Fall For My Ex’s Mafia Father

Gifts

Chapter 24 – Getting to Know my Mafia Dad–1

I’m alone in the back seat of the black sedan that takes me to dinner at my father’s house.

I look up at the grey stone mansion and grimace, not looking forward to this. I know that there should probably be some curiosity in me, some desire to know more about my family and my heritage. But honestly? Lorenzo Alden doesn’t feel anything like my father. That, to me, will always be David.

Kent sent two guards with me and instructed them to stay by me at all times. For protection, presumably, but also – I think – to be Kent’s eyes and ears at the meeting. Alden is his ally, but I think even the term “ally” in this underworld has some tenuous distrust built into it.

I had begged David to come with me but Kent denied that too. Alden, apparently, wanted me all to himself. Great. I was already awkward enough, now I have to go into this alone? It was definitely going to be a disaster.

The guards get out of the front of the car after they park and come around to open my door. I step out and sigh, wishing I was anywhere else. The stables, preferably, getting to know Heathcliff.

The three of us troupe up the front steps to the house and formally ring the bell. I twist my mouth at the irony here. If he’s

dad – if this is my house – shouldn’t I be able to walk right

my

As we step in, I stop dead in my tracks. The guards almost bump

into me.

“Are you okay?” one asks – Jerome, I think. One of the friendlier guards in Kent’s employ.

“Yes,” I murmur in response, staring around the room.

I’m totally

is like walking into a dream. I’ve been here before, I suddenly realize. I know things about this space – what’s around some of the corners, what things will feel like, what it smells like. Even the

it I’ll find…

hutch, filled with

around as I slowly

she says. “If you’ll come

to the back of the room and push open the door to the kitchen. The avocado green fridge and stove are exactly as I remember

them.

No

footsteps behind me,

to Know

my

around at the kitchen. “We couldn’t keep you out of here,” he says, “your mother, the maids, or me. You always wanted to come in and pull out all of the pots and pans. Pretend you were cooking. Or just bang on them.”

was only five when we went to live with David – it was certainly old enough to remember something.

towards the living room. “Come,” he says. “I

follow, still staring around at the house. My house, where I lived, as a small child. As I consider it, I realize that they are not unhappy memories – I

is

guards following closely behind. When we enter, I’m surprised to see a woman

a hand to me. “I’d like to introduce you to Tristin, my wife.” I blink

that my father had

simply giving me a cold look. She’s a beautiful woman, petite, with dark hair and large

towards the children, “Is my son Romulus and my daughter Estrella. Your…ah. Your

of his mother, really – dark hair, delicate pale skin, pretty hazel eyes. The baby is also very sweet, smiling up at me in her white bonnet. As

down at myself, dressed in sapphire blue. Perhaps she’s sending me a message about exactly who belongs in

cold. She looks me up and down with distaste. I sigh, seeing that this isn’t going to be an

a chair by the coffee table. We’re silent as a maid brings in a silver tray with a tea set on it. As she lays it down on the table, I can’t help but stare

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