Chapter 0352

“I'm going to sleep,” Daniel murmurs, turning away from all of us. “I need to...rethink my entire life. And my values. And

particularly, the people with whom I associate.”

“Night, baby,” Jerome calls casually over his shoulder. Daniel mumbles something back as I snuggle closer to Jerome’s side.

“He totally thinks Ivan’s hot,” I murmur.

“Nah, Daniel's faithful,” Jerome says, giving me another little wink. “Just like you. Like I said — you and Daniel are two peas ina

fucked-up pod. Once you settle on someone? It’s for the long haul. You can’t even see anyone else. Which is all very much to

my benefit.”

And I grin up at my friend, glad that someone sees the truth in me.

But also wishing, very much, that I could lay eyes on Kent. Just for a little bit, to remind me of everything that I’m fighting for.

I sigh and look down at my belly, at where my little kidney bean is growing into...a grape? I don’t know. Whatever tiny food

comes next. “Guess I'll just have to fight for you,” I whisper to baby, too soft for even Jerome to hear, “while daddy's locked up.”

The next weeks pass quickly as we fall into a weird little routine. Daniel kisses me goodbye in the morning while I savor my

single cup of coffee for the day, his own triple-espresso drink packed away in a to-go container. And then he drives himself —

himself — to work with my father in the fancy new Tesla provided by the Alden corporation.

Daniel doesn’t work every day with my father; instead, my father has Daniel moving around to a variety of the city’s shipping

ports. There, he learns from my father’s best men to figure out the ins and outs of his international shipping businesses — both

the legitimate ones, and the illegitimate ones that import and export all kinds of illegal goods between the United States and

ports unknown.

When Daniel goes, Jerome stays home with me. We all agreed on this, deciding that Jerome can function as my driver and my

bodyguard on the rare occasions when I leave the house. I rolled my eyes at this suggestion at first, but Daniel’s whispered

“Kent would want it that way” had me convinced.

Because he’s right. Kent would want it that way. And he’d probably smack the crap out of Daniel if he ever found out that he took

Jerome, leaving a pregnant me at home unprotected.

Janeen does whatever she wants, as

usual. She doesn't really need the

money anymore — none of us do —

but she still takes up s ifts at: Crabby

Dicks renner strip club

ere we had our wedding reception,

whenever she wants some extra

cash, or needs to dance, or just

desires some male attention.

Sometimes she stays out all night,

sometimes she’s home, but she’s

always here when I need her. Please

read the original content at

.

Dad is a more constant, quiet

presence. He’s been retired for years,

though, so he knows how to entertain

himself. Someti ke Goestbae one

the city tb ang out with his old

buddies, but most of the time he’s

here with me as I hunch over the

kitchen table, reading through legal

paperwork, and histories of mafia

families, and chess manuals. Please

read the original content at

.

“You getting anywhere with this,

Fay?” he asks, a couple of Nee ihe

the process ue pyrakiiraiy-O

sfodyiag Machiavelli’ s The Prince

alongside some of the international

shipping maps that Daniel brought

home from work. Please read the

original content at .

I sigh and sit back, looking up at him. “I’m honestly not sure, dad,” I say, running anxious hands through my hair and piling it

messily on top of my head.

“Can I do anything to help?” he asks and I take a deep breath and smile up at him.