Fall For My Ex's Mafia Dad novel Chapter 328

My father’s speech wraps up a waiter comes to take my plate and deliver a glass of champagne to Daniel and sparkling cider to me.

“To my daughter, the beautiful Fay,” my father says, looking at me adoringly as he raises his glass in my direction –

Fucking snake, is all I can think. Because I know, now, precisely what he did to Kent.

“And to Daniel, her perfect match!” Around the room, everyone raises their glasses into the air. Daniel and I, smiling, follow suit. “Together they unite two old Sicilian families in a new era of commerce and joy! To the bride and groom!”

Everyone echoes his last five words and then we all raise our glasses to our lips, sipping at the expensive drinks probably taken from Kent’s own cellars as the spoils of war.

You damn hypocrites, I think as I sip my fizzy apple juice and force a thrilled smile onto my face. I’m going to gut you all, one by one.

The crowd turns to us then as Daniel wraps an arm around my waist. I look up at him and realize that he’s leaning close and then I laugh, remembering that – of course – I’m a bride today, not a mafia donna planning everyone’s destruction.

Daniel smiles down at me and even bends me backwards a little bit as he kisses me soundly, the picture of the perfect romantic fiancé and the girl he adores.

I smile and kiss him back, truly loving him, grateful for Daniel by my side in every moment of this.

He pulls away while the gathered group applauds, and then I blush and laugh, looking down at my feet, shy Fay making her return.

We spend the next hour or so accepting the well-wishes of people I barely know who call us their family and friends. This is, in many ways, the reception for our wedding instead of the rehearsal dinner. Our families wanted to invite everyone to the wedding, of course, but Daniel and I insisted that we only want our very closest family to be there and no reception at all.

They nodded and murmured their understanding – Daniel father was just imprisoned, after all, throwing a pall over this happy event – but they insisted on throwing this party instead.

Still, it’s almost done, I think as my cheeks start to ache with so many fake smiles.

As our guests filter out, Natalia and Alessi slowly make their way over to us, Alessi beaming at us while Natalia frowns at his side.

“Surely I what?” he snarls and I blink at him, considering that he’s learned a trick or two from Kent’s book.

“It is the sort of thing we want to be assured of with all of our family ties,” Alessi says with a casual shrug.

“Oh?” Daniel snaps, turning on him now. “And has anyone asked you for a paternity test for your own children?”

Alessi purses his lisp and narrows his eyes, but he doesn’t say anything – taking Daniel’s point. Natalia opens her mouth to offer her own rebuttal, but I slide in before she can say a word.

“It’s fine,” I say, smiling easily and placing a supplicating hand on Daniel’s arm. “We understand. In this modern world?” I shrug, mimicking their very Italian gesture, “it makes sense.”

Daniel says nothing, just looking away and glowering as he leaves it to me. So I turn to Natalia and smile. “Would you like us to have the test performed tomorrow? Before the wedding?” I say, giving her a too-kind smile and pushing her to make me ruin my wedding day by going to a clinic to have my blood drawn.

“No, of course not,” Natalia says smoothly, crossing her arms. “Tomorrow is a day for joy. The next day,” she continues with a smile that shows all her teeth, “would be just fine.”