Fall For My Ex's Mafia Dad novel Chapter 69

“What,” he says, bringing his face closer to mine, “did she tell you to do with it?”

I lower my voice almost to a whisper, forcing him to lean closer. “She told me to give it to Alden.”

I see Kent’s lips curl back from his teeth at that. But before he can ask another question, I continue.

“But obviously, since it was still in my room,” I whisper, lowering my eyes to his lips as I speak. “I didn’t.”

I hear a low rumble of dissatisfaction in Kent’s chest as he pushes away from the table, turning his back to me, clearly thinking this through.

I stay where I am, leaning my weight onto my elbows and forearms, watching him, my hair spilling around my face. I shake my head, trying to push it back, but it doesn’t work.

“Why,” Kent says, over his shoulder. “Why didn’t you give it to Alden.”

“Because,” I say, my voice deadpan. “I don’t know which of you to trust. I’m still deciding.”

He whirls on me then. “After all I’ve done for you, Fay – everything I’ve given you –“

“Oh!” I say, laughing up into his face now, shaking my manacled hands. “Yes, thanks so much, Kent – you’ve been a real angel to me these past few weeks – I just feel so cared for when I’m being chained to a table in your basement -“

This sets him off.

I can’t help myself from smiling, a little, as he storms to the right, coming around the table. I try to turn, to watch him, but he’s too fast –

“Maybe,” I continue, my voice cold, “if you gave me the respect I deserve to begin with, I would have given you my allegiance from the start – given you the note, instead of keeping it as leverage in case I needed it.”

I hear silence behind me as Kent stops pacing. For a minute, all I can hear is the sound of my breathing.

Then, I hear three slow steps as Kent comes up behind me.

I feel him there, the warmth of him behind me, as he slides one hand over my ribs and the other over my shoulder and collar bone to wrap around my throat, pulling me upwards as far as I can go, until my arms go taught against my chains.

“And I told you, darling Fay,” he says, his quiet voice itself a threat, “that respect in this house is earned, not given. So, let’s see if we can teach you a little lesson.”

He lowers himself so that I can feel his taught stomach against my lower back, his voice close to my ear now. “A little lesson,” he whispers, “about respect.”