Fall For My Ex's Mafia Father novel Chapter 97

I can’t stop smiling at my sister as we slowly walk around the fenced paddock of the stables, Heathcliff happily walking alongside us, my hand loosely holding the lead to his halter. Janeen, unfortunately, is less happy about the company than Heathcliff is.

“Are you sure he’s not going to like, rear or something?” She asks, looking at my horse from the side of her eye. “Or kick me?”

I laugh at my sister. “Seriously, Janeen, calm down – he’s a big softie! And he needs his exercise.”

Janeen narrows her eyes at him as Heathcliff looks at her curiously. When he reaches his nose curiously out towards her she flinches back, making me laugh more.

“So, he just…bought you a horse?” Janeen asks. “No questions asked?”

I shrug. “Money is…different, in these circles. They have so damn much of it that giving people expensive things is more about the gesture than what the thing itself is worth. Or something like that.”

Janeen raises her eyebrows at me, smirking a little. “Look at you, little rich girl.”

I wrinkle my nose at her. “Don’t be jealous.”

She laughs at that. “I’m not jealous, Baby Fay – I’m making stacks on stacks at the club every night.” She flicks her hair back haughtily. “Maybe I’ll get a horse of my own.”

But she flinches again when Heathcliff gives a little whinny, making me laugh again.

Janeen and I spend the next few hours together, walking Heathcliff around the property. We let him run and roll in the arena as well before taking him back to his stall for a good grooming. I’m pleased when I’m able to convince Janeen to take part in brushing Heathcliff at least, giving her a curry comb and showing her how to use it.

While we work, we talk. I tell her all about my life in the Lippert house, about meeting my biological father, about Kent’s warnings about my place within the mafia world. I don’t hold anything back, grateful to again have a sister to whom I can tell anything.

“I’m sorry,” I say, at the end of it all. “About…what I said to you, and to dad, when we first found out about all of this stuff. It wasn’t fair, and it was just Kent doing his Mafia Don thing, trying to get control of me.”

Janeen just shrugs. “Don’t worry about it. Dad and I figured it out, a few days later, when we cooled off. You know we love you – nothing is ever going to change that.”

I feel tears prick my eyes as she says that. I did worry. I had been so cruel, and I wondered if they’d ever forgive me. It’s so refreshing to my spirit to know that they forgave me immediately and were just waiting for a way to get back into my life.

“So,” Janeen says, frowning a little and leaning against the stall’s wall. “What changed? Why did Lippert suddenly relent and open this doorway for me to be back in your life?”

“Well,” I say, studying my horse’s flank instead of looking her in the eye. “I don’t know, honestly. The last that Kent and I talked he was livid with me, telling me I’m his and I’d better fall in line. And then today, you’re here?” I look up into her face, confused. “He blows hot and cold on me. I honestly don’t understand.”

I frown when I see Janeen’s mouth pulling up into a little smirk as she crosses her arms, looking me over.

“What?” I ask, confused.