Chapter 223

I blush a little, embarrassed that it’s been that obvious.

“You don’t get it, dad,” I say, tracing a finger along the wood of the bench before I look up into his eyes. “Daniel and I...we’re dedicated to one another.”

“Dedication makes a better match than passion,” he says, considering.

I blush again to think of my father thinking of me and Ivan in terms of passion.

“But Fay,” he continues, “I have...other reasons for wishing you’d turn your head in a new direction. Not to Ivan, if that’s not what you want. But...

elsewhere.”

“What?” I ask, curious. “What reasons?”

“Fay,” he says, shaking his head. “We have...not been to each other, what a father and a daughter should be. That was your mother’s choice – not mine. I would have kept you, if she had let me, raised you to the life you should have had. I hope that you would let me give it to you now. Let me help you make the choice that will make you happy.”

“But...” I slow down here, wanting to get this right, wanting to...

I take a deep breath, thinking about what Kent would do in this situation, and realize that he probably wouldn’t say much at all and, instead, let the other person weave enough rope to hang themselves with.

“Dad,” I say, reaching out and taking his hand, doing my best to make my face look worried. “What do you mean?”

“I mean I wish for you to be happy,” my father says, clamming up a little and leaning back against the arm of the bench, studying me.

I decide to push it and press my eyes shut, making myself think as many horrible things as I can in just a few seconds – imagining everyone I love dying, my horse getting hurt, Daniel in a terrible car crash –

And when I look up at my father again, my face is red with emotion, my eyes a just a little wet. “Please,” I say, shaking my head. “I don’t know what to do.”

Something breaks in my father – I watch it happen. And he leans forward towards me, true concern in his eyes. “Fay,” he whispers, tsking again and reaching for me, pulling me close. “I would keep you safe, my darling,” he murmurs against my hair.

“Does that mean,” I sniff, allowing myself to get worked up, to actually worry now. “That...that you don’t think Daniel...”

Fall For My Ex's Mafia Father “No, Fay,” he says, “I don’t think your Daniel can protect you, no matter your fondness for him.”

“Ivan said...” I continue, hesitating. “That he could? And I...I do like him...”

“He can,” my father says, “with my help, he can.”

“But Natalia...” I say, mentally crossing my fingers and hoping that I’m not pushing it too far. “She said...”

“What did that bitch say,” my father snaps, and I can almost feel the sneer on his face.

I push away from him then, pretending that he scared me a little, but wanting to see his face. “Nothing – I’m sorry –“

“No,” he says, his tempering rising a little as he grabs my arm. I let my eyes go wide and look at his hand, taking a sharp breath in.

“I’m sorry, Fay,” he says, releasing me and shaking his head. “My temper – I am not good –“

“She said that you were...the weakest...” I breathe. “Can you protect me?”

And my father –

I’m shocked, but he laughs. Laughs.

“Your Lippert’s Natalia,” he says, shaking his head, “she has no idea what she means. She and Alessi have been to tied to the Lippert family for too long. They only know...one side.”

I don’t know what to do with myself then – and I certainly don’t want him to see my face – so I tuck myself back against him as if I need comfort – and honestly, maybe I do.

“You don’t have to make any big decisions today, Fay,” my father says, wrapping an arm around me and kissing my head. “There is plenty of time. We will make you a good match.”

And my father doesn’t say anything else on the subject, but his point is quite clear: his idea of a good match?

It’s not Daniel. Not because he doesn’t have the right lineage, but because my father, like Ivan, is convinced that the Lippert family are the ones going down.

Chapter 0222