with angry tears. Two hourster, I¡¯m seated at a stic table in a cinder-block cell, my eyes dried up and my hair tied back in what I hope is a professional look. My leg jitters with nerves and, I think, a little bit of aftershock. I still can¡¯t believe what Daniel did to me. But I straighten up in my seat, taking a deep breath. I have to concentrate on my job now, and I¡¯m incredibly nervous about my next assignment. I¡¯ve only been assigned basic white-cor criminals thus far, but today I have to make an assessment of Kent Lippert, the man known as our city¡¯s Mafia King. His unmatched cruelty and the unbelievable lengths he takes to protect his power are infamous in this town. I hear the hallway door ng open and stand up from my chair, pressing my hands against my zer to straighten it. This is the most nervous I¡¯ve been since I started this gig. The guards bring Lippert around the corner and I¡¯m surprised ¨C I expected Lippert to be a fat, old, balding man ¨C the kind of greasy lowlife who belongs in our city¡¯s underworld. But this man is trim and tall, moving with a kind of dangerous grace. My eyes follow the way his shoulders shift beneath the fabric of his uniform, the way that the guards quail, a little, as they unlock the cuffs on his hands. I gasp as my eyes finally fall on Lippert¡¯s face, my mouth going dry. His dark hair falling over his forehead, his square jaw, the deep frown lines etched over green eyes ¨C oh my god. I¡¯ve seen this man before. I saw him today, in a picture on my boyfriend¡¯s phone ¨C And again, younger, etched in the features of my boyfriend¡¯s own face. Daniel isn¡¯t just some rich kid. He¡¯s the son of the Mafia King. Chapter 0002 Chapter 0002 Kent leans his shoulder against the bars of his cell, his well-muscled arms crossed against his chest. What was he doing in this local prison, created to catch the overflow of the city¡¯s rampant gangs? He was their king, after all. And to think, Kent was here by choice. His lip raises in derision as he shakes his head, wondering if he made the right decision, intentionally getting caught so he could get in here, just for the chance to talk to the warden. Two blue-uniformed guards walk down the row towards him. ¡°Lippert?¡± They ask. ¡°Warden wants to see you.¡± They cuff him and take him to the warden¡¯s office. Kent sits down on a chair in front of him, wordless, waiting for the guards to leave. ¡°So,¡± Sven says, closing his file. ¡°I¡¯m surprised you had the balls toe to my turn for a negotiation, Lippert. It¡¯s brave.¡± The public didn¡¯t know it, but Warden Sven not only runs this prison, but leverages his control over it to take a significant stake in the workings of the city¡¯s underworld. He is as dirty as the rest of them, and if other bosses go against him? He locks them up. Quite a trump card in this world where one of the only things that stops a gangster is a stay in prison. ¡°I¡¯ll be out soon enough,¡± Kent responds, leaning back in his chair. ¡°We have to talk about Ivan.¡± ¡°Ivan?¡± Sven looks at him closely. ¡°He¡¯s chicken shit.¡± Kent shakes his head slowly. ¡°He¡¯s just a kid, but he¡¯s getting a foot in the heroin game. But because he¡¯s green he doesn¡¯t have the grit or the resources to handle it.¡± He pauses a moment, taking Sven in. ¡°He¡¯s getting backed into a corner,¡± Kent continues, ¡°and it¡¯s making him ruthless. He¡¯s noting to meetings of the families, he¡¯s killing at will ¨C made men, as well as wise guys. He has to be stopped, Sven. Or he¡¯s going to wreck it for all of us.¡± Sven leans back into his chair, considering. Kent steels himself, staring Sven down. Antony, his cousin and second-inmand, had told him it was foolish to lock himself up for months just for the chance to talk to Sven. But Kent had a gut feeling this was the right call. An alliance with Sven against Ivan was going to pay off. Big time. ¡°I see your point,¡± Sven says, breathing out through his nose. ¡°Ivan¡¯s too big for his britches, eh? It¡¯s a delicate ecosystem,¡± he says, holding his hands out like a set of scales to demonstrate the bnce. ¡°We¡¯ve all got to y our parts. If he pushes too far, he destroys it for all of us.¡± Sven nods, considering his next words before continuing. ¡°I have to admit, Lippert, I¡¯m impressed with your persistence in this matter. I¡¯ve done good work isting myself, protecting myself, but you found a way in. Not everyone woulde to my turf, and stay so long, just for a meeting with me. I respect that. You¡¯re a real capo, a good guy. I¡¯m d that I know this.¡± Kent nods, silently confirming this read of him. That¡¯s exactly how he wanted Sven to feel. ¡°Ivan¡¯s a mad dog,¡± Kent says. ¡°We¡¯ve got to put him down. I¡¯ll provide the muscle; all I ask is that you let us. Don¡¯t interfere. As for the spoils¡­we split fifty-fifty.¡± Sven eyes him, considering. ¡°I want eighty-twenty, for my agreement to let you handle it.¡± Kent doesn¡¯t let his frustration show. He doesn¡¯t care if Sven takes it all, honestly ¨C Sven has power, but he¡¯s notoriously low on cash, a problem Kent doesn¡¯t have. But he can¡¯t let himself be bowled over. ¡°Sixty-forty,¡± he says, stern. Sven shrugs, not agreeing yet, but not pushing the matter further. ¡°What about the other bosses?¡± he asks. ¡°Are you anticipating pushback from Alden?¡± Kent shakes his head quickly. ¡°Alden¡¯s distracted. His guys are running the game, but he¡¯s got some new clue about his lost kid.¡± He waves a hand, dismissing it. ¡°He¡¯s not going to take a side.¡± Sven nods, giving him a small smile, and Kent realizes that Sven already knew this. Sven might not have cash, but he does trade in secrets. Likely, Alden got the clue from him to begin with. Kent narrows his eyes, realizing that question was a test. He doesn¡¯t like being tested. ¡°Do we have a deal?¡± Sven shrugs, again nomittal. He turns in his chair to stare at a calendar on his wall, the picture of a beautiful vineyard somewhere in Europe. ¡°You know, I had a lovely ss of wine the other day. From Napa. But I gotta tell you, Lippert,¡± he turns here, looking Kent directly in the eye. ¡°It left me a little parched, a little¡­too dry.¡± Sven¡¯s lips start to lift in a cold smirk. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t happen to know¡­anywhere else. Where a man could get a finer ss of wine. A really good drink. Would you?¡± Kent flicks his eyes to the calendar again, realizing suddenly that the picture on the wall is a picture of his vineyard, the calendar likely produced as a promotional gift for tourists. Sven knew exactly what Kent would ask even before he set foot in the room, and he knew exactly the price of his cooperation. ¡°France,¡± Kent says slowly, narrowing his eyes and staring at Sven. Perhaps not such a clean alliance after all. ¡°The best wine in the worldes from France.¡± ¡°You know, I¡¯d like to try that wine,¡± Sven says, turning back to the picture, all innocence. ¡°I¡¯d like to get a foot in the industry too. Maybe get some property there, some day.¡± ¡°Done.¡± Kent said. It¡¯s worth the price. A good meeting. Kent leaves satisfied. As they walk down the hall, one of the guards turns to him. ¡°We¡¯ve been ordered to take you along to your psychological assessment before returning you to your cell,¡± he informs him. Kent res at him, but says nothing. The guard shrugs. ¡°Standard procedure, Lippert. All prisoners gotta do it.¡± Kent stays silent, following. Sven is pushing it, making him undergo psychological testing, when he¡¯d be out of here tomorrow. He¡¯s just trying to collect more secrets. Kent follows the guards to a cinder-block cell at the end of the hallway, noting that hiswyer is standing outside the door. Thewyer rolls his eyes to Kent and points at his watch, indicating that he¡¯ll have him out of here in no time. Kent nods, and then focuses his attention on the door. He¡¯s surprised, when it opens, to see a girl inside. Not a girl, perhaps, a young woman ¨C twenty-three, at the most. She stands up, clearly anxious, biting her lip and ying with the long red ponytail that drifts over her shoulder. Her mouth falls open, just slightly, as she takes him in. God damnit, Kent thinks, his whole body going tense at the sight of her ¨C those long legs, knocked at Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org. the knees with anxiety, her short white skirt, that ridiculous zer that she wears so people like him will take her seriously. He can tell from a single nce that she¡¯s pure as the driven snow ¨C ambitious but poor, eager to prove herself. His eyes rove over her, considering what she¡¯d look like if he ripped that zer off of her. He focuses, again, on those red lips, slightly parted. His breath hisses from his mouth at the sight of those lips, at the thought of what he could do with them. ¡°Um,¡± she says, hesitant. He snaps his attention back to her jewel-blue eyes. ¡°My name is Fay Thompson? I¡¯m here to do your preliminary interview for state psychological assessment?¡± Kent grits his teeth, denying his urge to smile slowly at the fact that her statements are presented as questions. God, she¡¯s perfect, this little angel. The feral, leashed part of him wants to know what she¡¯d look like with a little bit of the underworld¡¯s grime smeared all over her. ¡°Hello, Fay,¡± he says, his voice low and hungry as he moves forward and settles into his chair. ¡°Where do we begin?¡± Chapter 0003 Chapter 0003 I hesitate, settling down in my chair across from this man, sensing that I¡¯m the doe to his wolf. It feels almost as if he could leap across this table at any moment and gobble me up. Daniel¡¯s father is Kent Lippert, the Mafia King of our city. That¡¯s why he has a bodyguard, that¡¯s why he has so much money ¨C I quirk my head to the side, still staring at Lippert, realizing that this is also why Daniel is hiding his sexuality ¨C the mafia of our city are notoriously conservative, and family is everything. A gay son would Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org. never be epted, especially an only son ¨C God, he really did want me to be his beard ¨C Poor Daniel, he¡¯s got to hide everything he loves ¨C Suddenly, I realize that the man in front of me is smiling, just slightly, his eyes moving over me as I stare at him like a deer in the headlights. I clench my jaw, reminding myself that he is the viin. ¡°So,¡± I say, turning back to my papers, nervous. You¡¯ve done this a thousand times, Fay! I remind myself. You could do this in your sleep! ¡°Can you please state your name for me, and ce of birth?¡± ¡°I believe,¡± Lippert says slowly, ¡°That you¡¯re already aware of my history.¡± He leans back, studying me. I lift my eyes to re at his impudence ¨C he¡¯s so rude. But, unfortunately, he¡¯s right. Everyone in this city knows this information. I quickly fill out the form. I nce up at him, struck again by his simrity to Daniel. The profile, especially, is almost exactly the same ¨C but whereas Daniel is gentle, refined, Kent has a grim, lethal quality to his face. I drag my gaze away from him, feeling a shiver pass through me, tapping its fingers down my spine. Somehow, I imagine that they¡¯re Kent¡¯s fingers¡­ I quickly dismiss the thought and focus. ¡°The rest of the questions that I ask you today will be of a personal and psychological nature,¡± I say, giving the canned speech I¡¯m required to say to all inmates. ¡°The state does require that you answer all questions fully and honestly as part of the assessment. Do you understand?¡± He is silent in response and I look up at him, a knee-jerk reaction to an unresponsive patient. He¡¯s smirking at me, unblinking. ¡°Little girl,¡± he says, slowly leaning forward to rest his elbows on his knees, ¡°what gives you the right to ask me anything about my history and my mind?¡± I sit straight in my chair, unnerved by such a question. ¡°The state has hired me to administer these examinations ¨C¡° ¡°Do you have a degree?¡± he cuts in. ¡°Some kind of¡­certificate?¡± The final word is heavy with derision. I frown at him and reach down to rifle through my bag, producing the certified paperwork from the state which qualifies me for this position. ¡°Here,¡± I say, returning his re. ¡°If you¡¯re so curious.¡± I reach across the table to hand it to him. A second before he grabs my wrist, I realize my mistake. He snatches my hand, fully capturing it in his, pulling me forward against the table. It doesn¡¯t quite hurt, but, surprised, I drop the paperwork as I gasp, looking up at him, terrified as he brings my hand close to his face, and then ¨C Oh my god ¨C Slowly, indulgently, he runs his nose across the ivory skin of my wrist. ¡°Camomile,vender,¡± he murmurs, closing his eyes, indulging in my scent. ¡°So fresh and clean,¡± he says. Then he opens his eyes and stares into my bewildered face, wanting to see my reaction as he says, ¡°you must be a virgin.¡± My lip trembles in shock, in awe. His eyes eat me up, savoring the tremble of my lips, my wide, terrified eyes. A guard flies through the door ¡°Hands off!¡± he yells, but Kent has already released my wrist, raising his hands over his head, perfectly calm. ¡°Sorry,¡± he says, smirking, his eyes on me. ¡°Won¡¯t happen again.¡± I blink at him, sitting back in my chair. I straighten my shoulders, unable to take my eyes off him. ¡°Are you all right, miss?¡± the guard says, leaning forward to look me over. ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± I say, rubbing my wrist with my other hand. I¡¯m not hurt ¨C just¡­shocked. I clear my throat and look back down at my papers. ¡°We will¡­we will proceed.¡± I work to steel myself, determined to regain control, to finish this interview. I give Lippert a steady re, raising my chin. I¡¯m tougher than he thinks I am. At least, I hope I am. I pick up my pen again, grateful that my hands aren¡¯t shaking. ¡°Please,¡± I say, focusing again on the paper. ¡°Can you tell me about the crime for which you were imprisoned? I see,¡± ¡°Your little skirt,¡± he says, grinning at the fact that he¡¯s riled me so easily, ¡°is also very precious. You have beautiful legs, and it¡¯s the perfect length to ¨C¡° ¡°Please, sir,¡± I repeat, surprised to hear ite out in a shaky little growl. ¡°I demand your respect in this process. Please be aware that what I report today will affect the rest of your time in prison, as well as your chances for early release. So I suggest that you take this process seriously.¡± He enrages me further byughing at me ¨C actuallyughing at me ¨C ¡°Darling,¡± he says, leaning forward. ¡°I couldn¡¯t take you seriously if I tried. ¡° My mouth falls open and I blink at him, shocked, but it quickly turns to rage. I m my hand on the table, but he onlyughs harder. ¡°Sir!¡± I say. ¡°This is an important process!¡± I hit the table again for emphasis, my hand stinging. He just watches my every movement. ¡°I understand, Doc,¡± he says. ¡°I¡¯m here, aren¡¯t I? Go ahead. Assess me.¡± He waves a hand at his body, his powerful muscles, his unyielding gaze. I stare into his eyes and feel overwhelmed, almost hypnotized by his re. I dart my eyes away, staring down at the floor ¨C anywhere but at him. ¡°You looked away first,¡± he murmurs, studying me. ¡°On the battlefield, this means you¡¯d have died by my hand. Weak.¡± Riled, I raise my eyes again to him, determined. ¡°Good,¡± heughs. ¡°I like my girls with a little fight in them.¡± My face goes pale and red at once, enraged, mortified to have fallen for his trick, but also ¨C god damnit ¨C I feel my nipples go hard under my zer. His eyes move to my chest, as if he knows it, the hum in his chest deepening. I grab my pen again, scrawling words across the paper as fast as I can. Constantly defiant, ruthlessly sociopathic, no remorse. Rmend continued imprisonment, without parole. ¡°This is finished.¡± I say, decided, gathering my papers as fast as I can and shoving them, crinkled, into my bag. I can hear himughing softly at me as I hurry. I take a breath, straighten my shoulders, and then give him what I hope is a withering re as I move towards the door. I pound twice on the metal and the guard lets me out. I don¡¯t look at Lippert again as I start to leave. ¡°Oh, Doctor,¡± I hear his voice echo behind me. My cheeks burn with embarrassment as I turn to hear his parting words. ¡°I¡¯ll see you on the outside,¡± he says, giving me a dark smirk. ¡°You can count on it.¡± ¡°Not if I have anything to say about it,¡± I murmur, my voice trembling as the guard opens the door and I storm out. My paperwork rmends his eternal imprisonment. As far as I¡¯m concerned, I¡¯ll never see him again, and good riddance. Chapter 0004 Chapter 0004 ¡°I¡¯m just saying,¡± Janeen says, shrugging as she slides an omelet out onto a te. ¡°It¡¯s a red g when a guy doesn¡¯t want to meet her friends and family. I mean, who even is this Daniel guy, anyway?¡± I stop dead on the stairs hearing these words, just three steps away from the kitchen. I stay still, hoping to hear what Janeen and dad really think. ¡°I¡¯m just saying,¡± dad says, shrugging in his chair at the table. ¡°I think you should trust Fay a little more. She¡¯s a clever girl.¡± He turns and looks directly at me. ¡°Aren¡¯t you, kid?¡± I scowl, embarrassed to be caught eavesdropping. I take the final steps down into the kitchen and give dad a kiss on the cheek, sitting down in the chair next to him. ¡°I¡¯m smart, but I¡¯m not a kid anymore. Time to update the nickname.¡± ¡°Never,¡± he says, smiling at me. ¡°You¡¯re my kiddo forever.¡± Janeen brings me a te of eggs, patting me on the head. Even though we¡¯re not rted by blood, she treats me just as any condescending big sister would. I came to live with David and Janeen when David married my mom. Even after mom died in her car ident only two years after the wedding, David never gave me any reason to think of him as anything besides my dad. I love him just as much as any blood rtion. I have no memories of my biological dad and no idea where he is. Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org. ¡°So, what is it about this guy,¡± Janeen says, settling in her chair across from me. She¡¯s always excited to talk about boys. ¡°There must be something about him, especially because you¡¯ve never called anyone your boyfriend before.¡± I blush. She¡¯s right but¡­well, they don¡¯t know yet that my first rtionship has already ended in disaster. I¡¯ll make something up in a week or two. ¡°Well, he¡¯s really sweet to me,¡± I say, picking up my fork and digging into my eggs. ¡°He¡¯s not like the other boys I met. They¡¯re always so loud and annoying. Daniel is¡­different. A gentleman,¡± I say with a small smile. And as gay as the day is long, I can¡¯t help but adding internally. The smile falls from my face. But really, they don¡¯t need to know that yet. I eat my eggs quickly, eager to get away from the conversation. ¡°He¡¯s¡­gentle?¡± Janeen asks, raising an eyebrow, her voice skeptical. I look up at her, confused, and nod. Sheughs. ¡°Oh, poor Fay!¡± I put my fork down and sit up straight. ¡°What? What¡¯s wrong with that?¡± ¡°What, he only touches you very delicately? Squires you around town?¡± Her voice is sarcastic here, saying it as if these are bad things. ¡°Talks to you about books?¡± ¡°Yes?¡± I say, drawing my brows together, getting a little angry. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with that!?¡± ¡°Fay!¡± she says, leaning forward andughing. ¡°Come on, don¡¯t you want a guy who gets your blood running a little bit? Not someone who gives you a little peck on the cheek, but who throws you down, makes you want to climb all over him like ¨C¡° ¡°Oooookay,¡± dad says slowly, interrupting her and holding out his hands between us. There¡¯s a smile on his face, though, good natured. ¡°That¡¯s a little more than a dad needs to hear.¡± Janeenughs at this, popping another bite of eggs into her mouth. ¡°Okay, touch¨¦, dad, but still. Fay, baby,¡± she looks at me imploringly. ¡°Are you sure this guy isn¡¯t gay?¡± My face floods red at this, a deep blush as I look down at my te. How the hell did she know?! ¡°Oh my god,¡± she says, leaning forward, all eagerness. ¡°Is he!?¡± ¡°No!¡± I protest, stabbing at my eggs with my fork. ¡°He¡¯s ¨C¡° But whatever I was going to say is drowned out by Janeen¡¯s roar ofughter. ¡°Come on, Janeen,¡± dad says, sternly, after a few moments of this. ¡°I¡¯m sure this Daniel is a great guy.¡± He looks at me, then, a little pity in his eyes. ¡°Like she says, he¡¯s just a gentleman.¡± ¡°Okay, okay,¡± Janeen says, wiping away tears of mirth. ¡°I just want more for our Fay baby! You deserve passion in your rtionship, as well as respect and¡­book talk, or whatever you do.¡± She shrugs. ¡°I¡¯m very happy,¡± I murmur, finishing my eggs as quick as I can. ¡°Come down to the club with me,¡± Janeen says, reaching out and taking my hand. I can tell that she¡¯s trying to make amends. ¡°I¡¯m not working tonight, and we can go have some fun! We¡¯ll get free drinks and you can meet the girls!¡± I look up at her, hesitating. I love Janeen, but we live in totally different worlds. While I¡¯ve spent my life at school and coffee shops, Janeen has been a night owl, working at various clubs as a stripper. Not cheap sleezy ces, either, but really high-end ones where they respect her work as a kind of art. She¡¯s very talented, and she makes a ton of money. ¡°Come onnnn¡± she whines. ¡°We¡¯ll get you more in touch with your body, get your blood flowing.¡± She dances in her chair, showing us some of her moves, ending with a sexy flick of her long purple hair. Iugh. Janeen has such an effervescent personality, it¡¯s hard not to want to go wherever she¡¯s going. ¡°I¡¯ll think about it,¡± I say, finishing my te. ¡°I¡¯ve got some work to do ¨C¡° ¡°Work work,¡± she says, rolling her eyes and scooping up her te and mine. ¡°You work way too much. Have some fun, baby!¡± I roll my eyes at her and pat dad on the shoulder as I head into the living room. He picks up his paper, eyes already on the sports section. When Janeen first got started in her profession, I wondered if it bothered dad. But he just said that there¡¯s no stopping Janeen from doing precisely what she wants, so why not go along with it? ¡°Besides,¡± he had said. ¡°As long as she respects herself, why should I care if she dances in a thong or a tutu? Let her be happy.