Chapter 241

When I come out of the shower and move back into my bedroom I’m pleased to see that my clothes for the day have arrived – riding clothes, thank god - and even more pleased to see a little note on top. I scurry over and grab the little white envelope, ripping it open.

It’s a simple, short note – as all of Kent’s are:

Everything is fine.

I owe you.

I smirk, a little, at how coy he’s being here. Because if anyone intercepted this note and read it before me, it’s innocuous enough to mean anything.

But those words at the bottom? I know precisely what they mean. Who knew three short words could get me so hot.

But I sigh and toss the note in my waste basket, knowing that I have to wait, and endure much, before I get to that more pleasant part of my day. But I get ready quickly – drying my hair and braiding it back and then changing into my crisp riding clothes, excited to finally have the opportunity to visit my horse instead of doting on Natalia and Alessi all day.

After all, they’ve taken away any reason I had to be kind and solicitous to them. And now I can just do as I please.

I pull on my tall riding boots and nearly skip down the stairs towards the kitchen, hungry for breakfast and eager to start the day. Some of the things that Kent said last night still echo in my mind – that he sees me as a viper, for instance, disguised as a fawn...

And even as I shake my head at the idea as I push the door open to the kitchen – I wonder what would happen if I just decided to believe him? If I just accepted it, instead of fighting against it, and tried to...I don’t know, embrace it? To see the viper in myself, instead of the shy and frightened nerd I always assumed I was?

I’m lost in the thoughts of this as I make my way to the espresso machine, so lost that I don’t even notice the old man standing next to me until I’ve already loaded the coffee and pulled the levers that I know will make me my favorite drink.

“A double this morning, Fay?” a creaky old voice beside me asks, and I jump a little as I spin towards him. But then my face breaks into a smile.

“Uncle Gino,” I say, giving the man I now know is Kent’s uncle – the man who raised him, who saved Kent’s family - a wide grin. “Good morning –

am...am I...oh god,” I say, grimacing as I look around at the coffee station, “please don’t tell me that I cut in front of you –“

But he laughs and pats me on the shoulder. “No, girl,” he says, shaking his head. “I already have mine.” And he raises a tiny cup towards me in a little toast, which brings me great relief. “Are you going to see that horse of yours today?”

“Yes,” I say, my eyebrows going up as the machine next to me hisses and steams. “Do you – do you know Heathcliff?”

Fall For My Ex's Mafia Father Chapter 0240 “Helped Kent pick him,” Gino says, giving a deep nod towards the kitchen. I turn my head to see Kent standing in there, dressed in his suit and speaking to some of his men. “That boy doesn’t know as much about horse flesh as he thinks he does. Women, on the other hand...” he says, nodding appreciatively and raising his eyebrows at me.

I laugh and shake my head at him. “I won’t tell him you said that,” I say, reaching for my little cup when it’s finally filled with coffee.

“Knew I could trust you, girl,” Gino murmurs, patting me again on his shoulder before hobbling over to the table of old men, who all raise a hand to me as I look their way. I smile back and give a little wave before heading towards my own table, where I can see Daniel already sitting.

When I slide into my seat across from Daniel, I note that the table is smaller today – that he removed the two extra seats where Natalia and Alessi have been sitting since they arrived. I open my mouth to say good morning to him and ask about that choice, but then I my words fail me when I see Daniel slumped over his plate of eggs, his skin pale and almost green in places.