Chapter 0064

I frown a little at Kent, blinking. What?

He folds his hands and waits patiently.

“What,” I say, hesitating. “What do you want to know?”

“Everything,” he says, raising his eyebrows. “I want you to tell me everything he said to you, and

everything you said in response.”

I frown at him further. “Are my conversations with my father not private?

Kent leans forward a little, the corners of his mouth pulling up. “If you want to have private

conversations with your father,” he says slowly, “you can have them off my property. But in this house?

I’m entitled to know everything. Including the words exchanged between my ward,” he looks pointedly

at me, “and my potential enemy.”

I cock my head to the side. “I thought you and my father were allies,” I say, crossing my arms.

“Do allies leave each other to be shot at parties they threw? Do they conveniently leave the room

moments before an attack?” Kent shakes his head slightly. “Our alliance is on shaky grounds, Fay,

before this wedding happens. Right now, Alden and I are tenuous at best.”

He stares at me then, silent. Waiting patiently for me to talk.

I clear my throat, looking away and trying to think. What did we just say to one another?

“I’m waiting,” he reminds me.

“I know,” I say, a little sharply. “I just…I’m trying to remember precisely.”

I throw my mind back, thinking hard. I don’t usually catalog my conversations so precisely. But I guess,

in a Mafia household, you have different instincts when it comes to these sorts of things.

“He asked me if I was okay, after the party,” I say, closing my eyes so I can concentrate. “And I told him

I was fine, that you got us out.”

Kent stays silent, allowing me to continue.

“Then, he asked if I’m happy here.”

“And your answer?” Kent says quietly.

I look at him then. “That I am. Happy here, I mean. But he told me that if I wanted to come home and

live with him instead, that I’d be welcome to do that. I told him I’d rather stay here, though. With Daniel,

because he’s my fiancé.”

“And thennnn,” Kent says, moving his hand slowly throw the air, inviting me to proceed. I can tell he’s

growing impatient by my hesitations.

“And then,” I said, putting a hand on my hip, “he asked me if I’m happy with Daniel. And if I love him.

And whether or not we’ve been…intimate.”

Kent raises an eyebrow at this, smiling a little. “And what, Fay,” he says slowly. “Was your answer to

that.”

I narrow my eyes at him and move on. “I told him that I’m very happy with Daniel, and that of course

we’re in love. To which he replied that I’m still very young, and that if I wanted him to introduce me to

some new options, that he’d be happy to do that.”

Kent nods slowly at this, still watching my face carefully, clearly processing the implications.

“I told him no,” I say, turning towards the door. “That was it.”

“Was that all, Fay?” he asks me, and I turn back to him.

“What?” I ask, confused.

“Are you sure? Take a moment. Try to remember if there was anything else.”

I swallow then and realize – shit.

I had left something out. Not intentionally, not really – none of my conversation with my father was

important enough to warrant keeping a secret from Kent. Instead, I’d rather be open. But somehow, I

did forget the most suspicious bit.

I hurry my next words out, eager to have this finished. “He asked me if I had anything to give to him.”

“What did he mean by that?” Kent asks, frowning.

I shrug. “I have no idea. I told him I didn’t. I don’t. Then he left.”

Kent nods, waving a hand at me in a dismissal, so I walk out of the office and head towards the back

garden.