¡± I smile at the memory, grateful, again, for such a good dad. In the living room, I open myptop and open a search engine. My mind drifts to Janeen¡¯s idea that I should get more in touch with my body and my instincts. My cheeks grow red and I find myself ¨C bizarrely ¨C typing Kent Lippert into the search bar. I¡¯m surprised by the results. The news channel that dad watches every night calls Lippert the Mafia King, always detailing his dirty deeds, but the sites I¡¯m looking show him standing in front of a tech Another site lists positive reviews of his many businesses, with employees suggesting that he¡¯s a great boss. Still another¡­god, is that Brad Pitt he¡¯s shaking hands with in that photo? I gather my hair in my hands, passively starting to braid it as I look through these results, trying to match it with that ruthless man I met in the prison the other day ¨C ¡°Whatcha looking at?¡± Janeen says, flopping onto the couch and grabbing theptop out of my hands. ¡°Hey!¡± I say, snatching at it. ¡°Janeen, give it back!¡± ¡°Oooohhhh,¡± she says, scrolling through the photos of Kent on the page. ¡°Now this is a hottie who could light a little fire under me, for sure,¡± she says, nodding appreciatively. ¡°Who is this guy?¡± ¡°Kent Lippert,¡± I say, hugging my knees to my chest. ¡°I had to interview him at the prison the other day. He was¡­unnerving.¡± Janeen flicks her eyes to me, considering. ¡°Did he scare you?¡± I shrug. ¡°A little.¡± She narrows her eyes a bit, snapping theptop shut. ¡°Okay, that¡¯s it. You¡¯reing out with me tonight, baby Fay,¡± she says,ing across the couch to give me a big hug. ¡°You¡¯ve had a hard week with your gay boyfriend and scary Mafia King. You¡¯ve got to have some fun!¡± Iugh, letting her wrap me up. ¡°Okay, okay! Geeze, I¡¯lle.¡± Little did I know how much these separate aspects of my life would collide in just a few hours. Chapter 0005 Chapter 0005 The music pounds in the club and, I have to admit, I¡¯m really starting to have fun. N?velDrama.Org holds ? this. Janeen even dressed me tonight, which would usually make me ufortable, but I let her take charge. What she called a ¡°dress¡± is more a sheet of silver fabric that falls across my front and then wraps low around my hips. It¡¯s strapped together across my shoulders with a spiderweb of silver strings. She also curled my long red hair into waves and gave me shadowy makeup and full red lips. Looking at myself in the club¡¯s mirrored walls, I feel¡­well, I blush to admit it, but I feel really sexy. Janeen sits down next to me then,ughing, waving goodbye to the man she had been talking with. She turns her attention to me, her eyes a little zed. ¡°You having fun, baby Fay?¡± she asks, giving me a wide, inviting smile. I can¡¯t help but smile back. ¡°Yes,¡± I say,ughing. But then Janeen stiffens next to me. There¡¯s a man standing across the VIP area, his arms crossed, staring at her. As I look, he starts to walk over. Janeen gets quickly to her feet, reaching out her arms to wrap this big fat potato of a man in a hug. I grimace a little ¨C he looks like he hasn¡¯t showered in a while. ¡°Dean!¡± she says, and I can tell her voice is falsely cheerful. ¡°How you been, gorgeous?¡± ¡°Janeen,¡± he says, pushing her way from him. ¡°We¡¯ve got to talk.¡± ¡°Have you met my little sister, Fay?¡± she asks, gesturing towards me with a big smile. ¡°Fay, this is Mike Dean, an old friend. He¡¯s the manager of the club.¡± Dean¡¯s eyes rove over me, taking in the generous portion of my thigh exposed by this little dress. Ufortable, I try to tug it down lower with my fist. ¡°Um, hello,¡± I say, hesitant. He takes Janeen by her elbow. ¡°Come on,¡± he says. ¡°We¡¯re going to talk around back.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Janeen murmurs, suddenly serious. She leans down to whisper to me. ¡°It¡¯s just work stuff, don¡¯t worry.¡± I give her a little smile and nod. With that, Janeen follows Dean into the back. They¡¯re gone for a long time. Anxiously, I run my hand over the underwire of my bra, feeling the tiny switch de that I¡¯ve hidden there. The only possession my mother left to me in her will. I tucked it into my bra tonight, just in case. I don¡¯t really know how to use it, but it calms me to know that it¡¯s there. Half an hour more and the door opens. Deane out of it but my stomach drops. Where¡¯s my sister? Dean¡¯s eyes catch on me as he starts to move further out into the club. I see him mouth the word ¡°shit,¡± and then he walks over to me. ¡°Janeen¡¯s sister, right?¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°She got sick,¡± he says. ¡°She¡¯s just throwing up, but she¡¯s a little green around the gills right now,¡± he says, gesturing towards his own neck. I stand and turn towards the staff door, intending to go find my sister, but he stops me. ¡°No, listen,¡± he says, ¡°she won¡¯t want you to see her like this. Come with me, I¡¯ll take you some ce where you can wait morefortably.¡± He pulls me forward. I totter after him, confused and worried, as he pulls me quickly across the club to a ck door, pushing it open. The inside is barely lit ¨C a dark room with mirrors on the ceiling and tiny pinpricks of lighting up from the floor. A wide velvet bench wraps itself around the room with little ck cocktail tables lined up in front of it. I blink, trying to let my eyes adjust, as Dean settles me into a little table by the door. ¡°Wait here for a bit,¡± Dean says, looking beyond me. ¡°I¡¯ll have someone bring you a drink. Your sister will be fine soon.¡± Then, he walks away. Someone does bring me a drink and I take a sip of it, but then, realizing that it might beced with something, I push it away from me. As my eyes adjust, I look around the room and realize that I¡¯m not alone in here. Bodies, mostly in couples, writhe together on the ck velvet seating. Some of them are dancing, but some¡­well, that girl is on her knees. My eyes go wide as I realize what she is doing. I jump to my feet, blushing and heading for the door. As soon as I reach it, though, Deanes through it again. ¡°Whoa whoa whoa!¡± he says, putting up hands to stop me. I shrink in front of him. ¡°Where you going, baby?¡± he says, rubbing a hand up and down my arm. Instinctually, I jerk my arm away from him. Dean keeps moving towards me, but for every step he takes, I take one backwards. Soon, I feel myself bump into a table behind me. He presses up against me. There¡¯s nowhere else to go. ¡°You¡¯d better be a good girl for me,¡± Dean whispers, his hot breath on my face. ¡°Or else your sister¡¯s gonna pay. She owes me a lot of money. Tonight, you¡¯re going to work some of it off.¡± I¡¯m scared to death, a little whimper escaping my mouth. ¡°Do you mind?¡± The voice drawls from behind Dean. ¡°That¡¯s my psychotherapist you¡¯re harassing there.¡± I feel Dean¡¯s weight lift off me as he turns towards the voice. I peer behind him, recognizing it, shocked. It can¡¯t be ¨C But there, behind him, stands the Mafia King, his hands cooly pressed in his pockets. ¡°We weren¡¯t quiet finished with our sessions,¡± Lippert says. ¡°So would you mind getting the fuck off her?¡± ¡°Okay, boss,¡± Dean says, putting up his hands. ¡°I didn¡¯t know.¡± Lippert flicks his chin at him, telling him to get lost. Dean gives me a dirty look as he goes. Lippert moves forward a step and takes my chin between his finger and thumb, turning my face back to him. ¡°Hello, Fay Thompson,¡± he says, smirking. ¡°Did you miss me?¡± I stare at him, all thoughts freezing in my mind. Part of me ¨C the sane part ¨C knows I should scream and run. But I¡¯m fixed in ce, a mouse caught by a cobra. ¡°Well, doc,¡± he purrs. ¡°We¡¯re going to have to put on a little show, for Dean there. If I let you go now, he¡¯ll probably cut your throat for the embarrassment you caused him.¡± I nce over at the bar and see Dean drinking deeply of some brown liquor, staring at us. My breath ratchets up as I start to panic, as Lippert takes another step closer to me. I¡¯m trapped now ¨C trapped between this king in front of me and the savage by the bar. I want to bolt but I know I can¡¯t. ¡°Just a little show, Fay,¡± he says. ¡°Shall we make it more convincing?¡± He slides a hand underneath the gossamer strap that holds my dress up at the shoulder. Slowly, he wraps it around his finger, drawing the fabric taught against my skin. Then he yanks, snapping it. The left corner of my dress front sags down, revealing my silver strapless bra underneath. ¡°You know, doc. ¡± he breathes, staring down at my chest. ¡°I wanted to do this the first day we met.¡± As I listen to him I know that it¡¯s not just fear that¡¯s racing through my veins anymore. Something in his face, the desire I see there, makes me want more of it. Makes me want him to want me more. God ¨C what is wrong with me? At the sight of this dangerous man ¨C this criminal ¨C looking at me with hunger in his eyes - I feel a heat between my legs, feel myself grow wet. I stand still, letting him stare at me, wanting him to ¨C My eyes fly wide as I realize the direction of my thoughts. Want him to what, to rape me, here in the strip club? Is this seriously how I want to lose my virginity?! I gasp at the thought of it, again full of fear and panic. My hand flies to my chest, tucking under my bra, grabbing my mother¡¯s switch de. I yank it down to my side, my hand trembling as I flick it open. Then, steeling myself, I scream as loud as I can and whip my hand up, aiming the de directly for the side of Lippert¡¯s neck. Chapter 0006 Chapter 0006 Kent sees the de just in time, whipping up his hand to intercept it. The de slips between his fingers and then drags down his palm, cutting his skin, but just the surface. Growling, Kent grabs Fay¡¯s fist and twists, trapping the knife between their palms, wrenching her wrist back so that she feels the bones grind together. Fay cries out, her body bending to follow her wrist, desperate to keep it from snapping. Kay holds her at his mercy as she gasps for pain and looks up at him with wide eyes. His anger turns to mercy in that moment and he huffs augh at the girl. She¡¯s just a frightened little thing. ¡°Clever girl, carrying a knife¡± Kent says. ¡°To bad you don¡¯t know how to use it. But we¡¯re not going to do that again, are we, Fay?¡± Fay nods, desperate, and Kent lets her go. Fay falls back against the table, gripping her wrist with her other hand, hissing with relief. She looks around on the floor for her knife, but it¡¯s still in Kent¡¯s hand. Quietly, he slips it into his pocket. Kent takes a moment to study this delicate, beautiful girl. His second inmand had wanted toe to this club tonight to check on some business, but Kent¡¯s eyes had gone immediately to Fay as Dean dragged her across the floor to the ck door of the Champagne Room. Kent had known, instantly, that this meant trouble. He had moved on instinct, following her into this room, saving her from that low life. But now he was in a bind. Dean was a punk, but he wasn¡¯t unconnected. He ran the best strip club in the city and he used his gang connections to exploit his dancers and take their cash. Kent couldn¡¯t take one of his girls away without making waves with Dean¡¯s boss. If the other bosses knew how quickly Kent had acted to save her, they would see Fay as a weakness, something they could threaten to get what they wanted. Kent ground his teeth, knowing that there was only one option now. If he didn¡¯t protect her now, she¡¯d be dragged right to the bottom of the underworld, fast. Kent snaps his head to his second and nods to the girl in front of him. Then, he turns on his heel and walks out of the room. Behind him, Kent can hear Fay¡¯s protest as his second heaves her over his shoulder in a fireman carry and then quickly follows Kent. ¡°What? Hey!¡± she exims, and then ¡°Please!¡± Kent turns to re at his second, who gives Fay a rough shake. She shuts her mouth, then, though Kent hears a whimper escape her lips. He steels himself against the sound. It¡¯s a work of minutes to get out of the club. Nobody says a word to stop the Mafia King from carrying a girl out the front door. Kent¡¯s ck Escde is waiting out front, his second¡¯s behind it. For safety, Kent never has less than two cars in his entourage. Fay¡¯s little cry of fear is cut off as the second ces her, not very gently, on in the front seat of the first car and then ms the door. Kent goes around to the driver¡¯s side of the Escde as the second moves to the other car. Kent¡¯s mind is whirring as he opens the driver¡¯s door and climbs in, making ns for what to do with this unexpected new burden. He peels out onto the road, not looking at her. A few streetster, he¡¯s surprised by the sound of her voice. ¡°Where¡­¡± she says, her voice breathy. N?velDrama.Org holds ? this. Kent¡¯s gaze snaps to her, taking in her wide, beautiful eyes, the movement of her throat as she gulps in fear. He sees her jump, almost, at the force of his re. But then she steels herself. ¡°Where are you taking me?¡± she demands. Kent returns his eyes to the road. ¡°Please let me go,¡± she says. ¡°They¡¯ve got my sister back there ¨C I don¡¯t know what they¡¯ll do to her!¡± Kent makes a note of it in his mind. She tries again. ¡°Please let me go,¡± she whispers, ¡°I didn¡¯t mean any harm at the prison ¨C or here ¨C I don¡¯t know what I did ¨C¡° ¡°You didn¡¯t do anything,¡± he says, turning onto a side street. Her voice is frantic when she tries again. ¡°Are you¡­are you taking me to a brothel?¡± Kent turns to stare at her, his brow furrowed with disgust and confusion. She¡¯s shaking like a leaf in his front seat. ¡°Why would I take you to a brothel, Fay?¡± ¡°To make me¡­work there. Pay off my debt. My sister¡¯s debt.¡± Kent shakes his head again,ughing a dark littleugh. He just saved this girl from Dean, and here she is using him of doing precisely what Dean was going to do. Shaking his head, Kent concentrates on the traffic. Truly, this girl was too delicate for his world. Kent sees Fay moving in the seat next to him, dipping to the floor to grab something, but assumes she dropped a piece of her jewelry. It¡¯s quiet for a moment until ¨C click click ¨C he hears the whirring of a mechanism next to him. What was that ¨C a lighter? Frowning, he turns and is shocked to see Fay with a lit lighter, bringing it so close to her perfect face that he can smell the delicate peach fuzz of her cheek burning ¨C ¡°Stop the car,¡± she demands, her voice shaking, flinching at the pain of the lighter against her skin - ¡°Fay!¡± He roars. ¡°Stop the car!¡± she yells. ¡°Or I swear to god, I¡¯ll burn myself!¡± ¡°Fay, you idiot¡± Kent barks, mming on the breaks. The car skids to a violent stop and Fay flies forward, mming her ribs into the dashboard, slipping down to the floor. Kent works to control the car¡¯s skid, ensuring they don¡¯t hit any other cars, that they¡¯re not rammed from behind, and then throws the car in park, spinning towards the girl. She¡¯s moaning in pain, her eyes shut, pressing one hand to her ribs. Kent grinds his teeth, frustrated, ncing over her to determine if anything is truly damaged ¨C No, she¡¯s okay, any injuries superficial - ¡°Fay, what the hell was that,¡± he grinds out as he reaches into the back of the car for a metal box he keeps there for moments like this, with uncooperative captives. She speaks with her eyes closed, still pressing her hand to her ribs. ¡°If you¡¯re going to make me a prostitute,¡± she whimpers, ¡°then I don¡¯t want to have this face ¨C maybe you¡¯ll let me work off my debt some other way if I¡¯m disfigured ¨C¡° Rolling his eyes, Kent works quickly, pulling a rag out of the box and soaking it in the clear liquid. Then he reaches a hand behind Fay¡¯s neck to hold her head steady. Her eyes fly open as he presses the rag firmly against her nose and mouth. She struggles away from it, but he holds her steady with a practiced hand. When she goes limp, Kent gently lets her body settle against the seat. Kent turns back to the road and puts the car back in drive, his cut palm smarting at his angry grip on the wheel. God damnit, this girl was already more trouble than she was worth. As he drives, Kent feels something in his pocket. Remembering the tiny switchde, he pulls it out, studying it between nces at the road. So tiny, delicate ¨C so very much like Fay. She¡¯s got an edge to her, too, he thinks, even if she doesn¡¯t know it herself. He never would have thought that a girl like Fay would have a switchde hidden in her bra. A mistake that almost cost him a scar on his face, he thinks, a smirk pulling at his lips. He nces at Fay, again, resting on the floor of his car. What a strange little woman ¨C full of contradictions, full of life. Despite himself, he is drawn to her. Frowning at the thought, Kent flicks open the switchde, studying it. At a red light, he looks closer, noticing writing along the razor¡¯s edge. He brings it close to his eye. To my sharp-tongued Victoria, whose words cut as deep as this razor. Love always, Lorenzo. Shocked, Kent stares at the de in his hand, and then deftly returns it to his pocket. He drags a hand down his face. Victoria. Lorenzo. Fay. Suddenly, he knows exactly who this girl is. Chapter 0007 Chapter 0007 I¡¯m in a daze, half in consciousness, half out of it ¨C I hear a moan ¨C did thate? I open my eyes, frowning. Where¡¯s the car? I close my eyes against the warm yellow light of the room. I want to wake up, but I feel sleep pressing me back down ¨C A prick at my finger ¨C I jump at it, pushing away the hands that hold my arm ¨C ¡°It¡¯s all right,¡± a woman¡¯s soft voice says. ¡°All done now¡­¡± Then, a man¡¯s voice ¨C I swim out of the darkness, propelled by fear. I know that voice. ¡°¡­to theb, I want fast processing. I want itpared to the bloodline¡­¡± I shake my head, groaning. I blink, looking around the finely-furnished room. I don¡¯t know this ce. I push myself up until I¡¯m seated with my feel curled beneath me on a chaise lounge. I notice that I¡¯m still wearing my club outfit, but someone has buttoned a man¡¯s white shirt over top of it. As I put my weight on my hands, I feel pain in my finger. I look down to see a Band-Aid on it. What ¨C Suddenly, a hazy memoryes back to me ¨C a woman taking my blood, Lippert telling them to take it to someb ¨C Panic seizes me - I must be somewhere on Lippert¡¯s property. I grip the fabric of the couch, looking around for some kind of escape. There are windows, but they look out on tree tops ¨C we¡¯re certainly on the second floor or above ¨C Horrible images flood my mind ¨C what the hell does Lippert want with my blood? Is he selling it? Does he want the sample so that he can let his cronies on the ck market know my blood type so they can better bid on my organs!? My hands anxiously fly to my hair, tangling in it. I stare at the door. Maybe if I just run ¨C The door swings open and I hold my breath. Kent Lippert stands in the doorway, studying me as I stare at him. I know what he sees ¨C a feral, frightened creature, ready to spring. But he doesn¡¯tugh at me, or scare me any further. After a long moment, he just closes the door behind him and walks forward. My breathes faster as he approaches, as he reaches in his pocket, brings forward ¨C oh my god ¨C a knife ¨C I flinch back away from it and he sighs, continuing to hold out his hand. ¡°It¡¯s your knife, Fay. I¡¯m just returning your property.¡± I go still, ncing between his face and the knife in his hand. My mother¡¯s knife. I leap forward to snatch it out of his palm, but he yanks it away, putting out his other hand to halt my movement. His handnds squarely on my chest and he gives a tiny shove, pushing me back onto the lounge. ¡°Easy, Fay,¡± he says, his voice all authority. ¡°I¡¯ll give it back. I just want you to answer some questions first.¡± I stare up at him, totally freaked out. ¡°And if you don¡¯t answer my questions, Fay Thompson,¡± he says, leaning forward to loom over me, his voice merely a whisper. ¡°I¡¯ll flush this knife down the drain, and you¡¯ll never see it again.¡± I clench my jaw and nod, my eyes on my mother¡¯s knife, desperate to get it back. ¡°Where did you get that knife, Fay Thompson?¡± he asks, straightening up and putting the hand with the knife in his pocket. ¡°My mother,¡± I say softly, twirling a stray strand of my hair around my index finger. Why does he keep saying myst name like that? ¡°She gave it to me.¡± He nods slowly, thinking. ¡°When did she give it to you?¡± ¡°In her will,¡± I say. ¡°My dad told me to carry it always, to remember her, and for protection.¡± Lippert cocks his head to the side, curious. ¡°And who, precisely, is your father?¡± I snap my eyes up at him, frowning. Why does he care who my father is, but not my mother? ¡°None of your business,¡± I snip. ¡°He¡¯s a good person ¨C you can¡¯t hurt him ¨C¡° ¡°Fay,¡± he says, smiling down at me, a little cruel. ¡°In this town, I can hurt whoever I want. You think you are trying to dy me by holding back his name, but with every minute you hesitate, that¡¯s one more minute of pain. For you. Or him. Or your sister.¡± My eyes widen in horror at the threat. He smirks at me, a smug cat that has trapped its supper. ¡°Their names, Fay.¡± ¡°David and Janeen Thompson,¡± I murmur, not knowing what else to do. ¡°Please,¡± I say, begging now. ¡°Please don¡¯t hurt them. They¡¯re good people ¨C they¡¯re not involved in¡­¡° In whatever this is. But what is this, anyway? Why am I here? He nods again and takes his hand out of his pocket, offering the de to me. I snatch it out of his palm. Then, he turns to leave the room. Desperate, I y my trump card. ¡°Please!¡± I shout after him. ¡°Please don¡¯t hurt them! Daniel wouldn¡¯t want you to!¡± He pauses at the door, still for a moment. Then, slowly, he turns. ¡°Daniel?¡± he asks, his eyes close upon me. I nod vigorously. ¡°Daniel, your son? He¡¯s¡­¡± I bite my lip, suddenly embarrassed. ¡°He¡¯s my boyfriend.¡± Kentughs then ¨C a real, shockedugh. He wipes a hand down his face, shaking his head. ¡°My son Daniel is your boyfriend,¡± he says, repeating my words and looking up at the ceiling in disbelief. I nod again, biting my lip against the tiny white lie ¨C he¡¯s not my boyfriend anymore, after all. But I¡¯m desperate for this to work. ¡°Well isn¡¯t that¡­serendipitous,¡± he says. Kent is still for a moment and then strides across the room, back towards me. When he gets to the lounge he grabs me by the elbow, pulling me to my feet, shaking me so that I pay attention to his words. ¡°Fay, you little fool, don¡¯t you know who you are?