Her Mafia Daddy (Book 1) novel Chapter 12

Rafael POV

“How about this?” I said. “I will give you the satchel if you choose a suitable wedding dress.”

“Really?”

“I never go back on my word once a deal is made.”

“Fine.” She answered too quickly and now I was the suspicious one. What was she planning? My friend Celestina would provide enough choices for Valentina to find a dress she liked. There would be no way around it. I held out my hands. “See? That was not so difficult.”

“I want a phone.”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“First, because you haven’t earned the privilege. Second, it isn’t safe. If you need to make a call, Dimitri or I can help you. Until you learn our rules and are willing to abide by them, it is too risky.”

“I need to call my family.”

“I will think about it.” Her nostrils flared and I could see how she struggled not to lash out. After a long second, she asked, “And how am I supposed to earn these privileges?”

“By doing what you are told. Stop fighting me and the marriage to my son. Accept your fate, Valentina .” Gracefully, she rose out of the chair. “I’d rather you kept your privileges. If that is all, capo?”

My title falling from her lips, even in sarcasm, twisted something dark and hot inside me, like the word unlocked a secret fetish I hadn’t known until now. I wanted to hear her say it again, but from her knees, begging me to fuck her mouth.

Or on her back while I rode her hard. I wanted her to breathe it in my ear and scream it as she came. I wanted it to be both pleasure and pain, the only word she remembered in the bedroom. I stared at her, breathing hard, an erection growing in my trousers, all the while convinced I was losing my mind.

Never had a woman gotten under my skin in such a fashion. This could not continue. I needed her settled with Dimitri . She would never be mine. The best thing I could do was to push the two of them together more often. Starting tonight. “That is all,” I said. “Enjoy your dinner in town later.”

Her dark brown brows pinched but she didn’t look at me. “Dinner in town?”

“With Dimitri . I assume he told you, no?” Dimitri hadn’t mentioned it because I just decided on the outing, but she didn’t need to know that. “I can’t believe you are trusting me off the estate.”

Trust never even entered my mind. I had eyes and ears everywhere in Siderno and she wouldn’t get far if she tried to escape. Someone would turn her to me. The wrath of the ’Ndrangheta meant certain death, and not many would be stupid enough to risk their lives to help a stranger.

I’d make sure Dimitri took some of our guards, as well. “I don’t need trust, Valentina , because you know who suffers if you disobey me.”

“Me?”

“And your sisters.” Hate blazed in her gaze, her body nearly vibrating with the urge to shout at me, to scratch my eyes out. Anything to ease her suffering. But there would be no relief. I always got what I wanted. “You truly are the Devil.”

I gave her a sinister smile, the one I reserved for those who cheated or lied to me. “Never forget it, piccola monella.”

Marco walked into my office shortly after Valentina stormed out. My cousin did not appear happy, but his news would have to wait. I pointed at a chair. “Sit down. I have an errand for you.”

“When? Now?”

“Dimitri is taking Valentina to dinner in town tonight. I want you to go with them.”

“Sure, I’ll play chaperone. That’s more exciting than spending time with my family.” I couldn’t tell whether he was being sardonic or not. “Give them space. The idea is for them to get close.”

Even though the thought made my chest burn with an emotion I dared not name. All the more reason I must push them together quickly. This girl had me contemplating very stupid ideas, and I could not afford to act on any of them. “Have you informed Dimitri of this?”

“No, but he’ll do as he’s told.” I picked up my phone and texted him instructions. “There. He’s sleeping but he’ll see this later on.”

“I hear he was up late dealing with a delivery from our friends down south.”

“He told me there were no issues.”

“There weren’t...until later.” I smoothed my tie, taking a second to compose myself before hearing disturbing news. I was already on edge from my meeting with Valentina . “What does that mean?”

Marco sighed. “Gratteri called. He inventoried the packages today and thought we were light, even though the men at the drop said it was all accounted for when they left.”

“How light?”

“Understandable, considering. Whatever happens, we’ll keep it quiet.”

“Yes, we fucking will…and the sooner he gets married, the better. Then he’ll settle down and begin to fulfil his obligations as my heir.”

Marco smirked. “I cannot picture you as nonno.” I couldn’t see myself as a grandfather, either, but it didn’t matter. “You won’t be far behind me, not with Fabrizio’s reputation.”

Marco’s oldest son was sixteen and slept with nothing but a pair of tits. “Bite your tongue. I am not ready to be so old.”

“Just wait. I’ll be a nonno and still get more pussy than you.”

“Go to hell.” Marco rose out of his chair. “Let me know when the lovebirds are ready to go out.” The knot in my stomach twisted. “I will.”

“Oh, and did you hear? D'Agostino died.” I leaned back in my chair and considered this news.

D'Agostino had been the head of the Avellinos, a ’ndrina we’d warred with in the past. My father brokered peace with them when I was a boy, but not until after two of my uncles and six cousins had been killed. Enzo, the eldest D'Agostino son, was known for his unpredictability.

Some said he wasn’t right in the head. This would require careful navigation. We had to get along without giving up any of our power, a balance that seemed more and more difficult these days. “We’ll have to arrange a meeting on neutral territory,” I said.

“Make it appear as if we’re willing to work with them.”

“Want me to set it up?”

“No. Wait until they contact us. The Avellinos need us more than we need them.”

“That is certainly true. With our lock on the southern ports, only the Sicilians come close to doing our business.”

“I’ll let you know the time for tonight later.”

“Are you going to ask Dimitri about the coke before he leaves for dinner?” I thought about it. I needed Valentina to fall for Dimitri , to accept this marriage, which meant I needed him to be charming and happy.

If we argued, the evening might be ruined for everyone. “I’ll wait until the morning. Tell Gratteri I am looking into it. Let Dimitri and his fiancée have fun tonight.”