Her Mafia Daddy (Book 1) novel Chapter 37

Valentina POV

I walked to the master suite like a prisoner going to the gallows. Rafael was livid. In fact, I think he might be angrier than the night I stabbed him with the pen. He looked like he wanted to strangle me.

Fear slid down my spine, causing my skin to break out in a cold sweat. Would he hurt me? No, he wouldn’t. I knew it in my bones. He might spank me, but we would both enjoy that. No doubt he would tease me until I admitted I belonged to him. I just needed to comply with whatever orders he gave to prove my apology and then he would forgive me. Hopefully that involved some naked time.

The bed was perfectly smooth, not a crease on the grey duvet. I slid onto the mattress and folded my legs under my hips, shoving my ass in the air. The buzz from the prosecco had faded as soon as I caught sight of Rafael ’s furious expression on the patio deck. Too bad I hadn’t allowed myself one more glass. Then I might not be so nervous for whatever he had in mind. I waited there for a long time, what felt like hours.

My legs started to cramp and I thought about moving to shake them out, but then I heard his footsteps. I held my breath. The bed dipped and his scent teased my nose. He didn’t touch me, nor Did he speak? Another few seconds and I cracked. “Rafael ….”

“Do not speak, Valentina . When I am done speaking you may explain yourself, capisce?” I pressed my lips together and waited, feeling like a small child who had disappointed a parent. I didn’t like it. Why was he so angry? Why was he humiliating me like this?

“That man was Enzo D’Agostino. He is the head of the Napoli ’ndrina, a powerful but tenuous ally of mine. We were at war for many years, and My father brokered peace after both sides suffered terrible losses, including losing two of my uncles and six cousins. Enzo has recently become capo, and he is known for his unpredictability. His hot-headed temper.”

He shifted restlessly, like he was too mad to sit still. “I want to merge some of our business interests, but more importantly, I also want his

younger sister to marry my son. This was a critical meeting today, one I had to cut short because you did not do what I asked.”

Oh, shit. How was I supposed to know? He said the man was no friend, but he hadn’t shared any of this backstory.

“All I asked was that you not wear this suit. Simple, no? You had others to choose from, suits not so revealing of your tits and ass. Yet, you

disobeyed me, even after I told you this was a test. Were you trying to fail?”

I clenched my hands and blurted, “No, of course not. I told you, I didn’t think it was a big deal.”

“Yes, but what I haven’t heard is why you wanted to disobey me. Why did you wish to defy me, after all that’s happened today?” After admitting I belonged to him.

“I don’t know. I really like this suit, I suppose.”

“No, I do not accept that. Tell me why.” I still hadn’t seen his face and it was starting to annoy me. “Can I sit up?”

“Not until you tell me why you wore this suit. Was it to tempt me? To distract me? To distract my guests?”

“No! I wasn’t thinking about any of that.”

“Then what were you thinking, Valentina ?” He hadn’t called me “dolcezza” or “piccola monella” once since emerging from his meeting, only Valentina . I missed playful Rafael , the one who kissed and teased me. “I don’t know.”

“I do not believe you. A conversation happened in your mind where you went against my wishes. Tell me what it was.” This was ridiculous. I could tell he wasn’t going to drop it. But saying it out loud would make me sound immature and silly.

So I turned the tables back on him. I sat up and glared at him. “I heard Enzo refer to me as a puttanella when I walked through your meeting and you laughed. You didn’t stand up for me at all.”

“Valentina , I will not explain myself to you. That is not how this works.”

“I am still too angry, and I will never touch you in a mood such as this. As much as I want to spank that ass and I want to very badly I will never hit you out of anger. Your punishment is to stay here alone tonight.”

My jaw dropped open. Was he serious? “You are leaving me here on your yacht? What, so I can live a billionaire lifestyle myself to death?”

“Enjoy it, then. I hope you and your bikini have a wonderful night. The crew is at your disposal and will give you anything you need.” He turned and started for the door.

“Wait, that’s it? You’re leaving? Just like that?”

“Yes, Valentina , just like that.” He paused and glanced over his shoulder. “Perhaps this separation will be necessary for both of us.”

What did that mean? Was he reconsidering our arrangement? Well, if so that was fine with me. He could put my ass on a plane and return me to Toronto. So if I didn’t care, then why did my chest suddenly feel hollowed out?

I swallowed the lump in my throat, not above begging for him to reconsider. “Rafael , stay. I’ll make it up to you, I promise.”

The resolution in his expression didn’t change at all. His features remained hard and implacable, the capo feared by all southern Italy. “I’ll send Marco for you in the morning.”

And with that, he walked out the door. I was still sitting there, dumbfounded, when I heard the helicopter’s rotors start turning. They were

leaving me here.

Instead of banishing me to the dungeon, he’d banished me here.