¡± His voice is angry, as if frustrated by my ipetence. ¡°I¡¯m ¨C I¡¯m ¨C¡° my face is lost in confusion ¨C I just told him who I am ¨C ¡°Who you are, Fay. Haven¡¯t you ever asked any questions about your mother? Your biological father?¡± He shakes my arm again as if trying to jog my memory. My mouth falls open in shock, confusion. How did he know David¡¯s not my biological dad? Kent is standing close to me now, ring down into my face. I feel my lower lip tremble traitorously and I pull it into my mouth, desperate not to show weakness. Kent¡¯s eyes flick to my mouth as I do so, watching the action. Slowly, he exhales and, for an instant, pulls me closer. But then he lets me go. ¡°Fay, your dad has been keeping secrets from you. The woman who owned that knife was Victoria O¡¯Leary, the mistress of Lorenzo Alden.¡± He looks me up and down, letting go of my elbow and crossing his arms. ¡°We did a DNA test,¡± he continues, ¡°against a secure sample about an hour ago. Your name isn¡¯t Thompson, it¡¯s Alden. Fay Alden. And your father has been looking for you for a long time.¡± I feel myself sink onto the couch, my breath leaving me. I stare into the distance, dazed. Never ¨C I had never really thought about the identity of my biological dad, never felt any need or desire to. There was one picture of me as a baby with my mother, standing next to a strange man, but I was never really curious - But could it be ¨C My memories of my mother are of a bright,ughing woman, hair as red as mine ¨C how could she ¨C My mother? A mafia mistress? Me, the daughter of a don? Suddenly there¡¯s a piece of paper from my face. I take it from Kent¡¯s hand with shaking hands and see the confirmation there. Blood sample from patient A is a biological match for paternity with patient B, identified as Lorenzo Alden. ¡°This is¡­this is my blood?¡± I breathe, looking up at Kent. He nods down at me, serious. ¡°You¡¯re lucky I found you, Fay,¡± he says, again crossing his arms. Ie back to myself a little at his words and re at him. Lucky enough to be harassed in a strip club, thrown over someone¡¯s shoulder, and kidnapped? He sees some of the irony in my expression and the corner of his mouth lifts, barely a smile. ¡°This is valuable information, Fay,¡± Kent continues. ¡°If Dean had been the one to find out, he¡¯d be sending pieces of your DNA ¨C maybe a finger ¨C to Alden as ransom. But Alden is my ally ¨C I¡¯ll have you reunited with your father soon. In one piece.¡± I crumple the paper in my hands, tossing it to the ground. ¡°DNA doesn¡¯t make a father ¨C I don¡¯t want to be ¡®reunited¡¯ with a stranger ¨C¡° I stand up, trying to get out, but Kent blocks my way. ¡°You¡¯re in my world now, Fay,¡± he says. ¡°And in this world, your DNA means more than anything, family means more than anything. And for me? It¡¯s personal.¡± I look up at him, distracted from my mission to get to the door. ¡°How the hell could this be personal for you? My DNA doesn¡¯t match yours, thank goodness.¡± I try to push past him but he puts out an arm to stop me, pulling me against his chest so I can¡¯t go any further. Then he wraps his fingers in my hair, tilting my head back, obliging me to look up at him. This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. ¡°Because, the day she was born, Alden¡¯s daughter was promised to my first-born son. Looks like it was no mistake that fate brought you to Daniel,¡± he says, his eyes roving over my shocked face. ¡°In a few months¡¯ time, you¡¯ll be married to him.¡± Chapter 0008 Chapter 0008 ¡°That¡¯s impossible!¡± I gasp, staring up at him. ¡°You can¡¯t force me to marry someone against my will!¡± Heughs at me, holding me too him, still looking down into my face. ¡°It¡¯s possible if I say it is.¡± I press my hands against his chest, trying to push away. ¡°It¡¯s 2023! Nobody has arranged marriages anymore ¨C this isn¡¯t the eighteenth century!¡± Heughs again and lets me go. I skitter away from him. ¡°You¡¯re in my world now, Fay,¡± he says, calmly putting his hands in his pockets. ¡°The world you were born to. Do you thinkws really matter in the underworld, the world outside of the stupid bureaucracy you¡¯ve deluded yourself into thinking keeps you safe?¡± My jaw drops open at this arrogance. ¡°I have rights!¡± ¡°You have nothing,¡± he barks, taking a step forward towards me. ¡°The only thing that matters is power. Which is money. Which is might. You have none of this. The only thing which gives you anything in this world, Fay, is your bloodline.¡± His eyes flick now to the piece of paper whichys crumpled on the floor. ¡°Which you are so eager to dismiss.¡± ¡°But,¡± I say, falling a few steps back, trying toprehend this. ¡°There arews¡­¡± I say, a little pathetically. ¡°There werews that put me in prison,¡± he purrs,ing even closer. ¡°And your own rmendation that I stay imprisoned forever. But here I am,¡± he spreads his hands out, demonstrative. N?velDrama.Org holds ? this. ¡°Me, and men like me, Fay? Like your father? We control all of it. So, if I were you,¡± he looms over me again. ¡°I¡¯d be a little more grateful that I got you out of the club and restored you to the life of privilege to which you were born.¡± I look up at him, truly terrified now, realizing that my life as I knew it ispletely gone. With one test, he¡¯s wiped it away. I¡¯m trapped now, in this world ¨C as the daughter of a don, engaged ¨C oh my god, engaged ¨C to the son of another. There¡¯s no way I¡¯m getting out. As tears start to drip from my eyes, he shocks me by pulling a handkerchief from his breast pocket and offering it to me. Slowly, hesitant, I take it. ¡°There¡¯s much you don¡¯t know, Fay,¡± he says. ¡°But you¡¯ll have to learn fast. I¡¯ve notified your father ¨C he¡¯s away on business, but he¡¯ll be back in two days, and he¡¯ll want to meet you.¡± I gasp, horrified ¨C Alden has almost as bad a reputation as Kent Lippert. God, what a contrast to my gentle dad, sitting at home. My mind suddenly shifts to dad, who must be worried about me. I start to cry harder, putting my face in my hands. ¡°Please,¡± I say, my voice hupping with tears, with shock, with fear, ¡°please let me go home ¨C I¡¯m begging you ¨C I just want to pretend it never happened ¨C I¡¯ll never tell anyone ¨C¡± ¡°No, Fay,¡± he says, stern. He nces at the door, and I can tell he¡¯s getting tired of my wild emotions. ¡°There¡¯s no going home, ever again.¡± I stare up at him, the tears still slipping down my cheeks, and feel my emotions change from desperation and agony to anger. ¡°You¡¯re a monster,¡± I cry between my tears. ¡°You¡¯re ruining three lives tonight, just so you can get your way. A monster.¡± Kent shocks me, then, by leaning forward and taking my chin in his hand. He smiles, bringing his face close to mine, and says, ¡°Did you really think that was going to work on me, Fay? Calling me names?¡± He shocks me, then, by lifting his other hand to my face and wiping away a tear from my cheek with his thumb. Then, slowly, he raises his thumb to his mouth and slips it inside, savoring the taste of my tears. ¡°I told you before, I like my kittens with ws.¡± Outraged, I try to push past him for the door but heughs, faster than me, and puts out a hand that catches me in the chest. Another light shove ¨C as he did before ¨C and I¡¯m knocked back onto the lounge. ¡°I¡¯m notpletely the monster you think I am, Fay,¡± he says, walking casually for the door. ¡°After all, I¡¯m going to let you say goodbye.¡± He opens the door wide and waves a hand through it. ¡°A car is waiting to take you to your father¡¯s house, where you will pack a bag. You will say your goodbyes and then return here, where I will keep you safe until your true fatheres to im you.¡± Chapter 0009 Chapter 0009 I stare into his face, pleading in my eyes. ¡°Please. Please just let me go home, let me stay there. I¡¯ll never bother you again.¡± He shakes his hand slowly, beginning to close the door, as if the offer is ending soon. ¡°You can go home and say goodbye, Fay. Or you can just stay here and let him wonder where you went.¡± Made desperate by the sight of the closing door, I get to my shaky feet and rush towards it, heading out. As I pass over the threshold, Kent murmurs ¡°good girl.¡± I re back at him over my shoulder as a bodyguard takes me by the arm and leads me down the stairs. Thirty minutester, just as the sun is starting toe up, we pull up outside my small house. I had given the driver the address when we got in. The three bodyguards who apany me ride in silence until we arrive. Lippert didn¡¯te with us. I jump from the car and brush past the body guards, throwing myself through the front door, which is never locked. This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. ¡°Fay?¡± I hear my dad¡¯s anxious voice call from the kitchen. ¡°Janeen?¡± I dash into the kitchen and throw myself into his arms, crying, as the three bodyguards follow me. ¡°Oh my god, Fay,¡± he says, wrapping me up in his arms. ¡°I was so worried ¨C¡° he nces the men over my shoulder. ¡°What¡­what¡¯s happening?¡± ¡°Dad,¡± I say, looking up at him, desperate. ¡°Please tell me this is all a mistake ¨C that he¡¯s not my real father -¡± ¡°What?¡± he says, shooting anxious nces between me and the guards, who stand calmly in the room. They let us have our moment, but their threat is evident. Time is short. ¡°Do you know who my biological dad is?¡± I say, wiping my tears from my face with the heels of my palms. ¡°No¡­¡± he says, hesitating, and I can sense the lie in his words. ¡°Dad,¡± I plead, wrapping my hands in thepels of his pajamas. ¡°Please, dad, tell me what you know.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter who your biological dad is, Fay,¡± he says, looking down at me seriously. ¡°It never has. I¡¯m your father.¡± ¡°Who is he, Dad?¡± I press. He narrows my eyes at me. ¡°What do you know, Fay,¡± he says, his voice low. ¡°This is dangerous territory ¨C who are these men ¨C¡° ¡°Then you know,¡± I say, shocked, my words hardly breath. ¡°You know the truth ¨C it¡¯s real ¨C¡° My dad pulls me to him, seeking to put me behind him, but the guards step forward. ¡°We¡¯ll go,¡± dad says to the guards, putting out a hand. ¡°We¡¯ll disappear, you¡¯ll never see us again, never have any trouble ¨C¡° ¡°No, sir,¡± one of the guards says. ¡°I¡¯m afraid that¡¯s not possible.¡± With a distinct look at the other men, all three spring into action. Onees forward, wrapping his arms around me, locking me within his grasp. I scream and thrash, desperate. The other two grab my dad ¨C wrap his arms around his back ¨C tie them ¨C a gag in his mouth ¨C a bag ¨C oh my god a ck bag over his head ¨C it all happens in seconds. ¡°Let¡¯s move,¡± my guard says, pping a hand over my mouth, and the two men lift up my dad and carry him out the front door. Deftly, without being seen, they tuck him inside the trunk as I¡¯m ced into the back seat of the car. My mind struggles toprehend this as I scream and il against the guards that climb into the car on either side of me. One wraps his arms around me, holding me still. ¡°Miss, if you continue this,¡± he says, ¡°we¡¯ll have to use the chloroform again. We¡¯d rather not do that.¡± Within his voice is the unsaid threat, but we will. I still, then, realizing that this ¨C too ¨C is out of my control. Suddenly exhausted, I again burst again into tears, burying my face in my hands. ¡°Back to the house,¡± the second guard says to the driver. Without a word, he pulls away from the curb. Chapter 0010 Chapter 0010 The car pulls around to the back of Kent¡¯s mansion and enters a garage. When I get out of the car, Kent is standing at the entrance to the house, his arms crossed. The guards move to the trunk to remove my dad. ¡°Why did you do this,¡± I ask, ring at the mafia boss. He looks me in the eye. ¡°Because I knew that if I let you say goodbye, you¡¯d tell the driver your address and lead us right there.¡¯¡± I gape, realizing, of course, that I did precisely that. ¡°Whereas,¡± he continues, ¡°if I told you that we wanted to take your dad for leverage, you¡¯d have mmed up and given him a chance to run. Honestly, Fay,¡± he says. ¡°You¡¯ve got to be a little more canny if you¡¯re going to survive in this world.¡± I hang my head, suddenly ashamed and exhausted. He¡¯s right, I¡¯m too na?ve. The guard takes my arm and moves me into the house. ¡°Take him to the chamber,¡± Kent says to the guards who carry my dad. Dad wriggles in their arms, but it¡¯s half-hearted. I twist as the guards take him away, but I¡¯m held tight. ¡°The chamber?!¡± I call. ¡°What is -¡° ¡°He will be fine, Fay,¡± Kent says to me, holding my gaze. ¡°You have my word on it. And I don¡¯t give my word lightly.¡± I bite my lip. ¡°Please,¡± I say, begging now. ¡°Tell me what¡¯s happening.¡± ¡°I am merely gathering all the yers in one ce, Fay,¡± Kent says. ¡°We have word that Dean still has This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. control of your sister.¡± I gasp, tears springing to my eyes. ¡°Is she okay? Is she ¨C¡° ¡°She¡¯s fine,¡± he says, his face stone. ¡°Please,¡± I breathe, ¡°can you get her away from him? She owes him money ¨Che¡¯ll make her pay for it ¨C¡° ¡°Why should I, Fay?¡± He snaps, interrupting me. ¡°What can Fay Thompson give to me,¡± he says, ¡°to make it worth my time?¡± ¡°Nothing,¡± I whisper. ¡°I have nothing. But¡­¡± My whole body starts to tremble. ¡°I¡¯ll do anything you want.¡± ¡°Fay Thompson has nothing I want,¡± he says, careful. ¡°Fay Alden, though¡­¡± His words drift off and his n snaps together in my mind. My dad¡¯s freedom, my sister¡¯s, in exchange¡­ I stand up straight. ¡°Do I have your word, on your son¡¯s life, that if I agree to this¡­you¡¯ll let them go? Make sure they¡¯re safe?¡± He nods slowly, smiling now. ¡°My word, on my family. Your dad and sister will have my explicit protection.¡± I close my eyes and look away, dread filling me as I make this devil¡¯s deal. ¡°Fine.¡± I say. ¡°I¡¯ll do it.¡± Lippert snaps his fingers in front of my face, making my eyes fly open. ¡°Fay,¡± he says, ¡°your father and sister? They have to believe it. Do you understand?¡± I hold his gaze and slowly nod, agreeing. ¡°Take her upstairs,¡± Lippert says. ¡°To the guestroom. Get some rest, Fay. I will have your sister brought here and tonight we will all have a chat.¡± The guard takes me upstairs and leads me to a beautifully appointed bedroom. I hear the lock click behind me and sink onto the bed. I know I should be trying toe up with a n¡­ But Lippert is right. I¡¯m an amateur. He¡¯s three steps ahead of me at every turn. And I¡¯m so, so tired¡­ Quicker than I would have thought possible, I fall back into a troubled sleep. A few hourster, I¡¯m awoken by the sound of the key in the lock. I blink away my sleep and see a woman peeking in my door. ¡°Hello?¡± she says. ¡°May Ie in?¡± I huff a littleugh. ¡°Do I have a choice?¡± ¡°No, dearie,¡± the older woman says, not unkindly, closing the door behind her. ¡°A shower for you, quickly,¡± she says, gesturing towards the bathroom. I obediently oblige, not seeing the point in arguing. When Ie back, she seats me at a little vanity and quietly does my makeup, pins my hair up in borate curls, and dresses me in a far-too-gorgeous red gown that falls to my ankles. I study myself in the mirror. The dress is not girly, but neither is it scandalous or provocative. Instead, when I study myself in the mirror I look¡­ Well. I look every inch the mafia princess. Rich, poised, a little dangerous. Chapter 0011 Chapter 0011 Soon, there¡¯s a knock at the door. ¡°Off you go, my dear,¡± the woman says, giving me a little push in the right direction. I nod my thanks to her ¨C I didn¡¯t even get her name - as a guardes to take me downstairs. When we reaching thending a floor below, he quietly opens the double doors of a sitting room. I am thest to arrive. ¡°Fay,¡± Janeen gasps, and my head snaps directly to her. She¡¯s seated on a plush couch, her clothing torn and her face smeared with makeup. I take a few steps towards her but Kent, standing by the firece, clears his throat. I hold myself back, knowing I have a part to y. I look between Janeen and my dad, seated next to her. ¡°Fay,¡± my dad gasps, taking in my gorgeous dress, my polished countenance. ¡°Are you¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± I say, setting my shoulders back. ¡°Please,¡± my father says, turning his attention to Kent. ¡°Let them go ¨C take me ¨C I¡¯ll take whatever punishment ¨C¡° ¡°No,¡± Kent cuts in, not even looking at him, just staring at me. ¡°You¡¯re worthless to me.¡± ¡°David,¡± I say, internally cringing to use his real name. ¡°I can¡¯t forgive you for your betrayal.¡± His mouth falls open. Janeen, next to him, is baffled. ¡°Fay, what are you talking about?¡± I turn my attention to her. ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear? Dad¡¯s been keeping me away from my real life. I¡¯m the daughter of a mob boss, someone who can give me everything I deserve. While we¡¯ve been scraping by, I could have had yachts, private nes, diamonds. Everything a girl wants.¡± Everything in me shouts no! against this, but Kent¡¯s gaze sits heavy on my shoulders. This, I know, is the only way. I can only hope my lies convince them. Janeen¡¯s mouth falls open in shock and disgust. "Please, Fay,¡± my dad says, devastated. ¡°We can call the police! Fay ¡ª don''t give in." My heart breaks, but I have to do this. I paint a sneer on my face. ¡°I just want to go back to my real family. What¡¯s it going to take to leave me alone? Fifty grand? A hundred? Whatever you want, I¡¯m sure it can be arranged.¡± I suddenly realize that Daniel made me a simr offer only a few days ago. I know exactly the disgust that my dad and Janeen must feel. Janeen shakes her head at me. ¡°Fay, this isn¡¯t you.¡± I turn on her and say the cruelest thing I can think of. ¡°Why would I want toe live in that shack with you, a stripper and a deadbeat,¡± I hiss. ¡°When I could have all this?¡± I raise my arms to indicate everything that Kent¡¯s house represents. Then, the nail in the coffin, I slowly cross the room and stand next to Kent. ¡°By the way, have you met my father-inw?¡± My family¡¯s faces go pale. ¡°He¡¯s Daniel¡¯s father. Did I forget to mention that Daniel and I are engaged?¡± Kent, emotionless, puts an arm around my shoulders, iming me as part of his family now. ¡°We¡¯re finished here,¡± he says. My dad and my sister stand up. Hesitant, my dad takes a few steps towards me. No one stops him, so he takes my face in his hands and then pulls me close in a hug that brings tears to my eyes. ¡°You¡¯re my daughter,¡± he whispers in my ear. ¡°Nothing will ever change that.¡± Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org. He gives me onest look and heads for the door. Janeenes forward next. I raise my arms for a hug but she snaps her hand up, pping me across the face as hard as she can. I gasp. ¡°How dare you,¡± she growls. ¡°That p is not enough. But it¡¯s thest thing I¡¯ll ever give you.¡± Then, pride written in the straight line of her back, she follows my father out. As soon as the door closes behind them, I copse at Kent¡¯s feet, sobs wracking my body. He stands patiently by me for a moment and then moves to the door. ¡°You did the right thing, Fay,¡± he says, before walking out. But, alone in the room, I know I¡¯ve lost everything that has ever mattered to me. Chapter 0012 Chapter 0012 When Kent walks into his office, he¡¯s surprised to see Daniel standing there, staring out the window, watching a car pull away. ¡°Who is in that car?¡± Daniel asks. Kent crosses to his desk and sits down in his chair, folding his hands. He takes a moment to study his son. Daniel is tall, handsome, clever; but he doesn¡¯t yet have the grit that he needs to lead this family. ¡°If you already know,¡± Kent says softly. ¡°Why don¡¯t you just tell me what you¡¯re thinking?¡± ¡°Fine,¡± Daniel says, and Kent is happy to hear some anger in his voice. Daniel turns to look Kent in the eye. ¡°That¡¯s my girlfriend¡¯s family, riding away in that car. What did you do to them?¡± ¡°I did nothing to them,¡± Kent says, ¡°except a favor to Fay Thompson, this girlfriend you never told me Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org. about. Tell me, how long have you been seeing her?¡± ¡°Cut the crap, dad,¡± Daniel says, angrily crossing to confront him. Kent smiles, pleased to see a little fire in this studious boy. ¡°You know I¡¯ve only been seeing her for a few months ¨C you know ¨C¡° ¡°I know,¡± Kent interrupts, ¡°that she is not who you thought she was. And I know that you¡¯ve already heard all about this from your gossip of a bodyguard. So why don¡¯t you ask me your real question,¡± Kent says, looking at his son coldly. Daniel grits his teeth and puts his hands in his pockets, in so many ways the very picture of his father. ¡°Do I really have to marry her?¡± ¡°You have been engaged to Fay Alden since your childhood,¡± Kent says quietly. ¡°It would be an advantageous match. She¡¯s got the connections, the family, the money you¡¯d need to keep this family afloat. The question is¡­do you want her?¡± Daniel looks away from him, embarrassed. ¡°She¡¯s fine. She¡¯s very nice. And funny.¡± ¡°What,¡± Kent says, his voice deliberately mocking. ¡°Is that all? She doesn¡¯t do it for you, Daniel? Doesn¡¯t raise your¡­heartrate?¡± Daniel blushes and scowls. ¡°No, it¡¯s nothing like that ¨C it¡¯s just ¨C¡° ¡°It¡¯s just what, Daniel,¡± his father says, banging his hand on the desk, trying to shock the truth out of him. ¡°You¡¯ve got other girls on the line?¡± ¡°No,¡± Daniel says quickly, ring. ¡°I have¡­I have lots of girlfriends, you know. Girls for different¡­ asions¡­¡± he mumbles this, and his father subtly shakes his head. Kent knows his son has¡­proclivities. Frankly, he doesn¡¯t care, as long as Daniel does his duty by the family. ¡°You will take a wife,¡± Kent says, his voice granite. ¡°I will.¡± Daniel says, his head hanging a little, acknowledging his obligation. ¡°I just want to make sure she¡¯s the right one.¡± Kent stands to put his hand on Daniel¡¯s shoulder, d to see him acknowledge his responsibilities. ¡°So, what are the objections to a girl like Fay?¡± Daniel shrugs, not knowing what to say, except the unthinkable: she knows I¡¯m gay and she hates me for it. ¡°What,¡± Kent presses, giving him a little shake. ¡°Is she¡­impure? Does she fool around with other guys?¡± Daniel looks up at his father, frowning, a little pissed off at his implications. ¡°Come on, Dad,¡± he snaps. ¡°You know she¡¯s not.