Fall For My Ex’s Mafia Father

Chapter 2 – Negotiating Alone–1

Kent leans his shoulder against the bars of his cell, his well–muscled arms crossed against his chest.

What was he doing in this local prison, created to catch the overflow of the city’s rampant gangs? He was their king, after all.

And to think, Kent was here by choice.

His lip raises in derision as he shakes his head, wondering if he made the right decision, intentionally getting caught so he could get in here, just for the chance to talk to the warden.

Two blue–uniformed guards walk down the row towards him. “Lippert?” They ask. “Warden wants to see you.” They cuff him and take him to the warden’s office.

Kent sits down on a chair in front of him, wordless, waiting for the guards to leave.

“So,” Sven says, closing his file. “I’m surprised you had the balls to come to my turn for a negotiation, Lippert. It’s brave.”

The public didn’t know it, but Warden Sven not only runs this prison, but leverages his control over it to take a significant stake in the workings of the city’s underworld. He is as dirty as the rest of them, and if other bosses go against him? He locks them

1. up.

Quite a trump card in this world where one of the only things

“Ivan?” Sven looks at him closely. “He’s chicken shit.”

Kent shakes his head slowly. “He’s just a kid, but he’s getting a foot in the heroin game. But because he’s green he doesn’t have the grit or the resources to handle it.” He pauses a moment, taking Sven in.

“He’s getting backed into a corner,” Kent continues, “and it’s making him ruthless. He’s not coming to meetings of the families, he’s killing at will – made men, as well as wise guys. He has to be stopped, Sven. Or he’s going to wreck it for all of us.”

Sven leans back into his chair, considering.

for months just for the chance to talk to Sven. But Kent had a gut feeling this was the right call. An alliance with Sven against Ivan was going to pay off.

“Ivan’s too big for his britches, eh? It’s a delicate ecosystem,” he says, holding his hands out like a set of scales to demonstrate the balance. “We’ve all got to play our parts. If he pushes

nods, considering his next words before continuing. “I have to admit, Lippert, I’m impressed with your persistence in this matter. I’ve done good work isolating myself, protecting myself, but you found a way in. Not everyone

That’s exactly how he wanted Sven to feel. “Ivan’s a mad dog,” Kent says. “We’ve got to put him down. I’ll provide the muscle; all I ask is that you let us. Don’t interfere. As for the spoils…we

him, considering. “I want eighty–twenty, for my

doesn’t let his frustration show.

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has power, but he’s notoriously low on cash, a problem Kent

not agreeing yet, but not pushing the matter further. “What about the other bosses?” he asks. “Are you

B

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Ewa Gifts

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are running the game,

dismissing it. “He’s not going to take

does trade in secrets. Likely, Alden got the clue

doesn’t like being tested. “Do we have

He turns in his chair to stare at a calendar on his wall, the picture of a beautiful vineyard somewhere in Europe. “You know, I had a lovely glass of wine the other day. From Napa. But I gotta tell you, Lippert,” he turns here, looking Kent directly in the eye. “It left me a little parched,

a cold smirk. “You wouldn’t happen to know…anywhere else. Where a man could get

vineyard, the calendar likely produced as a promotional gift for tourists. Sven knew exactly what Kent would ask even before he set foot in the room, and he knew exactly the price of his

his eyes and staring

2 – Negotiating Alone–2

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that wine,” Sven says, turning back to the picture, all innocence. “I’d like to get a

Kent said. It’s worth the price.

meeting. Kent leaves satisfied.

down the hall, one of the guards turns to him. “We’ve been ordered to take you along to your psychological assessment before returning you to your cell,” he informs him. Kent glares at him, but

guard shrugs. “Standard procedure, Lippert. All prisoners gotta