Chapter 213

I blink, realizing that I never thought about it, about the question of what I want to be to Kent. And what I want him to be to me.

I mean, Kent is overwhelming – even just learning to be around him is a lot, let alone considering if I want to be with him. I mean, is that even what I would want, if it was a possibility? Do I want to be more than Kent’s mafia mistress? Do I want to be his girlfriend? His –

“It’s all right, Fay,” Kent whispers, moving closer to me and putting a gentle hand on my cheek, probably seeing me think it through and freak out a little bit. “You don’t have to know now.”

“Okay,” I say, biting my lip. “I don’t know – but Kent, I don’t want to live my life in secret. I don’t want to have to scurry around like a little rat, worried about who is going to find out. I don’t want to have to lie – and people are going to find out – they already have!”

“Who?” Kent asks, frowning. I hesitate but he glares at me a little, so I give in.

“Well, Daniel, obviously,” I say and he tilts his head, because he knows by my tone that there’s more. “And...Jerome.”

“Jerome?” Kent asks, surprised.

“Jerome is smarter than you give him credit for,” I say, raising my eyebrows. “He’s...perceptive.”

“He’s also obsessed with you,” Kent mutters angrily, looking away, his expression mildly murderous now. I burst out into a little laugh now because –

well, because I’m not the member of this household who Jerome is actually obsessed with. Kent snaps my gaze back to me, curious, but I shake my head a little as I smile, letting him know that I’m keeping this secret. He sighs and lets me.

“Fay,” Kent says quietly after a moment of silence. “I’m sorry.”

My mouth falls open a little bit in shock. An apology? From Kent?

He takes a deep breath. “This hasn’t been fair on you – you’re right. We should – and we can - make...changes. Be more flexible. I don’t want you to feel like I’m ashamed of this. Because I’m not. But Fay,” Kent tilts his head to the side and I see him worried now. And I know exactly what’s caused it.

“Natalia,” I whisper. And I only mention her because I know that while Alessi is Bianci’s son...Natalia is the real threat here.

“It’s...too precarious, Fay,” Kent whispers to me, holding my gaze so that I can see how serious he is. “I am on such shaky ground with them already.

If they find out this – that my relationship with Alden hangs in the balance because of this, with you...” he shakes his head, letting me see just how close we are to the edge of the cliff.

“Is it that bad?” I ask, worried now. Slowly, he nods.

Fall For My Ex's Mafia Father Chapter 0212 “They could destroy us. Alden would take it as a grave insult that I’ve...despoiled you.” He sighs and covers his face with his hand, looking ashamed of himself. “And he’d be right, Fay – another boss wouldn’t marry you now –“

I feel myself smirk at this, thinking that that’s not quite right – that Ivan might - but then I wipe my face clean before he sees it.

Kent drags the hand from his face and looks at me again. “If Bianci discovered that I’ve put my business with Alden at risk – given Alden every legitimate reason to declare war on me –“ Kent pauses, seeking the words, apparently at a loss to describe the magnitude of it. “Bianci and Alden could unite and just...wipe me off the face of the earth. And Daniel. And everything I’ve built. And...you.”

My eyes go wide as I realize how serious he is. How serious this is.

“Kent,” I whisper, staring at him. “Why don’t you just let me go? If the risk is that high?”

Kent goes dead still as he looks into my face, silent for too long. His next works shock me to my core. “Fay,” he whispers. “Don’t you think I’ve tried?”