¡± Kentughs and shakes his son¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Good, it¡¯s good to get angry sometimes, son. Let it feed you. Take it, control it.¡± Daniel sighs, sorry to have yed into his father¡¯s hand once again. ¡°You know Fay is¡­pure. I¡¯m the only guy she¡¯s ever dated, her first love. And I haven¡¯t touched her.¡± His father raises an eyebrow at that, silently asking why not, but Daniel frowns and shakes his father¡¯s hand off his shoulder. ¡°We barely started dating, okay? There wasn¡¯t¡­time.¡± ¡°She¡¯s a good girl,¡± Kent confirms, looking over his son¡¯s shoulder out the window. ¡°She¡¯s loyal, kind, innocent. But brave, too.¡± Kent¡¯s mind wanders for just a moment as he considers his interactions with Fay. Her wide-eyed innocence, her creamy ivory skin, that long red hair. He was impressed with her performance today, too. She has grit, he thinks, that she doesn¡¯t know she has. She reminds him, suddenly, of the Sicilian girls he met when he would go back to Italy with his mother as a boy ¨C delicate by one turn, temperamental the next, at once a dove and a viper. Chapter 0013 Chapter 0013 His thoughts turn, then, to those moments in the club, when he had been fooling Dean into thinking Fay was his ything. Fooling himself, really. He had been hard as a rock, looking down at her supple form, Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org. that soft curve of her breast after he snapped the strap of her dress ¨C Kent blinks, bringing himself back to the room, and finds Daniel looking at him strangely. Kent clears his voice, keeping his face unreadable. ¡°She¡¯ll be a good wife, son,¡± he says, patting his boy again on the shoulder. ¡°You can¡¯t do better, and you could do worse. And it¡¯s good you met outside of the arrangement ¨C at least you two know you like each other to begin with. That will make things¡­easier.¡± Daniel shrugs, not meeting his eyes. ¡°What is it?¡± Kent demands. ¡°She¡¯s just kind of¡­mad at me,¡± Daniel confesses. ¡°We kind of had a fight. A big one.¡± He looks up at the ceiling. ¡°And now she¡¯s upstairs. And we¡¯re engaged.¡± He shrugs and shudders a little bit. ¡°I don¡¯t know, it¡¯s weird!¡± Kent frowns at him, then, a little frustrated. ¡°Pull it together, boy,¡± he says, his voice cold. ¡°One day you¡¯ll have control of this family, and the least difficult thing you¡¯ll have to control is that girl. Toughen up, Daniel.¡± Daniel straightens his shoulders, trying, but still doesn¡¯t meet Kent¡¯s eye. ¡°What should I do? How do I do it?¡± ¡°Teach her,¡± Kent exins. ¡°She¡¯s not part of this world, and if she¡¯s going to survive in it, you¡¯ve got to teach her how to be a mafia wife. Her life is in your hands.¡± Daniel meets his father¡¯s eyes then, seeing the truth in his words. Kent is d to see that he seems to rise to the challenge. Perhaps this is what it will take to make Daniel a good man: the right woman. Sensing some closure to the problem, Kent pats Daniel roughly on the shoulder again and gives him a shove, dismissing him from his office. With a small smile, Daniel leaves. Before the door closes behind him, Kent catches sight of Daniel looking up the stairs, considering a visit with his bride-to-be. Kent seats himself at his desk again, staring at the closed door, and suddenly feels¡­damnit. He imagines, for a just a moment, what it would be like to climb those stairs himself, to open a girl like Fay¡¯s door while she¡¯s getting ready for bed, taking off her earrings and turning to stare at him with those wide blue eyes. What it would be like to take two steps forward and grab her, pull her to him, make her gasp as he wrapped a hand in the hair at the base of her scalp and pulled her head back, exposing that long white neck. To feel the moan echoing inside her chest, pressed against him, as he ground his hips against hers, the proud length of his cock pressed between them. He could show her, then, what it was to be a good wife. To be subservient, to learn how to anticipate his needs, to make her will his own. He could make a girl like Fay willingly give up her independence, serve him happily, if it meant that every night she could peel off his shirt, pull his hot skin against her, take him, throbbing, inside of her ¨C Kent snaps his head to the side, pressing his eyes closed, forcing himself ¨C forcing himself - to stop thinking these thoughts. That was going to be his son¡¯s wife, after all. But damnit, thinking about her has made him so hard. Kent reaches for the phone on his desk, picking it up and quickly dialing. The person on the other end answers in one ring. ¡°Hey baby,¡± she purrs. ¡°I¡¯ve been missing you.¡± ¡°Fiona,¡± he says, working to keep his voice even. ¡°I¡¯d like to see you at my ce. Half an hour.¡± She giggles on the other end. ¡°Ohhhh, he¡¯s in a rush. I¡¯ll be there pronto, baby.¡± Another little giggle and she hangs up. Kent stares at the phone in the hand knowing, in the pit of him, that Fiona is at best a temporary fix. He has a deeper hunger growing inside. Chapter 0014 Chapter 0014 I¡¯mying back on my bed, all cried out, when I hear a knock at my door. I raise my head and groan inwardly. What¡¯s next? Before I can get up to answer it, the door creeks open a little. I sigh. No such thing as privacy in the Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org. Mafia pce. ¡°Fay?¡± My mouth drops open as I hear a voice that I recognize. I¡¯m too shocked to speak as I see him peek around the door, smiling shyly. ¡°Are you okay, Fay?¡± Daniel. I just stare at him. He grimaces andes into the room, pressing the door shut behind him. Then he leans back on it, staring at me, quirking his mouth into that sweet smile I used to love. I groan andy my head back on my pillows. ¡°Go away, Daniel. We can talk about our engagement ¡°Fay,¡± he says, and I can hear the apology in his voice. I hear hime closer to the bed. ¡°Come on, Fay,¡± he says. ¡°It could be worse.¡± I open my eyes and re at him. ¡°Are you serious, Daniel?¡± He shrugs and again gives me that charming smile, sliding his hands into his pockets. ¡°I mean, at least we know we like each other.¡± ¡°Like each other? Daniel you like ¨C¡° ¡°Shh!¡± He puts a hand out towards me and looks anxiously at the door. ¡°Seriously, Fay, watch what you say. We can¡¯t talk about that sort of thing here.¡± I nce at the closed door, confused. ¡°Can they hear us in here?¡± ¡°My dad has ears everywhere,¡± he murmurs. He turns back to me. ¡°Are you mad at me?¡± I sigh and sit up on the bed, feeling awkward. I never wanted to see Daniel ever again, let alone have this weird conversation about why I didn¡¯t want to be his mafia bride just because our parents promised us to each other. ¡°Daniel, I¡¯m not mad at you,¡± I say quietly. ¡°It¡¯s just¡­ I want to be married to someone who loves me. Not to someone who is only marrying me because of who my father is, and certainly not someone who ¨C¡° He gives me a worrying look and I sigh, watching my words. ¡°Someone who isn¡¯t attracted to me,¡± I finish. He sits hesitantly next to me on the bed, reaching out an arm to put around my shoulders. I shoot him a look, though, and he pulls his arm back. ¡°There could be good things about this, Fay,¡± he says quietly. ¡°Not all marriages work out anyway, and at least we know we like each other.¡± I look up at him, aghast. Is he serious? ¡°Are you actually on board with this, Daniel? Don¡¯t you want to marry someone you love?¡± ¡°I have to marry someone, Fay,¡± he says, shrugging, his voice defeated. ¡°This is not a world where what I want, personally, really matters. And with you, well. At least I know we get along, like the same things.¡± I huff augh at this. ¡°I mean, you were really upset when we broke up!¡± Daniel continues, trying to be upbeat. ¡°And I really am sorry about what happened in the coffee shop. But isn¡¯t it kind of weird that we found each other out there on our own anyway, and we were engaged the whole time? It¡¯s kind of like¡­fate.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not fate, Daniel, it¡¯s fake,¡± I say, looking at him with all of my pain showing. I can¡¯t help it ¨C he was my first love, and he totally betrayed me, and now here he is asking me to jump right back in? ¡°I don¡¯t want a husband who is unfaithful to me,¡± I say, spreading my hands out in emphasis. I lower my voice to a hiss. ¡°And I don¡¯t want a husband who is into men, considering I¡¯m a girl. Do you really want us to be in a fake marriage for the rest of our lives? Just because it¡¯s what your dad wants?¡± ¡°Please, Fay,¡± Daniel says, his eyes skittering for the door. ¡°I get that you¡¯re upset ¨C¡° I nod fervently at this. ¡°But seriously, that¡¯s not something we can talk about there. Please,¡± he turns worried eyes to me and I¡¯m surprised to see true fear in his face. ¡°You¡¯ve got to promise to keep it a secret.¡± Chapter 0015 Chapter 0015 ¡°Daniel,¡± I say, my heart going out to him. ¡°Why is it such a big deal? It¡¯s the twenty-first century ¨C it¡¯s so backwards to think that way about sexual orientation ¨C¡° ¡°You don¡¯t understand,¡± he says, shaking his head and looking down at the floor. ¡°It¡¯s a different world here, Fay ¨C that¡¯s why I spend so much time outside of it, at school, in the bookshops and coffee shops.¡± ¡°This world, this family,¡± he says, ¡°all their values are 100 years old, maybe more. And tradition is everything, family is everything. If I don¡¯t get married, don¡¯t have kids to carry on the family line¡­not only will they consider me a failure, but it will cause massive chaos in the city as the other bosses try to Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org. grab what my dad has built. What I will inherit, whether I want to or not.¡± I study Daniel¡¯s perfect face, feeling for him. He¡¯s trapped and he knows it. God, was I trapped now too? ¡°Do you know what they do to people like me, Fay?¡± Daniel asks, turning to look at me, agonized. I shake my head no, not even wanting to imagine it. ¡°They beat the crap out of them,¡± he says, ¡°make them denounce their sexuality, who they are, and if they do it again, they¡­they mutte them¡­¡± He says quickly, shaking his head. ¡°One of the other boss¡¯s sons. He shamed the family and¡­¡± Daniel shakes his head, unable to finish. ¡°Why don¡¯t you just leave, Daniel,¡± I say, horrified for him. ¡°Why not just run?¡± Heughs, a harsh thing. ¡°You think I haven¡¯t thought about it?¡± He shrugs. ¡°They¡¯ll just find me, Fay. There¡¯s no getting out of it. I¡¯m the sole heir to my father¡¯s game. If run, they¡¯ll find me. If I defy expectations about the kind of life I¡¯m supposed to life ¨C wife, family, taking a role in the organization, they¡¯ll¡­well, they¡¯ll straighten me out.¡± His lips quirk at his little y on words. Mine do too. ¡°Daniel, this all sucks,¡± I say, and heughs at my understatement. ¡°But is the solution really just to give them what they want? You know what your dad did to me today ¨C made me give up everything I love, say horrible things to my family so that they¡¯ll let me go.¡± Daniel looks at me, hopeless. ¡°Why give them what they want? Why don¡¯t we both run? Maybe together¡­¡± He shakes his head, sighing. ¡°You don¡¯t get it, Fay,¡± he says. ¡°You can¡¯t just disappear anymore. Your in his world now, there¡¯s no escape.¡± ¡°My mom did it,¡± I say quietly, realizing it myself for perhaps the first time. ¡°She ran from my father, stayed away.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Daniel says, looking me in the eye. ¡°And even after she died, the world came and found you, her daughter, and pulled you back in even when it couldn¡¯t take her. Don¡¯t you get it, Fay? Even if you got away, got married, had kids, had the life you wanted ¨C my dad? Your dad? They would find your kids, and pull them in. There¡¯s no getting out.¡± My stomach drops like a stone when I realize that he¡¯s right. Even if my mother did get out ¨C here I was, right back in it. But still. I couldn¡¯t just give in. Maybe Daniel has been more beat down than me ¨C or maybe just more realistic ¨C but this isn¡¯t the life I want. I have to try. And in order to try, maybe this means I have to go deeper into this world. Study it. Figure out what makes it tick. And then, when I find a loophole. I¡¯ll run. ¡°Well, Daniel,¡± I say, taking his hand again and giving them a squeeze. ¡°You may have given in, but I¡¯m not sure I have yet. All I ask is that when the timees, you don¡¯t stop me from leaving.¡± He looks at me, sadness etched on his face, and says nothing. Chapter 0016 Chapter 0016 I spend a restless night in my new room. When the clock reads 7:00, a knockes at my door and it opens without waiting for a response. I re and make a mental note to somehow get a lock. ¡°Ah! You¡¯re awake.¡± The same woman who dressed mest night bustles into the room. ¡°You¡¯re already ¡°Seven?¡± I ask, looking at the clock again. ¡°Seven iste?¡± ¡°The household starts at five,¡± she says,ing over and starting to make the bed while I¡¯m still in it. When I head for the door in my pajamas, she makes a small noise of warning. I look back at her. ¡°You¡¯ll want to change, my dear,¡± she says. ¡°This house dresses for its meals.¡± No one is downstairs in the hall when, dressed in tight fawn-colored pants and a silky green sweater, I walk down the stairs. I hear some noise at the end of the hall and push through the little door there. I blink in surprise as I suddenly find myself in a gigantic kitchen filled with people. There are mismatched tables scattered all around and, behind a low wall, a restaurant-sized cooking range. From it wafts the scent of breakfast foods ¨C sharp with onions and rich with butter. ¡°Fay!¡± Daniel says, spotting me from across the room. His face lights up. I can¡¯t help returning his smile, he¡¯s so cute. ¡°Hi,¡± I say, my eyes scanning the busy room as I hurry over to him. ¡°Are you hungry?¡± he asks, giving me a happy grin and sitting back down in his ce at a small table. ¡°Um,¡± I say - honestly, when was thest time I ate - but my stomach answers for me, giving a big growl. Heughs lightly as I sit. ¡°Good, we¡¯ll get you something.¡± He raises a hand to signal someone by the cooking range. The room is just buzzing with people. Guys in suits drinking tiny cups of espresso, guards pass with guns ¨C big guns ¨C passing through, housekeeping staff on their way to their jobs. Everyone is chatting happily, moving along in what is clearly a well-oiled machine. Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org. ¡°Wow, it¡¯s so busy in here,¡± I say, staring around at everyone. Daniel looks around and shrugs. ¡°I guess.¡± At that moment, I¡¯m shocked, again, to see Kente around the corner from the cooking area carrying a big te of food. I stare at the long white butcher¡¯s apron wrapped around his waist, the taut strings only serving to emphasize his trim figure, his broad shoulders. When I realize I¡¯m biting my lower lip while I look at him, I quickly spit it out and close my mouth. ¡°Good morning, Fay,¡± Kent says,ying the te in front of me. Shocked, I look back and forth from him to the te, noting that his apron is spotted with grease. ¡°Did you¡­did you make this?¡± I ask. On the te, scrambled eggs sit next to sausage and peppers, apanied by a buttered slice of crusty Italian bread. It looks delicious. ¡°Surprised?¡± Kent says. I whip my head up to see that he¡¯s smirking at me. Truly, I am surprised. ¡°An Italian can¡¯t call himself a man if he can¡¯t cook his own breakfast,¡± Kent says, ncing around the room with a proud smile. ¡°A breakfast he¡¯d feed his mother, at that.¡± ¡°Do you want some coffee?¡± Daniel asks, leaning forward. I nod and he looks up at his dad. ¡°She takes cappino. Is anyone free ¨C¡° ¡°I¡¯ll see it¡¯s done,¡± Kent says and I follow his eyes to a gigantic vintage Gaggia Orione espresso machine in the corner. My jaw drops ¨C it¡¯s probably the most gorgeous thing I¡¯ve ever seen. ¡°Eat up, girl,¡± Kent says, heading back to the kitchen. I pick up my fork and eagerly start to eat, shaking my head at Daniel who justughs. A few minutester, when my te is half cleared, Kentes back with a tiny cappino that he slides next to my te. I give him a smile in thanks and take a sip. It¡¯s absolutely delicious. I lean back in my chair, closing my eyes and savoring the taste of the bitter liquid that coats my tongue, bnced by the sweetness of the milk. These vors areplimented, somehow, by¡­ I open my eyes and my mouth to ask what that extra vor is, but I freeze when I see Kent staring down at me, his eyes somehow¡­hungry. Chapter 0017 Chapter 0017 A blush spreads across my cheek and nose. Why is he looking at me like that? ¡°So you like it,¡± Kent says, his voice low, possessive. ¡°I do,¡± I say, hesitating. ¡°Is there something extra¡­¡± Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org. ¡°Amaretto,¡± he says. ¡°Adds notes of apricot and bitter almonds.¡± ¡°It¡¯s delicious,¡± I say, holding his gaze while I raise my thumb to my mouth to wipe a little fleck of foam from my bottom lip. He watches me do it. ¡°Good,¡± he murmurs. ¡°I don¡¯t want Alden to hear anything except that you were treated like a princess in my house.¡± I suddenly look back at my te as I remember that I¡¯m more captive than guest here. I¡¯m fed good food not for my pleasure, but so that I¡¯ll give my ¡°father¡± a good report when hees to im me. ¡°It¡¯s almost as good as my dad¡¯s breakfast,¡± I murmur, suddenly angry. At Kent, but also at myself. For forgetting. I feel a finger on my cheek, firmly turning my face back towards the Mafia King. ¡°You only have one father now, Fay. You have no ¡®dad.¡¯ Though if you¡¯re really missing it,¡± he smirks cruelly at me here, his voice slow and luxurious, ¡°you can always call me daddy.¡± My jaw drops open in shock and my face turns beat red. Heughs a little at my reaction. ¡°Dad, seriously,¡± Daniel says, and I nce at him to see anger written on his face. Kentughs darkly at Daniel too. I turn my head harshly. Kent¡¯s fingers lose their grip. ¡°If you want me to respect you,¡± I say, my voice shaking with anger and embarrassment, ¡°you should be more polite to me. I¡¯m sure my father won¡¯t like to hear that I¡¯ve been disrespected in your home.¡± Kent puts his whole hand on my cheek this time, turning my head to make me look at him. ¡°You will receive respect,¡± he says, his voice low and even, ¡°when you learn your ce. Say thank you for your breakfast, Fay.¡± I stare up at him, breathless, as he raises his other hand ¨C a soft cloth napkin in it ¨C to dab gently at my chin. He lingers, though, staring at my mouth, dragging the napkin across the length of my lower lip. ¡°Th¡­thank you¡­¡± I whisper, captivated, not knowing what else to say. ¡°You¡¯re wee,¡± he replies, releasing his hold on me and turning to walk back to the kitchen. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry,¡± Daniel mutters, but I don¡¯t look at him. Instead, I watch Kent go, shocked and confused. Fascinated. As he turns the corner into the kitchen, I realize that I have goosebumps all over my arms. I shudder and rub my hands up and down my forearms to warm myself up. ¡°Doesn¡¯t he have any boundaries?¡± I mutter to Daniel. ¡°Or does he just do whatever he wants all the time?¡± He sighs as he raises his coffee to his lips. ¡°Thetter, unfortunately. You get used to it.¡± I shake my head, thinking that I don¡¯t think I ever will, when the door to the kitchen flies open and a woman breezes in. My eyes follow her, unable to look away as she saunters into the cooking area, her fuzzy slippers flopping on the floor, her silky leopard-print robe barely tied. ¡°I thought you dressed for breakfast in this house,¡± I mutter, an eyebrow raised. ¡°We do,¡± Daniel says. ¡°But Fiona¡­also does what she wants.¡± I hear aughe from the kitchen ¨C a full-throated, happy thing - and am surprised to see this woman throw her arms around Kent¡¯s neck, standing on her tiptoes to demand a kiss. He obliges her and I feel something twist inside me. He whispers something in her ear and she turns, suddenly, to look right at me. She gives me a broad, red-lipped smile while he says something else in her ear. I give her a tentative smile back, so she winks and blows me a kiss. Her energy is effervescent. I can¡¯t help but like her. ¡°Who is she?¡± I ask, still watching her. ¡°Fiona,¡± Daniel says, a little pained. ¡°My father¡¯s mistress. Or, at least¡­one of them.¡± Chapter 0018 Chapter 0018 Fiona finishes saying good morning to Kent and stops at our little table on the way out. ¡°This beauty must be Fay,¡± she says as she arrives, giving me a big smile. She has a thick New York ent, a little like Fran Drescher, and I can¡¯t help but be charmed by her sweet, brusk nature. ¡°It¡¯s nice to meet you,¡± I say. ¡°Oh baby,¡± she says, wrinkling her nose at me. ¡°I already know all about you. Big Boy over there told me everything,¡± she says, nodding at him over her shoulder. I blush again. Big Boy? Seriously? What woman has the balls to call Kent Lippert Big Boy? Iugh despite myself. ¡°All good things, I hope.¡± ¡°Only the best,¡± she replies. ¡°I¡¯ll catch you two babiester,¡± she says, swooping down to give Daniel a kiss on the cheek as she goes. ¡°And you,¡± she points a manicured nail at me, ¡°you¡¯re going shopping with meter, okay? Okay.¡± She leaves without waiting for a response. I watch her as she goes, a little jealous of her confidence as well as her raw sensuality. Fiona is the kind of buxom beauty who I imagine thrives in a world like this. I look down at myself, feeling like a t piece of in white paper beside her. ¡°Sorry about that,¡± Daniel says, his voice a little frustrated. ¡°Why?¡± I look up at him, surprised. ¡°It¡¯s just embarrassing, to have them around,¡± he whispers, leaning forward so that only I hear him. ¡°My N?velDrama.Org holds ? this. dad could fill every room in this house with his lovers, if he wanted to,¡± he says. ¡°Although Fiona is¡­a favorite.¡± I nod, understanding. ¡°I can see why. She¡¯s so beautiful.¡± He sighs and I cock my head to the side. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°My whole life there have been women all over. Some stay for a night, some for months. Fiona has I can¡¯t help but feel a little sorry. ¡°Well, I don¡¯t like him at all,¡± I say, trying to cheer him up. ¡°I think he¡¯s rude, and domineering, and he likes to make people feel ufortable to make them fall in line. I think you¡¯re ten times the man he is.