Fall For My Ex's Mafia Dad

Chapter 0046

I’m wolfing my breakfast down as fast as I can the next day, already wearing my riding boots and the

tight fawn-colored jodhpurs I found not-so-mysteriously in my room this morning. I look towards the

galley, but Kent isn’t cooking today.

Where is he? I can’t wait to get to the stable – to see Heathcliff again – to get started –

I drink my orange juice in one big gulp and Daniel laughs at me. “Seriously,” he says, his plate still full.

“You’re not going to get my dad to appear any faster if you choke on your food.”

I smile at him and he grins back, tilting his head to the side. “It’s so good to see you happy, Fay,” he

says. Then his expression falls a little. “I’m just sorry I didn’t think of it first – I had no idea you wanted a

horse – I could have easily –“

“It’s okay, Daniel,” I say, putting a hand on his and giving him another bright smile. “I didn’t know it

either. Or, well, I’ve always wanted one – but I had no idea it was a real possibility.”

He laughs lightly at me. “Anything money can buy, Fay,” he says warmly. “If you can dream it, we’ll get

it for you.”

“Hmmm,” I say, winking at him. “You do know that I have a very active imagination. You might regret

that, Danny-boy.”

He laughs at me again as I stand up, stretching. Kent comes through the door then, pausing a moment

to look at me. I drop my hands and give him a big smile as he comes over.

“Hi!” I say, excited.

He looks at me again, a little indulgent, and then tosses a piece of paper onto the breakfast table.

“Sorry to have to burst your bubble, sweetheart,” he says, a little rueful. “But the stables have to wait

until tomorrow.”

My face falls immediately with disappointment. “Wha – what?!”

He shrugs, indicating the paper. I glance at it, realizing it’s an invitation. Daniel picks it up.

“Looks like your dad feels bad, Fay,” he says, raising his eyebrow. “The invitation explicitly says that he

and Tristin are having a party tonight to welcome you as a member of their family.”

Daniel looks up at me, holding it out so I can see. “Looks like he’s trying to make amends. Public ones.”

I take the invitation from him, studying it, sighing. The party is tonight, five o’clock, but with all I’ll have

to do to get ready…

“Damnit,” I mutter, my shoulders slumping, looking between them. “I guess I have to go.”

“We have to go,” Kent says, pointing at the envelope which is explicitly addressed to the three of us.

“What about Fiona?” I ask, picking up the envelope as well.

Kent shrugs, impassive. “She can come if she likes. It won’t matter.”

I nod, hoping she’ll come. I always feel braver when she’s around to make me laugh.

“What,” Daniel asks, looking at his father. I turn my attention to him as well, wondering what Daniel is

seeing. Kent’s face is grave.

“I don’t know,” Kent says, shaking his head and rubbing his chin. “I don’t like the looks of this.”

“Why?” I ask, frowning.

“My guys looked into it,” he says, gesturing towards the invitation. “Alden is using this opportunity to

introduce your entire extended family – cousins, aunts, uncles, everyone.”

I go pale at this, a little scared. If just meeting my step-mom went so poorly…

“And in exchange,” Kent continues, “he’s invited all of our people as well. It was different, when I had

Alden come here – there was just a small guest list, only those who needed to be here –“

No one you introduced me to, I think, twisting my mouth a little, but okay.

“But tonight,” Kent says, not noticing the face I’m making, “he wants all of his people, and all of my

people, in a room together. And not on either of our turf – in an outside location.”

I glance at the invitation again and see, indeed, that he’s invited us all to meet at a local country club.

Kent continues to shake his head and Daniel joins him. “I just don’t like it,” Kent says pensively.