Fall For My Ex’s Mafia Father

Gifts

Chapter 4 – Free Yourself–1

“I’m just saying,” Janeen says, shrugging as she slides an omelet out onto a plate. “It’s a red flag when a guy doesn’t want to meet her friends and family. I mean, who even is this Daniel guy, anyway?”

I stop dead on the stairs hearing these words, just three steps away from the kitchen. I stay still, hoping to hear what Janeen and dad really think.

“I’m just saying,” dad says, shrugging in his chair at the table. “I think you should trust Fay a little more. She’s a clever girl.” He turns and looks directly at me. “Aren’t you, kid?”

I scowl, embarrassed to be caught eavesdropping. I take the final steps down into the kitchen and give dad a kiss on the cheek, sitting down in the chair next to him. “I’m smart, but I’m not a kid anymore. Time to update the nickname.”

“Never,” he says, smiling at me. “You’re my kiddo forever.”

Janeen brings me a plate of eggs, patting me on the head. Even though we’re not related by blood, she treats me just as any condescending big sister would. I came to live with David and Janeen when David married my mom.

Even after mom died in her car accident only two years after the wedding, David never gave me any reason to think of him as anything besides my dad. I love him just as much as any blood relation. I have no memories of my biological dad and no idea

where he is.

–

a few moments of this. “I’m sure this Daniel is a great guy.” He looks at me, then, a little pity in his eyes. “Like she says, he’s just a

You

very happy,” I murmur, finishing my eggs as

can tell that she’s trying to make amends. “I’m not working tonight, and we can go have some fun! We’ll

school and coffee shops, Janeen has been a night owl, working at various clubs as a stripper. Not cheap sleezy places, either, but really high–end ones where they respect her work as a kind of art. She’s very talented, and

She dances in

hard not to want to go wherever she’s going. “I’ll think about it,”

work way too much. Have some fun, baby!”

my eyes at her and pat dad on the shoulder as I head into the living room. He picks up his paper, eyes already on the sports section.

her profession, I wondered if it bothered dad. But he just said that there’s no stopping Janeen from doing precisely what she wants, so why not go

memory, grateful, again, for such a good

to Janeen’s idea that I should get more in touch with my body and my instincts. My cheeks grow red and I find myself – bizarrely – typing

that dad watches every night calls Lippert the Mafia King, always detailing his dirty deeds, but the sites I’m looking show him standing in front of

lists positive reviews of his many businesses, with employees suggesting that he’s a great

to braid it as I look through these results, trying to

says, flopping onto the

it. “Janeen, give it