¡± Inside, I know it¡¯s a lie. But it¡¯s worth it for the burst of sunshine it brings to Daniel¡¯s face. ¡°Thank you, Fay,¡± Daniel says, looking at me with real affection. ¡°You¡¯re the only one who thinks that. I¡¯m d to have you on my side.¡± I smile at him and put my hand on top of his. A few hourster, I jump out of my skin when the door to my room flies open again. ¡°Shopping time!,¡± Fiona says, almost pulling me off my feet as she grabs my hand. ¡°Wha ¨C¡° I say,ughing a little as she eagerly bustles me out of the room. ¡°Where are we going!?¡± ¡°Shopping, baby!¡± sheughs, pulling me down the steps. ¡°I¡¯m just so d Daniel finally brought a girl home so I have someone to y with.¡± I bite my lip as I hurry behind her. ¡°Shopping? I really don¡¯t think Kent¡¯s going to let me leave the house.¡± She gives me a wink as we arrive at a set of double doors close to the garages. ¡°That¡¯s the great thing about this ce, we don¡¯t have to leave. The shoppinge to us.¡± With that, she pushes open the doors, revealing the treasure trove beyond. I can¡¯t help but gape at what I see before me. There are stacks and stacks of luxury goods neatly arranged on hangers and racks. There¡¯s even a crystal chandelier hanging from the ceiling. To my left is an entire two-story wall just of shoes. ¡°Oh my god,¡± I say, looking around. ¡°You like?¡± she asks, standing proudly in the middle of the room. ¡°Kent used to have it all neatly put away in boxes, but I made him let me organize it. You know,¡± she shrugs, ¡°really give it that Rodeo Drive feeling.¡± It really is dazzling. Everywhere I look I see brand names I¡¯ve only ever seen in fashion spreads ¨C Balenciaga, Hermes, Dior, Chanel. ¡°Where did it alle from?¡± I ask. Chapter 0019 Chapter 0019 She shrugs, beckoning me over to her. ¡°Personal shoppers, mostly. Kent likes to look good, but he doesn¡¯t like to go to stores.¡± I join her at a velvet settee in front of a trifold mirror. ¡°The rest,¡± she says, ¡°are¡­gifts. Donations.¡± I cock my head at her, confused. She gives me a wink. ¡°You know. From people who owe him big but don¡¯t have the cash.¡± She wrinkles her nose and smiles. ¡°That¡¯s how he got me my Porsche.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± I say, my eyes going wide. ¡°Oh, little baby Fay,¡± sheughs, putting an arm around my shoulders. ¡°You¡¯re so cute with your little blushes. It¡¯s nice to have someone so fresh around.¡± I smile at her, biting my lip as she moves over to a pile of silk and satin that she has draped over a chair. N?velDrama.Org holds ? this. ¡°Now,¡± she says, ¡°I picked these out for you, but if you see anything else you like, just tell me.¡± She starts to hold up dresses for me. ¡°Um,¡± I say, hesitating. ¡°Picked them out¡­for what?¡± ¡°For the party!¡± she says, beaming. ¡°Did no one tell you? Tonight! The party so you can meet your father!¡± Fiona smiles at me like I¡¯m the luckiest girl in the world but I feel my face go as white as a sheet. Seeing the change in my demeanor, Fiona puts down the dresses andes over. ¡°Aw baby,¡± she says soothingly. ¡°Too much? Too soon?¡± I take a deep breath. ¡°Yeah, I guess. I¡¯ve never met this man ¨C didn¡¯t know he was my father until yesterday. It¡¯s all just a shock.¡± She gives my shoulders a quick squeeze. ¡°Well, nothing¡¯s going to make you feel more confident than looking absolutely fabulous.¡± She hurries back over to the pile of dresses she set aside for me. ¡°For you,¡± she says, ¡°I think, this one.¡± Her voice is reverent as she holds up a gorgeous velvet gown, midnight blue with gauzy fabric trailing from the shoulders to create a diaphanous train. I gasp when I see it, unable to help myself as I move forward to touch the material. As I turn it over in my hands, I catch a view of the price tag. I nche and drop the fabric. ¡°What?¡± she says, peering at me. ¡°I thought you liked it? With that red hair you¡¯ll be a masterpiece.¡± ¡°Fiona,¡± I say,ughing a little, ¡°that dress is the same price as a car, and not even a cheap car.¡± She shrugs. ¡°So?¡± ¡°It¡¯s just¡­it¡¯s too extravagant for me!¡± I say, shaking my head. ¡°Baby,¡± she says,ing forward and taking my chin in her hand, a little good-natured pity in her eyes. ¡°This isn¡¯t extravagant enough for you.¡± I blink at her and she turns to hold the dress up so that I can see it against my body in the mirror. ¡°This is the stuff that Kent lets me wear, Fay. And I¡¯m just the goomah ¨C thedy on the side,¡± she says, winking at me. I can tell she doesn¡¯t feel any shame. ¡°You though,¡± she says. ¡°Baby, you¡¯re royalty in this world. You¡¯re a princess.¡± I stare at myself in the mirror, suddenly worried. I¡¯m no princess ¨C not in any world ¨C I¡¯m a just a psych major ¨C But as I stare at myself in the mirror, with that dress pressed against me, I have to admit¡­I look, just a little bit, like royalty. ¡°You¡¯ve gotta get used to the luxe life,¡± she says quietly. ¡°Kent told me to dress you in these tonight, but a girl like you should be wearing couture. To make up for it, though,¡± her face lights up with excitement, ¡°Kent says I get to pick you out some jewels!¡± She squeals, pping her hands. Iugh as well, unable to help myself ¨C she¡¯s so infectious. Ten minutester, when I see myself in the dress with sapphires draped around around my neck, I shake my head a little in disbelief. ¡°There she is,¡± Fiona says, her voice awed. ¡°The future wife of the most powerful heir in the city. Ladies and Gentlemen,¡± she says, giving a little bow, ¡°may I present your future Queen.¡± My heart sinks as I look at myself. Who even am I anymore? Chapter 0020 Chapter 0020 The party is, above all, impressive. Drinks are flowing, a whole twelve-piece band is at the back of the room ying hits from the fifties and sixties. Everyone is having a good time and, thank god, mostly ignoring me. Even though it¡¯s technically my party, everyone¡¯s too caught up in their own business to do much more than send me a curious nce. I¡¯m grateful for Daniel, who sticks close by my side. Even though he was raised in this environment, I can tell he¡¯s morefortable with me, sneaking sips of his champagne and making wryments that only I can hear. I can¡¯t help butugh at the things he says. He¡¯s right ¨C we always did get along. Fiona sweeps around the room, looking almost indecently sexy in her ck Versace gown. Looking around, though, I can see that she haspetition for her daring choice of clothes. This group of mob bosses and wives do tend towards the sexy. There are lot of women¡¯s bodies on disy around me, many of them enhanced with plumped lips, Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org. breasts, asses. Whatever they felt wascking. Inparison, I look demure in my sweeping blue gown. But Fiona picked well ¨C if she had put me in something that showed a lot of skin, she knew I¡¯d feel shy. As it is, the blue velvet gown makes me feel regal. ¡°You do look amazing,¡± Daniel says, smiling down at me. ¡°I mean, you were always pretty, Fay. But wow.¡± I smile up at him, pleased by hispliment. I knew he wouldn¡¯t say it unless he meant it. We both watch as Fiona greets new guests, directing servants to take their fur coats and ensuring that they have drinks in their hands within half a minute. ¡°She¡¯s really the hostess here,¡± I say, fascinated. ¡°What would your dad do without her?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Daniel says, studying her. ¡°She¡¯s definitely taken up that wifey sort of roll.¡± He shrugs. ¡°But who knows, my dad is fickle. One wrong move and she could be out the door.¡± I look up at him, wondering if that¡¯s why he keeps his distance from her, emotionally. How many mother figures has Daniel had in his life who have disappeared in the night, never to be seen again? Beyond that, where is his real mom? I frown, making a mental note to ask some other time. Daniel gives me a smile and then clinks my empty champagne ss with his. ¡°Refill?¡± he asks. I give him a nod and he heads off to the bar. I tap my foot to the music, enjoying it while I look around at all of the guests. Is my father here yet? Will I even recognize him when he arrives? A voice rumbles, shockingly close to my ear. ¡°If you like the music,¡± it says, sending shivers down my spine, ¡°why don¡¯t you dance?¡± I turn to see Kent standing behind me, his hands sped casually behind my back. He stares baldly down into my face, his own only inches away. My heartbeat ratchets up. ¡°Um,¡± I say, working to calm myself. God, why does he always get me so worked up, just by standing next to me? ¡°I¡¯m not much of a dancer.¡± He smirks, his eyes traveling over my body, taking in the way I look in this too-gorgeous gown. ¡°Shame,¡± he says. ¡°That dress was made for dancing. You should let them see you in it.¡± I blush. That was breathlessly close to apliment for Kent Lippert. ¡°Do you know,¡± he continues, leaning even closer to murmur a secret in my ear. ¡°I met your mother once, at a party like this.¡± I spin to look up at him. ¡°You ¨C you knew my mother?¡± ¡°Not well,¡± he says. ¡°But I remember that she was very beautiful. She had hair much like yours,¡± he says, his voice wandering with memory as he raises a hand to curl a tendril around his finger. ¡°And she was not afraid to dance.¡± I blink at him, suddenly terribly sad to have never seen her like that. He presses his lips together, studying me. Then he clears his throat and pulls his gaze away, scanning the crowd. ¡°I have word from your father¡¯s people,¡± he says. ¡°He¡¯ll be here very soon.¡± My eyes widen. I mean, of course it was the whole point of the evening, but now that it¡¯s close? I¡¯m terrified. Chapter 0021 Chapter 0021 Kent clenches his jaw as he observes my reaction. ¡°Chin up, girl,¡± he says, his voice steady, giving me strength. ¡°Meet him with pride.¡± I swallow and nod, trying to embody that. But inside I¡¯m quailing. Daniel walks back over to me, his steps slowing and his face growing worried when he sees who I¡¯m talking to. When Kent catches sight of him, he nods. ¡°Good,¡± Kent says, beckoning Daniel closer. As Daniel hands my ss of champagne to me, his father holds out a ck velvet box to him. Frowning with confusion, Daniel takes and opens it. His face falls ck as he sees what¡¯s inside. My own jaw drops when I see the size of the diamond sitting on the little velvet pillow. At least ten carats, emerald cut, set in an art deco style. ¡°It would be appropriate,¡± Kent says, his voicemanding, ¡°for Fay to wear your family¡¯s ring tonight, since you are engaged.¡± ¡°Dad,¡± Daniel says, looking up at him. ¡°This was mom¡¯s ring¡­¡± Kent nods sharply, holding out the box to him. It¡¯s not really an offer. Daniel sighs and takes the box, lifting the ring from it. He looks at me and cocks his head to the side. My fingers shaking a little, I raise my hand. As Daniel takes it and starts to slip the ring onto my finger, I wonder what this means. Is this a tacit agreement to the engagement? Or some sort of ploy for when I meet my father? Is Kent trying to mark me as part of his own family, even as I meet my own? Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org. My questions are interrupted, though, by the feeling of the ring sticking at my second knuckle. Daniel pushes harder, but it won¡¯t budge. ¡°Um, dad,¡± Daniel says, looking between us. ¡°I think it¡¯s too small.¡± I bite my lip, embarrassed. I guess Daniel¡¯s mom had slimmer fingers than me. Kent res at Daniel and then nudges him aside, taking my hand in his own. Deftly, he angles the ring so that it slips over the knuckle, and then presses down. I look up into his eyes as the ring slides home to the base of my finger. I hold my breath, almost, as I feel my cold hand in his warm one, the weight of his ring on my finger. He stares back at me, his lips parting slightly, revealing clenched teeth behind. ¡°Thanks dad,¡± Daniel says, a little awkward, breaking the tension as he takes my hand out of his father¡¯s grip, holding it gently in his own. He gives his dad a weird look and then turns his attention to the ring. ¡°It looks good on you, Fay,¡± Daniel says, looking me in the face and smiling. I hesitate a little, trying to smile back, and then focusing on the ring. This incredible, gigantic, insane rock on my finger. It¡¯s beautiful, but¡­ Before I can consider it any more, the room goes quiet, the band dying awkwardly off as they notice that everyone has stopped dancing and has turned towards the door. Footsteps echo as a man walks in, a woman in a slinky grey dress only a few steps behind. Following her are at least four guards, probably more, though I can¡¯t see any further behind them to count. He¡¯s a tall man ¨C as tall as Kent, but older, bulkier. His fine pinstriped suit is tight across the paunch of his stomach, but he has a certain power as he begins to cross the room towards us, surveying the crowd as he goes. The woman he came with moves away to the bar. I hold my breath as the man walks over to us, his eyes sweeping over me from head to foot. He shocks me, though, by ignoring me when he finally arrives. Instead, he turns to Kent and puts out a hand. ¡°Lippert,¡± the man says, not smiling. Kent epts the hand, shaking it. ¡°So d you coulde, Alden,¡± he says and then silently returns his hands to his pockets. He lets Alden take the lead. Alden nods and looks back at me. ¡°So. Is this her?¡± Kent nods, putting a hand between my shoulder des. Encouraged, I raise my chin and stand before this man, letting him look at me, feeling, more than anything, like a horse at the market. I wonder, passively, if he¡¯s going to start counting my teeth. ¡°Alden,¡± Kent says, ¡°this is Fay Thompson. Your daughter.¡± Chapter 0022 Chapter 0022 Alden narrows his eyes at me and looks back at Kent. I¡¯m a little shocked, I admit, that he hasn¡¯t addressed me yet. I stand awkwardly in front of him and Daniel quietly takes my hand, giving it a squeeze of support. ¡°Is this for real, Lippert?¡± Alden asks, a threat behind his re. Kent nods slowly. ¡°We did a test. It¡¯s a 99% gic match for paternity. I can show you the paperwork upstairs, and you can have it verified by your own doctors. But, with that kind of proof at hand, Alden.¡± He spread his hands out, hoping Alden takes him at his word. ¡°Why would I lie?¡± Alden nods and returns his gaze to me, staring for a moment. Then, he shocks me again by breathing out a huge breath of air and rubbing a hand down his face. ¡°Damnit, but you look like your mother,¡± he mutters. My mouth falls open when I see the glimmer of tears in his eyes. My heart goes out to him, then. He¡¯s a solid rock of a man, but I can see that deep feelings run beneath. ¡°Where is she?¡± he demands. Surprised, I blurt out the first thing thates to mind. ¡°She died,¡± I say, grimacing inwardly at my bluntness. Alden¡¯s face falls minutely. Surely, after all these years, he knew it would be unlikely that she would be alive, but still ¨C he¡¯s upset by the news. Alden works hard to arrange his face in the impassive mask he had when he entered the room. I bite my lip, knowing that the news has hurt him. ¡°When?¡± he asks. ¡°Years ago,¡± I whisper, sorry to be the one to tell him. ¡°I was young ¨C I had just turned six.¡± I feel horrible ¨C I had no idea that he cared for her as much as he clearly does. I had assumed she was ¨C what had Fiona called herself? ¨C a goomah. His mistress, or his girlfriend, not someone he really I cared about. ¡°How?¡± He asks, crossing his arms over his barrel chest. ¡°A car ident,¡± I say, my voice hardly more than a whisper now. ¡°They said¡­they said she went fast. No pain.¡± Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org. He nods sharply and then turns his head away, gathering himself together. "And where has she been "In a small cemetery by our home ¨C in the churchyard. I can take you there, if you like," Isay, my voice gentle. He¡¯s angry then, instantly, his emotions snapping from sadness to anger at the flip of a switch. He turns his burning eyes to me. ¡°In a churchyard?¡± He shakes his head. ¡°He didn¡¯t respect her, then, the man she left me for,¡± he growls. ¡°To bury her in a churchyard, when she deserves toy in state, in a mausoleum.¡± I find my own emotions turning, then, from pity to anger. How dare he suggest that David was anything but an angel in our lives? ¡°My dad was wonderful to my mother,¡± I say, not considering my actions as I take a step forward. Daniel holds my hand tighter, in a warning thates toote ¨C ¡°He was nothing,¡± Alden growls. ¡°He raised me ¨C¡° ¡°He KEPT you from me,¡± the words rip from Alden¡¯s mouth. Realizing my mistake, I cower back, my eyes going wide. Alden takes a heavy step towards me, intimidation in every muscle of his body. ¡°Tell me the truth, girl,¡± he says, taking another step. ¡°Did he know about your parentage? Did he know where she came from, who your real father was?¡± Unable to deny it, I stay silent, keeping my face still. ¡°I thought so,¡± he says, narrowing his eyes at me. ¡°He kept you from me, my daughter, not his! And he should die for it.¡± I realize, suddenly, that I¡¯m afraid of this man. That if this is what he¡¯s like the first time meeting his daughter, then I can¡¯t imagine the kind of things my mother must have gone through. She must have experienced moods that made her decide to pack up and leave him, to give up everything she¡¯d ever known to keep me away. Chapter 0023 Chapter 0023 And yet here I was, in the ce 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. N?velDrama.Org holds ? this. 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 nned this meeting, this conversation. In one swoop, they gave Alden back his daughter and imed me as their own. Now they have the one thing Alden wants more than anything: thest 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 yer 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 asion 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 ¨C 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 ¨C my dad ¨C 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 nces at Daniel here for a moment, ¡°though I understand your fianc¨¦ 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, tearsing 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 knowledgee? Chapter 0024 Chapter 0024 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 ¨C none saying a word to me, though they certainly looked me ¨C 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 ¨C 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 ¨C honestly, how do these clothes keep showing up in my room? ¨C 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 ce 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 ¨C Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org. 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 isying 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 ¨C obviously ¨C 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 ¨C¡° 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 ¨C¡° ¡°I¡¯m not going to die,¡± he grumbles, forcing the words from between his clenched teeth. ¡°This happens sometimes. It will ¨C¡° He groans before forcing out thest word in the sentence. ¡°Pass.¡± He rests his head back against the floor, squeezing his eyes shut and grimacing in pain. I gape at him. Is he serious? Is this honestly amon thing for him? ¡°Well, what can I do to help?¡± I ask, still frantic. He opens one eye and looks at me, clearly annoyed. ¡°Go away, that¡¯s what you can do.¡± ¡°What!?¡± I stare at him. Was he crazy? ¡°Kent, you¡¯re probably having a heart attack ¨C¡° Suddenly, footsteps sound in the hall below. He freezes, tries to sit up, and then groans in pain as he cannot. ¡°Fine,¡± he says, looking at me. ¡°You want to help? Get me into your room.¡± ¡°What!?¡± ¡°Stop saying what,¡° he growls, trying again to sit up. ¡°Just help me!¡± I hesitate and then get to my feet. I move behind Kent as he sits up and hook my hands in his armpits. Then, I heave with all my might, pulling him towards the open door to my room. Kent helps as much as he can, pushing with his feet to speed us along. When he¡¯s fully in my room, I drop him and he copses again on the floor with a heavy groan. ¡°The door,¡± he murmurs, and I quickly close it. Then, I lean back against the door, staring at Kent on the floor as he breathes hard. Chapter 0025 Chapter 0025 A few horrible minutes pass when I consider what the hell will happen to me if people discover the Mafia Boss¡¯s dead body in my room. But, during those minutes, Kent¡¯s breath softens. The horrible, crinkled look of pain disappears and his face takes on its normal lines. He¡¯s still sweaty and exhausted but he was right. It passes. ¡°Are you¡­are you okay?¡± I venture after a few minutes of calm breathing. He doesn¡¯t open his eyes. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± ¡°Um,¡± I hesitate. ¡°Are you sure you don¡¯t want me to call someone? A doctor?¡± He sits up on my floor, hooking his arms around his knees for support, and then straight at me. ¡°I don¡¯t need a doctor.¡± I stare at him, and I¡¯m sure he can tell by my face that I think he¡¯s definitely wrong. He shakes his head and looks down ¨C embarrassed, I think ¨C and pauses before he speaks. ¡°It¡¯s just¡­¡± he says, ¡°something that happens to me. From time to time. It¡¯s been happening for the past couple of years. At times of¡­stress.¡± I sink to the floor, my back still against the door, putting the pieces together. I can¡¯t believe it. ¡°Oh my god,¡± I say, not even thinking about whether or not I should say it. ¡°You have panic attacks.¡± He nces up at me. ¡°They¡¯re reallymon,¡± I continue, ¡°but not usually to this extent. But we learned, in my program, that when they¡¯re really severe they can present with the intensity of a heart attack¡­¡± He doesn¡¯t look at me or say a word. I bite my lip, feeling suddenly sorry for him. I can¡¯t help it. I¡¯ve never really been able to see another person in pain and not want to help them. ¡°You know,¡± I say quietly. ¡°There are doctors that can help you with this sort of thing. You shouldn¡¯t suffer like this, if they happen all the time.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t need to see a doctor.