LOGINMy dad greets him with such genuine joy and excitement that it makes my heart swell with joy. They talk for a few minutes about Dominic’s day before dad gives him a little nudge back towards the gate where Kent and I are waiting. Dominic gives dad a kiss before running ahead again. My dad waves to
“Papa!” Dominic shouts, startling me out of my reverie as he drops my hand and darts down the road. I look up, a huge smile breaking out on my face again as I see Kent on the sidewalk just ahead. His back is to us as he speaks companionably with the butcher, a heavy bag of his purchases already hung
As I walk down the street towards the little Italian kindergarten, the whispers start around me, as they always do. I listen to all of them, a big German Shepherd padding quietly at my heels. “Is that her?” “Yes, that’s the one – I heard she was her husband’s mistress before he married her – tha
Both Kent and I laugh, but Don Bianci – across the baptismal font from us – snaps his eyes up, perhaps not liking the joke as much as we do. But I just ignore it, because dad’s right, frankly – and it’s too happy a day to care. After the final blessing everyone applauds Dominic – he likes that, bl
“Well, it didn’t seem to affect your first very badly,” Ivan says with a shrug, peering around Kent to where Daniel is laughing with an arm around Jerome’s shoulders. “So…maybe keep it up.” I smirk, squeezing Ivan’s hand once more before standing and moving to Kent’s side, tucking myself against h
“Hey, gorgeous,” Ivan says, his mouth turned up in a smirk as I cross the churchyard, beaming at him. “Look who’s talking,” I say, laughing and reaching for him when I come close enough. Ivan wraps me in a hug, dropping a kiss to my cheek as I hold Dominic a bit to the side so he doesn’t get squis
Shocked, I turn to her as she clasps my hand, pulling it closer to her so that she can stare at my ring.“He gave it to you?” she asks, looking up into my face with wide eyes. “This engagement ring?”I hesitate, a little shocked. “Yes?” I reply, hoping it’s the right answer. “Daniel thought it would
Ivan stops and turns to me, still smiling but shaking his head. “Would you just trust me for a second, Fay?” he asks, a little exasperated. “I organized all of this – I’m the one who got your dad to come here tonight, and the Russians. Do you seriously think I don’t know how fucked we’d be if Lipper
I open my mouth to say something but Daniel just takes my arm and pulls me towards the stairs. I scowl but follow, holding my tongue and glaring over my shoulder at Kent’s tense form as he looks into the night. “Easy,” Daniel murmurs to me, like you would to a spooked horse, so I turn my glare on
“Then what, Kent?” I ask, shaking my head at him. “You’ll lose business? Have to renegotiate your ties?” “We’ll go to war, Fay,” he corrects, his own teeth clenched now as he looks furiously down at me. My jaw drops open at this answer. War? Seriously, war? I’m important enough of a player – or




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