¡± He says, his voice determined. I roll my eyes at him, a gesture I¡¯m not sure I¡¯d make if he were looking at me. ¡°Well, if you don¡¯t want to see a doctor,¡± I say, hesitating again. ¡°Maybe I could help?¡± He lifts his head, his eyes open now. ¡°How could you possibly help me.¡± I purse my lips, frustrated. ¡°I mean, I am a trained therapist. I wouldn¡¯t think you¡¯d forget that, considering it¡¯s how we met.¡± Heughs a little. ¡°Yes, Fay¡¯s little certificate,¡± he says, his voice derisive. ¡°Kent, this can be a seriously debilitating mental condition ¨C¡° I say, but he interrupts me. ¡°I have spoken to my doctor, Fay,¡± he says. ¡°There is nothing wrong with me.¡± But my training, and my desire to help, push back against my instinct to follow hismand. ¡°You have an anxiety disorder, Kent,¡± I say, my voice serious. He justughs at me. ¡°An anxiety disorder? A mental illness? Sissies make those up terms so they can have an excuse for why they¡¯re so inadequate.¡± With that, he pushes himself to his feet. I do too, blocking the door with my body. ¡°It¡¯s not for sissies ¨C it¡¯s an important aspect of your health ¨C¡° ¡°Fay,¡± he says, angry with me, pressing his hand t against the door so that I¡¯m trapped between him and the exit. ¡°Do you know what would happen to me in this world, if word ever got out that I have some kind weakness in my mind?¡± I hesitate. I can guess, but I choose silence. ¡°I¡¯d be dead, Fay.¡± He says, ring at me. ¡°If they ever found my body, it¡¯d be at the bottom of ake with cinder blocks for shoes. And while I was missing, all of my enemies woulde ¨C like the carrion birds they are ¨C and pick pick pick ¨C¡°he taps the top of my head, like a little bird pecking ¨C ¡°at the world I¡¯ve worked so hard to build.¡± I stare up at him, not knowing what to say. ¡°So, if you don¡¯t mind,¡± he says, still ring, ¡°I think I¡¯ll decline your offer of mental health services.¡± He pushes himself up off the door and I step aside so he can leave. He twists the handle, but he Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org. hesitates before he pulls it open. ¡°You will tell no one what you witnessed tonight. Ever. Not even Daniel. Do you understand?¡± Slowly, I nod as he strides out of my room and down the hall. I watch him go, still shocked at the events of the evening. Then, a slow smile creeps over my face. Well. It looks like I finally got my first little piece of power in this mafia game. The question was, how would I use it? Chapter 0026 Chapter 0026 The next morning, Kent is working in his office when a knockes at the door. ¡°Come in,¡± he calls, hardly paying attention. The door creeks open but no one says anything. Annoyed, Kent looks up, ready to tell whatever captain or guard wasing to report to get on with it and stop wasting his time. To his surprise, though, Fay stands in the doorway. Kent leans back in his chair with a smirk, curious. What on earth could she want now? ¡°Yes?¡± he asks. ¡°Um, can Ie in?¡± she says, anxiously ying with her hair. ¡°I already told you toe in, Fay,¡± he says evenly. Annoyed, she drops her hair and takes two steps into the room, pushing the door closed behind her. Then, she leans against the wall, a little afraid. Like a kitten in a tiger¡¯s cage. Kent can¡¯t help but smile at the sight of her. Today she¡¯s wearing brown riding boots over tight jeans, a green cashmere sweater on top. The green brings out the cream of herplexion, the fire of her hair. As he knew it would. He¡¯d selected the sweater for precisely that reason, had it sent up to her room with the housekeeper. She starts to y with her hair again, and Kent decides that he likes it down better than up. He makes a mental note to tell the housekeeper to leave it down more often. ¡°Yesss¡­?¡± Kent prompts, impatient. ¡°I just wanted to talk. Aboutst night.¡± She hesitates again. ¡°Is it safe to talk in here? About¡­¡± He sighs and gives her a little re. ¡°Yes, Fay. Go ahead.¡± ¡°I just wanted to offer, again, to help. In whatever way I can. I¡¯m happy to offer my services.¡± ¡°Your¡­services,¡± he says, letting his eyes rove over her body as much as they want to, deliberately trying to be lewd. If he embarrasses her, she¡¯ll give up, he thinks. As she¡¯s done before. She blushes deliciously ¨C he feels a stirring within himself, watching her squirm ¨C and then stands up straight. ¡°You know what I mean, Kent,¡± she says. ¡°I could council you, offer some therapies.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t need those,¡± he says, looking back to the papers on the desk as if they¡¯re more interesting and important. ¡°We could just try,¡± she says, frustrated. He smiles and looks back at her, liking the fire he sees in her when she gets pissed off. God, but he loves to stir that fire. ¡°Why are you pushing so hard for this,¡± he asks, leaning back in his chair, studying her. He¡¯s genuinely curious. Is she trying to get one over on him, use her new knowledge to her advantage? She shrugs. ¡°I just want to help ¨C that¡¯s why I got into counseling to begin with. I like to¡­help people. ¡± ¡°Well that¡¯s nice, Fay, but I don¡¯t need help,¡± he says, perfectly calm. ¡°And maybe ¨C¡° she continues, her voice rushing now. ¡°If I were able to help you ¨C to give you something ¨C maybe¡­maybe you¡¯d respect me more. Stop belittling me,¡± she says, frustrated, looking back down at the floor. He can¡¯t help the deepening of his smile. Take away his favorite new hobby? He didn¡¯t think so. This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. ¡°Thank you for your offer, Fay,¡± he says, ¡°but again. No.¡± With that, he turns back to his papers, deliberately ignoring her until he hears her sigh and open the door to leave. As he hears her move through the door, he nces up to catch onest glimpse before she shuts it. Those tight jeans were a good choice, he notes. He¡¯ll repeat that fashion choice again. As Fay leaves, Kent turns his attention to the screen on hisputer which holds all of the surveince footage in his house. A few clicks allow him to focus the cameras on her, following her path as she goes back up the stairs towards her room. She surprises him, though, by passing her room ¨C Continuing down the hallway ¨C Stopping at Daniel¡¯s room. Kent gives a little hum of interest, leaning back in his chair as he watches her tap gently on Daniel¡¯s door. His son answers and smiles at her, inviting her in. The girl disappears inside. Kent stares at Daniel¡¯s closed bedroom door, working to deny the jealousy that¡¯s roiling in his gut. Not giving himself a chance to think about it too much, he leans over to the inte on his desk, pressing number 8 for his own bedroom. ¡°Fiona?¡± he says. A few momentster, she answers. ¡°Hey baby,¡± she purrs. ¡°Can youe down to my office, please?¡± Fay flops down on Daniel¡¯s bed, sighing. Chapter 0027 Chapter 0027 ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± he asks, sitting on the edge next to her. ¡°Are you alright?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± she murmurs, looking around. The room is tastefully decorated in shades of brown and green that match Daniel¡¯s eyes, but there¡¯s very little personal decoration ¨C not much that seems like Daniel himself has chosen it. ¡°What do you guys do all day, here?¡± She asks, suddenly wondering about Daniel¡¯s life as an only child in a mafia family. He shrugs. ¡°I mostly stay in here,¡± he says, nodding to hisputer and the several bookcases full of texts against the far wall. ¡°I keep busy.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you get bored?¡± She wonders, sitting up. ¡°Of course,¡± he says,ughing a little. ¡°Doesn¡¯t everyone?¡± ¡°Do you ever get to leave?¡± She asks, studying her handsome fianc¨¦. ¡°Of course,¡± he replies,ughing. ¡°Don¡¯t forget, you met me outside of this house, so, that¡¯s evidence of that.¡± He hesitates, realizing the direction of her questions. ¡°But we can¡¯t leave now. Not for a while. Not until things are more¡­settled.¡± Fay sighs, disappointed, and falls back against his pillows. ¡°It¡¯s not always going to be like this,¡± he murmurs, sorry that she feels so discontented. ¡°Once everything dies down, once we¡¯re married, we¡¯ll have likeplete freedom. We can go back to the bookshops¡­maybe to Paris¡­¡± he gives her a shy smile, knowing she¡¯d love it there. She gives him a little half-smile in response, but he knows she¡¯s not content with what he¡¯s offering. ¡°Come on, Fay,¡± he says, scooting closer to her and taking her hand. ¡°Some people would kill for what we have. We actually like each other¡¯spany and we have all the money in the world at our disposal. Soon you¡¯ll be one of the richest, most powerful women in this city, Fay,¡± he says temptingly. Fay res at him a little. ¡°Sure, I can have whatever I want, except, you know, the freedom to leave this house. A marriage to someone who loves me.¡± N?velDrama.Org holds ? this. Daniel tilts his head, truly wanting to make it better. ¡°I love you, Fay. In my own way.¡± She sighs, knowing he means well. ¡°I just don¡¯t care about all of this, Daniel,¡± she says. ¡°I don¡¯t care about this wealth and power that everyone thinks is so important. Plus, you¡¯re forgetting the fact that all of this wealth and powere with the heavy pricetag of violence.¡± Daniel screws his mouth to the side, admitting, silently, that she¡¯s right. ¡°Don¡¯t you want to choose your own lover?¡± She asks, leaning forward eagerly. ¡°Instead of being assigned one?¡± He hesitates, squeezing her hand. ¡°I kind of did pick you, Fay. And you picked me. Even before I knew we were ¡®assigned.¡¯¡± She sighs, taking her hand gently from his. ¡°Yeah, but that was before I had all the information,¡± she murmurs. Back when she thought he was Prince Charming, not the heir to a mafia cartel. ¡°I¡¯m going to be a good husband to you,¡± Daniel murmurs, really meaning it. He always knew he¡¯d get married to a woman, and even if he knew it wouldn¡¯t be a sexual rtionship ¨C or even one in which he was faithful ¨C he had always hoped it would be to someone like Fay. His best friend. Fay flicks her eyes to him, full of doubt. ¡°But what kind of wife would you want me to be?¡± she asks softly. ¡°Would I even be able to pursue my career, which means so much to me?¡± Daniel hesitates. He knows, frankly, that the answer is no ¨C his wife would be expected to stay home, manage his social affairs, raise their kids. But he also knows that saying that aloud right now isn¡¯t going to make this any easier. Intuiting his response, Fay sighs again. ¡°This isn¡¯t what either of us really want, Daniel,¡± she says, speaking the truth for both of them. ¡°But somehow, you¡¯ve just¡­given in to it. I feel sorry for you.¡± Her words are like a knife to his heart. Fay Thompson, this poor, delicate, timid girl, feels sorry for him? God he must be so pathetic. He hangs his head. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Fay,¡± he says softly. ¡°I¡¯ll do my best to make you happy.¡± Fay moves until she¡¯s sitting next to him, putting her head on his shoulder. ¡°And so will I. When I go, Daniel, I¡¯m not going to leave you behind.¡± He looks at her, then, realizing that she still ns to escape. He doesn¡¯t burst her bubble. But deep down, he knows it¡¯s impossible. Chapter 0028 Chapter 0028 Fiona pants, her mouth open and her eyes closed, as she and Kent finish in his office. She¡¯s straddling him in his chair, her ck silk panties discarded on the floor. Kent breathes hard too, on hand wrapped in her hair, the other pressed against her lower back. Slowly, she raises herself off of him, lowering her feet to the ground. She leans forward, her hands on the arms of the chair, pressing a kiss to his mouth. ¡°Thanks, baby,¡± she murmurs. ¡°I always like a little afternoon treat.¡± Kent doesn¡¯t say anything, just pulls up his pants and buckles them as she stands and leans back against the desk. ¡°Oh,¡± Fiona says, looking casually at the security monitors still on his screen. ¡°Lookie here,¡± she points a finger at the little rectangle that shows the door to Daniel¡¯s room. ¡°Looks like the love birds were having a little tryst.¡± Sheughs but Kent can¡¯t help himself from mping his teeth together, watching closely. N?velDrama.Org holds ? this. Fiona notices Kent¡¯s tension and tilts her head with curiosity, looking between Kent and the screen. Kent ignores her. Kent is not used to having to control himself around the women that he wants. Usually, it¡¯s not very hard to seduce them, and he can pick and choose who he wants and when he wants them. Women like him, he knows. Theye willingly to his bed, or wherever else he takes them. But as he stares at Fay on the screen, walking back down the hall to her room, he fights to control himself. He knows that he wants her ¨C can¡¯t deny it any more ¨C in a rough, primal sort of way. Different than the way he wants Fiona, who kes his thirst. But Fay? She leaves him parched. Fiona smirks, watching her lover stare at the girl on the screen. ¡°You know,¡± she says, folding her arms and keeping her voice light. ¡°I don¡¯t think anything funny even went on in that room.¡± Kent¡¯s eyes sh to her. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Just look,¡± Fiona says, gesturing to the screen, where Fay has reached her door. The camera shows Fay¡¯s face as she twists the knob and walks in. ¡°Can¡¯t you see? Her hair isn¡¯t mussed, and neither is her makeup. Her lips aren¡¯t even swollen.¡± Kent, unable to help himself, turns to study the image, nothing that Fiona is correct. ¡°She¡¯s not even walking funny,¡± Fiona says, smirking and watching Kent¡¯s face. ¡°If Daniel had really given it to her ¨C¡° ¡°That¡¯s enough,¡± Kent says, his voice harsh. Fiona¡¯s secret smile only deepens. Kent stands up, ready to move on with his day. ¡°Of course nothing happened in there,¡± he says. ¡°She¡¯s his fianc¨¦, he respects her. Daniel knows it¡¯s impious to have sex before the wedding.¡± Fionaughs and stands up as well, crossing herself casually as she does so. ¡°Oh, I didn¡¯t know we were suddenly so pious in this house,¡± she says, heading for the door. ¡°I¡¯ll have to say a couple of Hail Mary¡¯s to wash away my sins from this afternoon,¡± she says, winking at him and heading out. Kent grunts a goodbye in her direction and returns his attention to some paperwork on his desk. Still, unable to concentrate, his mind turns again to the innocent, untouched young woman upstairs. That afternoon, Fiona opens Fay¡¯s door and gives her a big smile. ¡°I have a surprise for you, baby,¡± she says. Putting down her book, I look at her with curiosity. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Come and find out.¡± Fiona holds the door open and I hop out of bed to follow her. Fay leads me downstairs towards the front of the house, where she throws open the doors to the parlor. My eyebrows shoot up and I cover my mouth with both hands when I look inside. Everything is covered in white ¨C white tulle, whitece, white silk, white satin ¨C hanging from racks, draped over chairs, stacked on the sofa. The only dark spot in the room is Kent, before the firece, directing the workers who carry piles of garment bags. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Daniel says, peering into the room behind me, a sandwich in his hand. ¡°Don¡¯t bring that in here,¡± Fiona scolds, swatting at him. Danielughs and finishes the sandwich in two big bites, brushing his hands on his pants to get free of crumbs. Fiona res at him a little but then nods, deeming him clean enough to enter. ¡°Is this¡­¡± I say, looking around in awe, a little anxiety roiling in my stomach as I realize what all of these white things are. ¡°Wedding dresses!¡± Fiona says, pping her hands. ¡°Aren¡¯t they gorgeous? They¡¯re all brought in from Kleinfeld.¡± ¡°Now, youe stand here,¡± Fiona says, pulling me and Daniel further into the room to stand by Kent, ¡°out of the way, while I get everything set up.¡± With that, she bustles away to shoo everyone unessential out of the room. As she works, I look up at Kent. ¡°Was it like this?¡± I ask. ¡°For your own wedding?¡± He nces down at me but looks back at the room as he answers. ¡°No. We had a small wedding, in Sicily. That¡¯s where she was from.¡± I raise my eyebrows, surprised. ¡°Oh,¡± I say. ¡°Is she¡­still there?¡± I scream at myself, inwardly, for such an awkward question. Bute on ¨C I can¡¯t just blurt out is she dead? How did she die? Which is what I really want to know. Chapter 0029 Chapter 0029 Kent looks down at me with a withering look. I work hard to keep my face straight, but I feel so terribly awkward that I open my mouth to say something else ¨C anything else - Daniel saves me. He links elbows with me and pulls me closer. ¡°My mom died when I was young,¡± he says casually. ¡°Her marriage to my dad was actually arranged,¡± he notes cheerfully. ¡°Like ours.¡± ¡°Oh!¡± I say, looking between Kent and Daniel, genuinely surprised. ¡°Um, was her death¡­an ident? An illness?¡± Kent sighs and looks at me sharply. ¡°If you want to ask, Fay, if I murdered her, or she died in a gunfight, or was kidnapped and tortured by my enemies, just be forthright about it.¡± I press my lips together, embarrassed. Because of course, that¡¯s exactly what I want to know. I say nothing. ¡°Cancer,¡± Daniel whispers beside me. I feel sadness flood me, then, and open my mouth to tell him how sorry I am, but he stops me with a smile. ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± he says. ¡°It really was a long time ago. Dad and I are all patched up.¡± ¡°Well,¡± I say, turning to smile at Daniel again. ¡°I guess that¡¯s something else we have inmon. Both of our moms died young.¡± ¡°Rather a macabre thing to bond over,¡± Kent says dryly, putting his hands in his pockets. ¡°But you will start a new family soon.¡± I wonder at the truth of that, but before I can say anything, Fiona pulls me forward to try on the first gown. The fittings take all afternoon. At first it was fun, ying princess, but after a while I get tired of fighting my way through yards and yards of tulle. Daniel and Kent leave immediately as the trials begin. Daniel didn¡¯t want to see the dress, insisting that it was bad luck, and Kent only wants toe in once the final selection is made. He said that if he¡¯s paying for it, he wants final approval. ¡°Okay,¡± Fiona says, studying me in thest dress. She holds up the beaded Oscar de Renta that was our other top choice, an incredible off-white beaded silk that fell heavily to the floor and made a fantastic shushing sound as I walked. ¡°This one?¡± She indicates the Oscar, ¡°or that?¡± She gestures towards the incredibly romantic Caroline Herrera dress that hugs my waist with a tight bodice, the off-shoulder sleeves flowing down in to the flowing charmeuse of the skirt, which sweeps behind me in a five-foot train. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?. ¡°This one,¡± I say, a little breathless, staring at myself in the mirror. I had never really been the kind of girl who dreamed about her wedding before, but in a dress like this? I am actually starting to feel like a bride. ¡°Oh thank god,¡± Fiona says, wiping a tear from her eye. ¡°That was my favorite too. If you¡¯d picked the Oscar, you¡¯d have broken my heart.¡± Iugh a little as she picks up her phone, texting someone. I realize, suddenly, that she¡¯s messaging Kent ¨C telling him toe down for final approval. When the door opens, I turn to face him, biting my lip, wondering, passively, if he¡¯ll approve. He¡¯s looking down at his phone as he walks into the room but, about halfway across the room from us, he nces up. Kent stops dead in his tracks. I feel fear curl in the bottom of my belly. Does he not like it? Did I make the right choice? His whole body stiffens, his arm dropping to his side as his eyes slowly rove over my form. I turn to him, running my hands across the fabric at my hips, and see his mouth fall ever so slightly open. Then, his eyes snap back to my own and his mouth ms shut. He takes a step forward, his eyes burning, and, surprised, I take one step back ¨C My reaction is totally animal, that of prey flinching back from a predator. Kent sees it, registers my fear, and wills himself back intoposure. His eyes flick to Fiona for a moment as he slowly rolls his shoulders back, putting his hands into his pockets. Then, he studies me again. It¡¯s a mask, though, this time ¨C I can tell. He¡¯s just pretending to be the passive buyer studying his goods. Beneath, he¡¯s the wolf, and I am his supper. I stare at him, aware, in some part of me, that I have made him ravenous. I shift my position, then, trying out how this knowledge feels in in my body, twisting my hips so that my thighs rub together beneath the skirt of my gown. Kent¡¯s eyes sh to my legs, my thighs, and I see a muscle flicker in his cheek as he clenches his jaw. ¡°So,¡± Fiona says, her arms folded, her eyes shing between us. ¡°I guess you like it, Kent?¡± I turn my head to look at her, breaking out of my strange reverie, and blush to see the awareness on her face. ¡°Yes,¡± Kent says, and when I look back I see that he is, again, all control. ¡°The Herrera is a good choice. Charge it to my ount.¡± With that, he turns and leaves the room. ¡°How¡­¡± I say, turning my surprise in my mind, ¡°how does he know all the designers?¡± I ask. ¡°Baby,¡± Fiona says, sauntering over to me with a smirk. ¡°He chose all of these gowns. Not me.¡± My mouth falls open in surprise. Chapter 0030 Chapter 0030 ¡°Come on, baby Fay,¡± she says with a smile. ¡°Let¡¯s go have a drink.¡± I shrug, not hating the idea, and let Fiona help me out of the wedding gown. After I change, I follow her through the kitchen and out into a beautiful little garden I didn¡¯t know was here. ¡°Oh wow,¡± I say, looking around. ¡°It¡¯s beautiful out here.¡± It really is. There¡¯s a full grill and wet bar pressed up against the house. Next to it is a stone patio with a hand-carved wooden table covered by a tall perg that has grape vines curling all around it. The whole area is surrounded by tall hedges, keeping out prying eyes. Fiona bends down to remove a bottle of wine from the fridge and pops it open, filling two delicate sses that she takes down from the rack above the sink. I sit down at the table as she brings the sses over. ¡°This is Kent¡¯stest vintage,¡± she says as I raise the ss to my lips. The wine is dry, but I feel a little bit of bubble against my lips as I sip. It¡¯s delicious. As I peer at it in the ss, I suddenly realize something. ¡°Wait, has Kent been the one sending the clothes up to my room? The ones I wear everyday?¡± Fiona shrugs. ¡°Probably. He has my wardrobe restocked every couple of months, so he definitely has the stores on call.¡± I stare at the door, then, a little appalled to realize that Kent has made me his little Barbie doll, dressing me up so that I look just the way he wants me to. But behind my disgust at the idea, a very little bit of me¡­likes it. ¡°It¡¯s so nice to have a chance to sit with you one-on-one,¡± Fiona says, interrupting my thoughts. ¡°You know, have a little girl talk.¡± I smile at her. ¡°Yes, I agree. I used to do this all the time with my sister.¡± ¡°Aww,¡± Fiona says, giving me a warm smile. You can consider me your sister now, if you want.¡± I smile at her and nod. ¡°So!¡± she says, leaning forward. ¡°How are things going with you and Daniel?¡± I press my lips together. I definitely can¡¯t tell her the truth ¨C I promised Daniel I wouldn¡¯t ¨C but, frankly, I¡¯m dying for someone to talk to. She leans in. ¡°Don¡¯t be shy,¡± she says. ¡°You can trust me.¡± ¡°Well,¡± I say, hesitating. ¡°I mean, I really like Daniel a lot ¨C but, I¡¯m just not sure we¡¯re meant to be. Romantically.¡± ¡°Why do you say that?¡± she says, curious. ¡°Is the physical connection just not there?¡± I hesitate, realizing that we¡¯re getting a little too close to the truth here. N?velDrama.Org holds ? this. She leans forward to whisper more. ¡°Is he no good in bed?¡± I blush terribly then, biting my lip, too ashamed to admit that I have no way of knowing. And never will. Fiona stares at me and then figures it out, sitting back with a gasp. ¡°You mean¡­you never¡­¡± My blush deepens. ¡°Fay,¡± she says, looking actually worried for me now. ¡°You¡¯re not a¡­¡± My eyes dart to her and I know she can see the truth there. ¡°Oh my god,¡± she murmurs. ¡°You¡¯re a virgin.¡± I nod hastily and then take a big gulp of my wine. If we¡¯re going to have this conversation, I¡¯d rather be lubricated. To my surprise, Fionaughs loudly and ps her hands, tickled by the idea. ¡°Baby Fay!¡± sheughs, ¡°you are too cute!¡± I can¡¯t help butugh with her. When she finishesughing she shakes her head at me, truly ying the role of a big sister. ¡°So what¡¯s the problem, baby? Why haven¡¯t you given it up to him? Are you scared? Shy?¡± I shrug a little, not really knowing how to say it. ¡°I¡¯m not¡­opposed. I just¡­I don¡¯t know what to do.¡± ¡°Well sweetie,¡± she says, finishing her ss of wine and standing up. ¡°In this world, you¡¯ve got to keep your man happy. Let me help.¡± I stand up with her and swallow my ss of. Then, I follow Fiona back into the house, not really knowing what¡¯s going on. Fiona bustles through the house and I trail behind, following her to a door in the kitchen that I hadn¡¯t noticed before. She opens it and heads quickly downstairs. The air is noticeably cooler down here and we pass a series of metal doors. I slow my pace the further we go, getting anxious. What was this ce? ¡°Just down here,¡± Fiona says, opening thest door on the left. I¡¯m surprised when I enter it. It¡¯s just a little study with a worn rug on the ground beneath a fine leather recliner. There¡¯s a coffee table next to it and arge television facing the recliner. The walls are covered in media ¨C old VHS tapes, magazines, books, photo albums. Chapter 0031 Chapter 0031 ¡°Kent doesn¡¯t use this ce anymore,¡± she says, ¡°but I organized it a while ago. I thought it was better like this than everything just in boxes. This way if he needs to look through anything, he¡¯s got a ce to sit.¡± ¡°He¡¯s lucky to have your help,¡± I murmur, looking around. ¡°That¡¯s all old family stuff,¡± Fiona says, waving her hand at the far wall, ¡°but this,¡± she leads me over to a corner with stacks of magazines and VHS tapes. ¡°This is what I wanted to show you.¡± Fiona picks up a stack of magazines and plops them in my hand. I nce at them, curious, and then realize that they¡¯re all yboys. I gasp and almost drop them, eliciting anotherugh from Fiona. ¡°You see what I mean, baby Fay?¡± she says, adding another bunch to the stack in my hand. ¡°You¡¯re just a little too uptight about this sort of thing,¡± she says. ¡°It¡¯s just sex. I thought if you came down here, explored a little,¡± she raises a suggestive eyebrow at me, ¡°that maybe you¡¯d get a little¡­inspiration. For you and Daniel.¡± My mouth falls open in surprise. Is that what Fiona thinks our problem is? I have to stop myself from ¡°Um, thank you,¡± I say, blushing again, ¡°but ¨C¡° ¡°No buts!¡± she says, taking me by the shoulders and settling me into the leather chair. ¡°Listen, I¡¯m going to leave you down here by yourself, so just go ahead and explore,¡± she says. ¡°There¡¯s lots of VHS tapes up there,¡± she continues, gesturing towards the corner where she found the magazines, ¡°if movies are more your thing. Stay for as long as you want ¨C nobody is going to bother you here!¡± I sigh as I find myself alone in the room, staring at the stack of porn in myp. What the hell was I doing here? This is so not my thing. But, well. I have to admit I¡¯m curious about this crazy porn stash. And It¡¯s not like there¡¯s anything else to do. I flick through a couple of the magazines ¨C they¡¯re super old, definitely before Kent¡¯s time - and wonder who collected them in the first ce. Bored with that, I wander over to the stack of movies,ughing a little at the titles. Busty Co-Eds and their Punishing Professors Street Skanks in 3D. What the hell was this crap? A few of the tapes are ubeled in ck stic boxes. Curious, I reach up and take one down. When I open the box, the VHS inside also doesn¡¯t have any writing on it. Maybe a home video, put over here by mistake? Curious, I take it over to the waiting VCR and pop it in, rewinding to the start. Then I sit back in the chair and press y on the remote. It is indeed a home video. The room being recorded is empty, though I can see a bed in a pretty room with two windows behind it. Frowning, I lean forward. Those windows look a lot like the ones in my ¨C I gasp, then, as a woman walks naked onto the screen. Sheys herself down on the bed, looking offscreen at the person who must have turned on the video recorder. Then,ying on her back, she slowly lets her knees drift apart, beckoning with a crooked finger. I stare, fascinated, as someone elsees on the screen. I p my hand across my mouth when I realize that he, too, is totally naked. The man crawls onto the bed, slipping a hand beneath the woman to flip her over so that she¡¯s kneeling down, her weight resting on her knees. When the man positions himself so that he¡¯s kneeling behind her, I get the shock of my life. It¡¯s Kent. I¡¯m watching Kent Lippert¡¯s homemade porn. Mesmerized, I watch Kent reach down to touch himself. The woman is in the way ¨C I can¡¯t see any details ¨C but I can tell he¡¯s hard and ready for her. He gives her a loud smack on the ass and, as she gives a little yelp, plunges himself inside her, grabbing her by the hips. The woman¡¯s mouth opens in a gasp that turns into a moan, and suddenly she¡¯s saying his name ¨C I lean forward, fascinated, when suddenly the door next to the television swings open. My eyes fly to the door to see my worst nightmare ¨C This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?. Kent is standing right there. Chapter 0032 Chapter 0032 My heart pounding, I press the stop button on the remote as fast as I can and return my wide eyes to Kent, who is still looking at me. Please, please, please. By all that is holy, let him not have seen me watching his sex tape. ¡°What are you doing in here,¡± he asks, angry. ¡°Um,¡± I say, terrified, hoping he doesn¡¯t pick up on the tremor in my voice. ¡°Fiona brought me here? Said I could look through some¡­¡± my eyes dart around the room for an answer that is not porn. ¡°Some family photo albums? And home videos?¡± He narrows his eyes at me, his eyes flicking to the pile of vintage yboys on the floor. ¡°She shouldn¡¯t have brought you down here,¡± he says, moving aside so that I can leave the room. I quickly get to my feet, flicking the power button on the remote so that the TV goes nk. Then, dropping the remote, I scurry out of the room, praying with all my might that Kent does not go back in to see what tape is in the VCR. He closes the door behind me as I head for the steps. ¡°Go upstairs,¡± he says. ¡°Don¡¯te down here.¡± d to obey, I hurry out into the kitchen, heaving a sigh of relief. I head back towards the main part of the house, looking forward to going to my room so I can bury my nose into a very different kind of book, my hand sliding to the back pocket of my jeans to check on my phone. My hand slides over smooth denim. I stop dead in my tracks, panicked, and pat all over my body looking for it. Then, slowly, I turn back towards the little door. I definitely felt it in my back pocket when N?velDrama.Org holds ? this. we left the patio¡­ God damnit. My phone must have fallen out in the weird porn room. Steeling myself, I know I have to go back. If my dad or Janeen ever called I didn¡¯t have it ¨C I¡¯d just die with guilt. On tiptoes, I walk back to the little door in the kitchen, pulling it open a crack to listen. I don¡¯t hear a sound. Tentatively, I put a foot on the step, waiting for a creek. Nothing. Then, silently, I hurry down the stairs and through the hallway. I let myself back into the little room and grab my phone, which is sitting on the leather chair. Then, for good measure, I pop the VHS out of the VCR and put it back in its ck casing, which I slide back on the shelf. There, good. Now no one will ever know. I leave the room and, quiet as a mouse, shut the door behind me. I begin to creep back along the hallway when I hear something to my left. I stop dead, terrified that I¡¯ve been caught. But no onees out to scold me. I hear the sound again to my left, a kind of snap, and then a muffled groan. Unable to stop myself, I consider the door from which the sound ising. It¡¯s thick, made of iron, with no window. It has a bolt on the outside, like a prison. But I can also see that the bolt is not locked. I know it¡¯s a mistake. I know I shouldn¡¯t. Even as I know these things, though, I stare at the door, consumed by my need to know more. I take two steps closer, reaching out a hand to grip the metal handle and then, my inner voice still screaming at me to stop, I pull it open just a crack and look inside. The noise from inside is suddenly louder without the thick door to keep it in. I see two men facing me, strapped to chairs, fabric gags tied across their mouths. They¡¯re moaning, one sobbing, as they look at something just out of my sight, terror in their eyes. As I watch, though, their torturer reveals himself. Kent, dressed in his suit pants and an undershirt, steps into my line of sight. My eyes take in the strong muscles of his back, the rage that I can see pulsing through him just by the way he stands over these men. He¡¯s wrapped his belt around his hand, a long piece of it hanging down from his fist, the buckle dangling. As I watch, Kent rips his fist to the side, letting the belt drag across the men¡¯s faces like a whip, the buckle tearing the flesh of their cheeks. ¡°TELL ME,¡± Kentmands, his shoulders heaving. The men tremble before him, crying. They shake their heads no, but this is apparently not the answer that Kent wants. He drops the belt, moving to the man on the left and pulling a knife from his pocket. Chapter 0033 Chapter 0033 The man starts to scream as Kent stands behind him, pressing the sharp edge of the knife to the man¡¯s pinky finger. The scream turns to a howl of horror, of pain, as Kent presses the de deeper. I¡¯m frozen to the spot, horrified. Though I can feel myself trembling, I can¡¯t move, can¡¯t stop watching. The man not being cut begins to scream in panic, looking everywhere for a way out and then ¨C Oh my god ¨C His eyes fix on me. He sees me peeking through the door, fixates on me. He begins to scream in my direction and I think I can hear the words ¡°help! HELP!¡± reverberate through the room. Sensing a change, Kent¡¯s eyes shift to the other man and then move directly to me. I gasp and push the door shut and then bolt ¨C bolt ¨C from the hallway. Panic moves me faster than I thought I could go as I scramble up the stairs, sprint across the kitchen, pull open the kitchen door and then use the banister to propel myself up the main stairs two steps at a time. Oh my god, I think, he¡¯s a monster, he¡¯s a psychopath! Of course, I had already made this assessment ¨C in jail when I¡¯d interviewed him, then again when he kidnapped me ¨C but now? The truth feels like it has hit home inside of me, after seeing that scene in the Mafia King¡¯s basement. I reach the top of the stairs and throw myself towards my room, my fingers inches from my doorknob, when something grabs me around my waist, hauling me back against a solid body ¨C I scramble, shrieking, trying to get free, but he holds me fast. He grabs me by the hair at the back of my neck, forcing my head back, my face turned up towards his. I pant, in his arms, pinned against him, finally still. ¡°What did I tell you to do, Fay?¡± ¡°My phone!¡± I gasp, remembering my rationale for being there. ¡°I forgot my phone!¡± ¡°You deliberately disobeyed me, Fay,¡± he says, walking forward a few steps, pressing me backwards, my feet working to keep up as I feel the door to my bedroom press into my back. It swing opens and then, suddenly, we¡¯re in my room. Kent kicks the door shut and pushes me up against the wall. My breathes fast then ¨C I almost hyperventte ¨C ¡°Calm down, Fay,¡± he says, his body pressed against mine. I blink up at him, realizing that he¡¯s It takes a minute, but I force my breath toe slower. I look up into his face and he watches me, his fingers loosening in my hair, beginning to stroke slowly at the base of my neck. I can¡¯t tear my eyes from him as he brings his face close to mine. ¡°Did you like watching me work, Fay?¡± he asks, his voice dangerous. I feel my lip starts to tremble. I see him look down at it. ¡°Do you know what happens to people who watch me when they¡¯re not supposed to?¡± He murmurs, his voice tipped with a razor¡¯s edge. Slowly, I shake my head no. He brings his mouth close to my ear, the stubble of his jaw brushing against my cheek. ¡°They get punished,¡± he whispers. My breathing grows heavier at this. I can feel my breath matching up with my pounding heart, my chest pressing against his. I know he can feel it too. He withdraws his mouth from my ear, looking at me again, a cruel smile lighting his lips. ¡°What is it, Fay,¡± he murmurs, wondering. ¡°It¡¯s almost as if, disobeying me like that, you want me to punish you¡­¡± I close my eyes as a moan slips out of my mouth when he says that. God damnit ¨C god damnit ¨C my whole body goes loose in his arms, pressed against him ¨C a steady ache builds at the apex of my thighs, and, suddenly, I know that I¡¯m wet for him. I feel horror cross my face, shame ¨C god, what was wrong with me ¨C ¡°No, Fay,¡± he growls, and I open my eyes to see him staring down into mine. ¡°Don¡¯t fight it. You want to pretend that you don¡¯t belong in this world, but you were born to be here. Just like me,¡± his voice lowers, stroking me like velvet, ¡°you¡¯re drawn to the danger, Fay.¡± He brings his face even closer to mine so that I feel his next words like a force against my lips. ¡°Danger,¡± he says. ¡°It makes you want to fuck.¡± Chapter 0034 Chapter 0034 I gasp, my eyes going wide, and then ¨C instantly, like flipping a light switch ¨C Ie back to myself. ¡°Oh my god!¡± I shout, putting my hands up against his chest and shoving him. ¡°Oh my god you are so gross!¡± Heughs then, truly entertained but not moving at all against my pushes. After three or four, though, Kent takes a step back, letting me push past him and dash across the room. I spin when I get to my desk, leaning back against it, my breathing fast. Kent stands calmly by the door, watching me,ughing. God, I hate him. My lips curl back a little as I sneer at him, this horrible man, torturing me after ¨C after what he did to those people in the basement - ¡°Ohe on, Fay,¡± he purrs, putting his hands in his pockets. ¡°You were the one who was so curious to see what was going on in the basement, even after I told you to leave. You should be brave enough to admit that you wanted to see it, that you liked it.¡± ¡°I did not,¡± I say, stamping my foot a little. ¡°I went down to get my phone ¨C¡° I scramble at the pants of my jeans, producing it as if it¡¯s evidence and tossing it on the desk. ¡°I definitely didn¡¯t want to see anything that was going on in that room ¨C¡° ¡°Fay,¡± he says, his voice light and tempting, almost sing-song. ¡°I saw you, Fay. I saw you crouched down, peering into the room. You weren¡¯t just passing by. You stopped. You opened the door so that you could watch me.¡± N?velDrama.Org holds ? this. I snap my mouth shut, staring at him. He¡¯s right, of course. I was tempted. I did look. God, seriously, what was wrong with me? Heughs softly again at me again, at the expression of guilt on my face. Slowly, he takes three steps towards me, sliding his hands into his pockets. ¡°If you¡¯re going to be in my house, Fay,¡± he says. ¡°You¡¯ll follow my rules. Was I not clear about that before?¡± Quickly, I shake my head. I¡¯ve known since the moment I walked into this house that Kent¡¯s will isw. I watch him as he slowly takes two more steps in my direction. ¡°If you don¡¯t follow my rules, Fay,¡± he says,ing ever closer. ¡°You will be punished. Do you want me to punish you?¡± I don¡¯t move ¨C don¡¯t answer. A perverse part of me considers the question ¨C actually considers whether ¨C ¡°No,¡± I say quickly. ¡°No, I¡¯m sorry, I won¡¯t do it again.¡± Kent shakes his head, a little closer right now. Fear rises in me, but so does anger. Why is he still ¡°It doesn¡¯t work that way, Fay,¡± he says, prowling. ¡°You broke the rules once. You just told me you did. Now, you have to take your medicine.¡± He¡¯s only feet from me now. I lean back against the desk, desperate for even a few more inches of space. Then, I see him smile, just a tiny thing at the corner of his mouth and realize ¨C God damnit, he¡¯s enjoying this. Something in me snaps. I stand up straight. ¡°Don¡¯t youe any closer to me,¡± I hiss the words from between my teeth. Kentughs lightly, continuing to draw nearer. He likes this, I realize. Likes pinning me back in the corner. He¡¯s already gotten everything he needs ¨C my apology, my promise that I won¡¯t do it again ¨C and yet, he¡¯s pushing¡­ ¡°Why shouldn¡¯t I, Fay,¡± Kent says softly, almost a whisper. ¡°What are you going to do to me,¡± his eyes flick over me as he says it, ¡°if I take one. More. Step?¡± He¡¯s bearing down on me, his face again inches from mine. ¡°Are you going to run again, Fay?¡± he asks, so softly only I can hear. ¡°I¡¯ll just catch you.¡± My heartbeat ratchets up as I look up at him, at his powerful face, theplete control in his eyes. Then, I do the only thing I can think of. I tilt my head back and scream. Surprisingly, Kent flinches at this, taking a step back. I look back at him as I run out of breath, my eyes wide, a pinch of joy lighting in me as I realize that I actually rattled him, just a little. Building on the effort, I throw my head back again, taking a deep breath, getting ready to let it all out when he grabs me ¨C ¡°God damnit, Fay,¡± he growls, pping a hand across my mouth and pulling me to him so that my left shoulder is crunched against his chest. ¡°What do you think that is going to do!?¡± But I look up at him with a little bit of victory in my eyes. He wouldn¡¯t be shutting me up if he thought it wasn¡¯t going to do anything. He¡¯d let me scream myself hoarse if he didn¡¯t care. Chapter 0035 Chapter 0035 He gives me a little shake ¨C nothing rough, just enough to try to teach me he¡¯s in control ¨C but I just The fear is still coursing through me, but along with it is something else ¨C adrenaline, maybe ¨C God damnit, was he right? Was my body responding to something in this, to the challenge, or the danger of it all? ¡°Fay, I¡¯m going to let you go, but if you scream again, I swear ¨C¡° But just then, the door to my room swings open and my fianc¨¦ bursts into the room, panic and worry on his own face, his eyes flying wide when he sees me wrapped in his father¡¯s arms, his hand over my mouth. ¡°What the hell is going on here?!¡± Daniel shouts, striding over to us. Kent lets me go instantly and I gasp in fresh air, falling back against the desk. Daniel stops by the bed, his father between us. His eyes sweep over me, ascertaining that I¡¯m okay, before turning with anger to his dad. ¡°What were you doing to her?!¡± Kent has regained hisposure faster than I thought he would. Cooly, he slips his hands back into his pockets and gives Daniel a little smirk. ¡°Nothing, Daniel. Everything is fine.¡± Daniel¡¯s gaze slips to mine, looking for confirmation. I hesitate for a moment, looking between father and son, and then give a little shrug, deciding not to push it. Kent has made his point ¨C I need to do what he says ¨C but if he was really going to hurt me, he¡¯d have done it by now. ¡°See?¡± Kent says, looking at his son. ¡°She¡¯s fine.¡± With that, Kent strides from the room, brushing past his son and not giving me another look. Confused, Daniel looks after him, and then turns to me. ¡°Am I crazy?¡± He asks. ¡°Or did I hear you scream?¡± I sign and sink onto the bed. ¡°You¡¯re not crazy,¡± I say. ¡°I did.¡± ¡°But you¡¯re okay?¡± I nod as he sits down next to me, concern all over his face. I have to admit that I am a little surprised by it ¨C all this time I think I thought, at least a little, that I¡¯m just a pawn in Daniel¡¯s life. It feels good to know that he cares about me enough toe running when he hears that I¡¯m in trouble. ¡°I just¡­well, I broke a rule,¡± I say, twisting my hands together and grimacing at him. Daniel groans, starting to calm down a bit. ¡°Yeah,¡± he says, giving a littleugh. ¡°He does not like that. What did you do?¡± ¡°Um,¡± I bite my lip, trying to decide where to start. I was watching some of your dad¡¯s homemade porn in the basement doesn¡¯t seem like quite the auspicious beginning, so I jump ahead. ¡°He told me not to go into the basement. And I did. And I saw him¡­¡± I hesitate, wondering how much he knows. Daniel¡¯s face drops, going a little pale. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Fay,¡± he says softly. ¡°Some of the stuff that goes on down there¡­is¡­did anyone get hurt?¡± I nod a little and he puts a hand on my shoulder. ¡°Does it happen often?¡± I ask softly. ¡°I don¡¯t really know,¡± he says, shrugging. ¡°I saw it once as a kid and then¡­I never went down again. Honestly, I think my dad was a little disappointed in me. He doesn¡¯t want me to be¡­well, a sissy. And I ran away crying.¡± I bite my lip at this, feeling for Daniel, who is sensitive. After a beat, I feel a question rise in me. ¡°Daniel?¡± I ask. ¡°How are you going to inherit this family, its¡­business¡­if you can¡¯t handle its methods?¡± He shakes his head at me, looking sad. ¡°I ask myself that all the time. I don¡¯t think even my dad has an answer. Honestly, sometimes it feels like he¡¯s fighting so hard to keep this family¡¯s power together so that he can give it to me, pass it on to future generations, but¡­if it were up to me, maybe I just don¡¯t This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. want it.¡± I nod, understanding. But I also know that there¡¯s so much at stake ¨C even if Daniel were to give up the family¡¯s business, it would cause a power vacuum in the city that could be disastrous, even lethal to the people he loves. He¡¯s in a tough ce, and I feel for him. ¡°I¡¯ll do my best,¡± Daniel says, looking at me seriously. ¡°To protect you from all of that, in the future.¡± I nod, smiling at him softly at his generous offer. But inside, part of me remembers the rush, the adrenaline, and wonders whether I want him to keep that promise. Chapter 0036 Chapter 0036 As I fall into the routines of the Lippert house I¡¯m surprised to find that I¡¯m quickly bored by them. Life at my home with David and Janeen was also boring ¨C but they¡¯re just normal people. A little of me, I think, expected everyday gang life to be more exciting. It¡¯s not that the house is empty, really. Every day starts with a flurry of activity. Breakfast in the kitchen is a big affair, with everyone rushing through. Kent¡¯s top guys ¨C mostly older gentlemen - drink their tiny sses of espresso at a table in the corner, bantering. Lower-level guys, dressed in thousand-dor sweatsuits, run briskly through, reporting and getting new orders. Guards are all around ¨C watching everything, but mostly wishing, I think, that they were important enough to be included with the others. If they work hard enough, though, they can level up. As the day passes, everyone spreads out to do their work. Daniel goes out a lot ¨C to school, mostly, wrapping up his spring semester. I¡¯ve been expressly forbidden to go out with him, to school or anywhere else. Apparently, I¡¯m still a kidnapping target. Kent has told the Mafia world that I¡¯m out there, Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org. but until he locks me down as part of his family I¡¯m forbidden any freedom. The first day Daniel left me behind, Fiona hade into the house just as he was leaving. Seeing my sad face, she wrapped an arm around my shoulders, her voice full of pity. ¡°I know,¡± she said, giving me a little squeeze. ¡°It¡¯s like you¡¯re a mafia widow already, stuck in this house. May as well dress yourself head to toe in ck crepe and spend your day saying the rosary for his soul.¡± ¡°At least it would be something to do,¡± I moaned, slumping my shoulders forward in misery. ¡°It¡¯s so boring here.¡± And it really is. Again, not that there¡¯s not a lot going on in this house at all times, it¡¯s just that I¡¯m¡­not at all a part of it. Everyone ¨C the guards, the captains, the made guys ¨C they¡¯re all very nice and polite to me. They smile at me when they pass me in the hall. But no one really talks to me, even if I try. I get the impression that Kent expressly forbade it. My only friend is Fiona, and she¡¯s very sweet, but we don¡¯t have a lot inmon. Fiona is, I think, a mafia boss¡¯s dream girlfriend. She¡¯s sweet, funny, and has enough bite in her wit to keep from being boring. She¡¯s incredibly sexy, but she spends most of her day building and maintaining that sexy appearance for Kent. When she¡¯s not here, she¡¯s out getting her hair and her nails done. When she¡¯s in the house, she¡¯s doing aerobics, or facials and beauty treatments, or ying with makeup and clothes. Fiona always looks stunning and keeps up with thetest fashions, but it¡¯s a ton of work. Fiona has swept me up in her world a bit. I think she likes it, giving me a whole master¡¯s course in makeup and hair care that I never, ever would have even thought about before she came along. But so much of the world just seems¡­ridiculous to me, though I¡¯d never say it to her. For instance, once, her Botox doctor came by the house and she asked me if I wanted a little. ¡°Just here and here,¡± she had said, tapping the corners of her eyes and between her eyebrows. Worried, I had touched my fingers gently to my skin in those ces. ¡°Seriously? Do I need it?¡± Laughing, she had told me that I didn¡¯t. ¡°It¡¯s just preventative,¡± she said, snapping her bubblegum as she leaned back in her chair and let the doctor do his work. ¡°If you start when you¡¯re twenty, you¡¯ll look thirty when you¡¯re fifty.¡± I had smiled at her and declined the treatment. What, really, was the problem of looking fifty when you¡¯re fifty? After all, Kent was forty and he looked ¨C Chapter 0037 Chapter 0037 Well. I cleared my throat and moved my thoughts on to something else. I am less tempted by the enticements of Fiona¡¯s super-feminine lifestyle, I think, because I already had a sister who delved into all of that sort of stuff. Sure, strippers are all about being sexy while being a mafia side piece is all about being luxe, but there was some ovep. And it just wasn¡¯t for me. Instead, I missed my work. Missed going to the office to meet with my colleagues, missed helping people, even missed going to the prison to interview inmates ¨C though I never thought I¡¯d miss that. I missed going to the coffee shop, missed studying and finding new books. And while Kent has given me free reign to order any books ¨C or really, anything I want - it¡¯s just not the same. I miss my life. And I¡¯m terribly, terribly bored. Kent and Daniel know, of course. Daniel because I¡¯ve told him and Kent¡­well, because Kent knows everything. I stopped begging him for a little freedom a while ago ¨C the answer was always no. Now, I mostly plead wordlessly, with my eyes, my expression. He knows I¡¯m miserable here, but he still won¡¯t let me out. I¡¯m staving off my boredom, today, by painting my toenails in the back garden. Fiona has given me an borate manicure kit, telling me to practice, so my feet and hands are far, far more polished than they¡¯ve ever been. I sigh as I finish painting avender sheen on my pinkie toe. What the hell am I going to do next? I jump, then, as a box smacks on the ground next to me ¨C a big one, as long as my arm. I look up at the back door with wide eyes, shocked to see Kent standing there, leaning against the frame with his arms crossed. ¡°Put those on,¡± he says. ¡°We have somewhere to be.¡± Frowning, I lift the box into myp and open the top, gasping a little as I see a pair of the most gorgeous boots. They¡¯re tall, nearly knee-high, and made of supple ck leather with a delicate little buckle around the ankle. ¡°Where are we going?¡± I ask, my face lighting up. Honestly, I don¡¯t care ¨C out of the house it sounds like, so I¡¯m thrilled either way. ¡°You¡¯ll see,¡± he says, turning and heading towards the garage. ¡°Meet me by the car when you¡¯re ready.¡± I quickly pull on my socks, not caring that it will ruin my pedicure, and then tug the boots on as quick as I can. I have to force my foot in all the way to the bottom, tugging hard at the top ¨C there¡¯s no zipper to help. But, when I finally get them on, they fit perfectly. As usual, Kent has guessed my size to perfection. I admire the boots for a moment and then spring to my feet, running to the car. Kent drives us in silence to wherever we¡¯re going, but I do note the subtle smile ying on his lips. I¡¯ve stopped asking about our destination ¨C he never tells ¨C so I just spend my time gazing out at the missed the sight of a variety of nature beyond what Kent¡¯s little back garden can offer. I¡¯m surprised to see him slow in what seems like the middle of nowhere, turning towards a simple This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?. gravel drive crossed with a metal gate. He presses a button on the roof of the car and the metal gate slowly swings open. I look closely, but I can¡¯t see anything beyond it. ¡°Are we here?¡± I ask, frowning at him. He looks at me and nods. I see that he can¡¯t help but smile a little, so I smile too and sit up in my seat, looking eagerly out the windshield. Then I just wait, a little breathlessly, to see where he¡¯s taken me. Chapter 0038 Chapter 0038 We drive a little down thene, over a slight rise, and then a barnes into sight. A beautiful barn, really, immactely cared for and painted in shades of gray. Three little gables peak out of the roof and two little cups crown it, weathervanes at their peeks. ¡°Oh!¡± I say,pletely charmed by the sight. But then I see the real draw. In a series of pastures beyond the barn, my eyes can just barely see a group of horses grazing in the afternoon light. ¡°Oh!¡± I say, louder this time, far more thrilled. ¡°Is this a stable?!¡± Kentughs as he turns the car into a parking spot next to the barn. ¡°I thought you¡¯d like it,¡± he says seriously. ¡°One look at you and anyone could tell you grew up dreaming of horses.¡± I nod fervently, scrambling to unbuckle my seatbelt and open the door at once. ¡°Can we see them?!¡± I ask, my words falling over each other in my hurry. ¡°Can I feed them? Do they have any foals?!¡± Heughs at me as I almost fall out of the car, climbing calmly out himself. Before I can dash into the barn, he holds out an arm to stop me. ¡°Let me take the lead here, all right, Fay?¡± I look up at him, shining with joy, and nod. I quickly look back towards the entrance but then do a double-take, looking back at his face, which is somehow¡­gentler? Kinder? We both pause, taking each other in, distracted. But then he blinks, walking calmly into the barn. I follow closely at his heels. ¡°Sir!¡± someone says ¨C a young man with sandy hair down to his shoulders. He¡¯s dressed almost like a cowboy, with jeans tucked into western boots and a button-down id shirt. He gives me a happy nod and then turns his attention back to Kent. ¡°He¡¯s all ready for you, gentle as can be. A real beauty.¡± Kent nods to the man and looks beyond him. ¡°Well, I¡¯m ready if you are.¡± The man bobs his head and the three of us walk through the stable to thest stall on the right, which the groom pulls open. Kent walks up to the open door and leans on the far side of it, nodding into the stall. ¡°What do you think, Fay?¡± he asks. Slowly, so excited I can barely breathe, I peak around the corner of the stall to see the most gorgeous thing I¡¯ve ever set eyes on in my life. ¡°Oh,¡± I say again, though this time it¡¯s barely a breath of air puffing out of my lips as I take another step forward and cover my mouth with my fingertips, just staring at him. A beautiful blood bay gelding stands in front of me, an Arabian by the arch of his neck and the height at which he holds his tail. The horse gently paws at the shavings of his stall, looking over at us curiously. My eyes sweep over him, his glossy mane, his wide and gentle eye. And immediately, I know it. I¡¯m in love. ¡°Can I¡­¡± I say, ncing over at Kent. ¡°Can I go in? Can I touch him?¡± Kentughs and nods at me. Beyond him, I can see that the groom is equally pleased. I turn quickly back to the horse, taking a gentle step forward. The skin on his shoulder twitches a little, but otherwise he does not balk as I walk towards him. I hold out a hand towards his nose, palm up, and he gently lips my palm, saying hello, checking to see if I have a snack. Slowly, I raise my other hand to run over the rich ze that runs down his face, stepping close to run a hand over his velvety neck. ¡°Do you like him?¡± Kent asks, behind me. I turn back and re at him a little. What a stupid question. Then I turn back to the beautiful horse as I This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. stroke his silky mane. ¡°I thought you might,¡± Kent says,ughing. Then he pauses. ¡°I¡¯m rarely wrong in my choice of presents. Never, really.¡± I freeze at his words. What ¨C Did he mean ¨C Slowly, I turn back to him and see him smile at my shock. ¡°He¡¯s yours, Fay,¡± Kent says to me. ¡°If you want him.¡± I embarrass myself then by bursting into tears. Kent nods to the groom, who quickly disappears. Then,ughing at me a little, Kent joins me in the stall. He, too, raises a hand for the horse to inspect before stroking the animal¡¯s nose . ¡°Who knew,¡± Kent says, looking at the horse. ¡°Here I was trying to cheer you up, and all I¡¯ve done is make you cry.¡± He smiles down at me. ¡°Guess I¡¯ll have to send him back to where he came from.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you dare,¡± I growl at him, giving him a little shove away from my horse. Then, I bite my lip. ¡°Really?¡± I ask, looking up at Kent. ¡°He¡¯s mine?¡± Kent shrugs. ¡°This whole stable is mine, full of horses. What¡¯s the harm in you having just one?¡± ¡°And I cane and see him?¡± I ask, desperate for it, hungry with anticipation. ¡°Under guard,¡± he says, looking at me seriously. ¡°Yes, you cane every day, if you want.¡± Chapter 0039 Chapter 0039 A smile spreads over my face and I resist the urge to throw my arms around him, so thrilled am I. But, I have more questions. ¡°Why?¡± I ask, a little breathless now. ¡°Why did you do this for me?¡± Kent leans back against the low wall. ¡°Because I could tell you were miserable, Fay. You might not believe it, but I don¡¯t take pleasure singrly in making people unhappy. I want you to be safe, for Daniel¡¯s sake, as his future bride,¡± he looks at me carefully, ¡°but there¡¯s no reason you should be so sad about this life.¡± I look down at the floor of the stall. Have I been that obvious? I knew that he noticed, but I wasn¡¯t aware that his perception ran so deep. ¡°Also,¡± he says, standing up straight again and putting a finger under my chin to lift my face up. ¡°You have been a good girl, Fay. I have noticed. No more illicit trips to the basement, no more obstinate disobedience.¡± He smirks, then. ¡°Or at least, not much.¡± I keep my face expressionless, not really wanting to tell him that I wasn¡¯t being good for his sake. There just hadn¡¯t been a lot of opportunity for rebellion in thest few weeks. Or I might have taken it, for the sake of variety. ¡°When those in my care are good,¡± he says carefully, studying my face closely, ¡°they get presents. When they are bad, they get punished.¡± He lowers his face, bringing it closer to mine. My gaze shifts to his mouth, watching it form his words. ¡°I¡¯d rmend, Fay,¡± he says softly, ¡°that you stay on my good side. Then you can have more rewards.¡± A chill runs down my spine and a darker part of me ¨C one that hasn¡¯t raised its head for awhile ¨C wonders which one, really, I want more. The horse nickers softly, nudging at the pocket of Kent¡¯s coat. Kent turns his attention away from me, chuckling. ¡°All right, boy, you¡¯ve found me out,¡± he says, reaching into the pocket and producing two sugar cubes. He holds them out to the horse, who eats them eagerly from his palm. Then, Kent produces two more sugar cubes and hands them to me. ¡°To get your friendship off right.¡± Kent takes a few steps back as I feed the horse, enjoying the feel of his coarse little mouth hairs against my palm. When he¡¯s finished eating, I go back to petting him, marveling at this beautiful creature. I can¡¯t believe that he¡¯s mine. A few minutes pass in silence as Kent lets me get to know my new friend. Then, I hear his voice again. ¡°What will you name him?¡± Kent asks, still watching me from the doorway. ¡°Hmm,¡± I say, considering it, looking at the horse. Then, I decide. ¡°Heathcliff,¡± I say. N?velDrama.Org holds ? this. Kentughs at me and I turn to give him another little re. ¡°What? You don¡¯t like it? What¡¯s wrong with it?¡± ¡°Such an ugly name,¡± he says, but there¡¯s no real bite in his words, ¡°for such a beautiful horse. Why did you pick that?¡± ¡°Because,¡± I say, turning to Heathcliff and smiling lovingly into his face. ¡°Whatever souls are made of, his and mine are the same,¡± I say, brushing his forelock away from his rich brown eyes. As if he understands me, Heathcliff presses his nose to my chest. A beat passes and then I look back to Kent, curious as to why he doesn¡¯t tease me further. ¡°Well well,¡± he says slowly. ¡°The youngdy has read her Bront?, at least. Though I do wonder if such a great passion is a bit wasted on a horse.¡± I blink at him, shocked, really, that he understood my reference. I wouldn¡¯t have thought Wuthering Heights was on the reading list for the Mafia King. Then, I speak without thinking. ¡°Well, I suppose that until a greater passion reveals itself, I will spend all my love on him.¡± Kent lifts himself from the wall, standing solidly in the stable doorway with his arms crossed. ¡°I wonder what my son would say to that,¡± he says, low and soft. I blink at him, panicking suddenly as I realize my mistake. I have just tacitly admitted that there is no passion between me and Daniel. Neither of us say a word for minute, but then Kent turns away. ¡°Come,¡± he says, looking back towards the parking lot. ¡°That¡¯s enough for now. You cane back in the morning, I¡¯ll have my trainer here. We¡¯ll see whether or not you can ride.¡± I take a quick moment toy a kiss in the whorl of hair right in the middle of Heathcliff¡¯s forehead. ¡°I¡¯ll be back soon,¡± I whisper to him. ¡°I¡¯ll bring you apples.¡± He knickers in friendly response as I bolt the stable door and hurry after Kent. I stare at the barn until it fades from my sight. Then, I turn back to the front of the car, steeling myself for the return to Kent¡¯s world. Because tonight, I know, he and my father have arranged something else for me. Perhaps the horse was just a way to butter me up, get me on Kent¡¯s good side before the real trial. Chapter 0040 Chapter 0040 I¡¯m alone in the back seat of the ck sedan that takes me to dinner at my father¡¯s house. I look up at the grey stone mansion and grimace, not looking forward to this. I know that there should probably be some curiosity in me, some desire to know more about my family and my heritage. But honestly? Lorenzo Alden doesn¡¯t feel anything like my father. That, to me, will always be David. Kent sent two guards with me and instructed them to stay by me at all times. For protection, presumably, but also ¨C I think ¨C to be Kent¡¯s eyes and ears at the meeting. Alden is his ally, but I think even the term ¡°ally¡± in this underworld has some tenuous distrust built into it. I had begged David toe with me but Kent denied that too. Alden, apparently, wanted me all to himself. Great. I was already awkward enough, now I have to go into this alone? It was definitely going to be a disaster. N?velDrama.Org holds ? this. The guards get out of the front of the car after they park ande around to open my door. I step out and sigh, wishing I was anywhere else. The stables, preferably, getting to know Heathcliff. The three of us troupe up the front steps to the house and formally ring the bell. I twist my mouth at the irony here. If he¡¯s my dad ¨C if this is my house ¨C shouldn¡¯t I be able to walk right in? A maid opens it for us, giving us a kind smile, and then opens the door wide in wee. As we step in, I stop dead in my tracks. The guards almost bump into me. ¡°Are you okay?¡± one asks ¨C Jerome, I think. One of the friendlier guards in Kent¡¯s employ. ¡°Yes,¡± I murmur in response, staring around the room. But in reality? I¡¯m totally not okay. Walking into this house is like walking into a dream. I¡¯ve been here before, I suddenly realize. I know things about this space ¨C what¡¯s around some of the corners, what things will feel like, what it smells like. Even the rugs are familiar ¨C a soft burnt orange, thick and plush underneath my feet. The arch that leads into the dining room ¨C yes, I know that, and if I look just beyond it I¡¯ll find¡­ Yes, there. A hutch, filled with blue and white china. ¡°Oh my god,¡± I murmur, looking around as I slowly walk through the dining room. The maid looks at me hesitantly. ¡°Dinner isn¡¯t ready yet, miss,¡± she says. ¡°If you¡¯lle with me to the sitting room¡­¡± I ignore her ¨C not really meaning to be rude, but ¨C I can¡¯t help myself as I walk to the back of the room and push open the door to the kitchen. The avocado green fridge and stove are exactly as I remember them. Except, I didn¡¯t know that I did remember them. I hear footsteps behind me. ¡°Familiar, is it?¡± I turn to see Alden standing there. I look at him with wide eyes. He looks around at the kitchen. ¡°We couldn¡¯t keep you out of here,¡± he says, ¡°your mother, the maids, or me. You always wanted toe in and pull out all of the pots and pans. Pretend you were cooking. Or just bang on them.¡± I just stare at him, bewildered. I was only five when we went to live with David ¨C it was certainly old enough to remember something. How did I remember nothing? Alden indulges me for a moment and then nods back towards the living room. ¡°Come,¡± he says. ¡°I want to introduce you to some people.¡± I follow, still staring around at the house. My house, where I lived, as a small child. As I consider it, I realize that they are not unhappy memories ¨C I have no feelings of fear or trauma attached to this ce. Which, I suppose, is a good thing. Alden leads me into the sitting room, my guards following closely behind. When we enter, I¡¯m surprised to see a woman sitting there with a boy at her side and a baby in herp. ¡°Fay,¡± Alden says, putting out a hand to me. ¡°I¡¯d like to introduce you to Tristin, my wife.¡± I blink at the woman, surprised. Why had no one mentioned to me that my father had remarried? ¡°How ¨C how do you do?¡± I ask, fumbling over the words. She doesn¡¯t reply, simply giving me a cold look. She¡¯s a beautiful woman, petite, with dark hair and