Her Mafia Daddy (Book 1) novel Chapter 39

Rafael POV

When the storm abated at daybreak I was in the helicopter, flying toward the water. The wind hadn’t completely died down, and the pilot struggled to keep the craft righted. I didn’t care. I had to get to the yacht.

There had been no way to reach her last night, or I would have gone. But the wind had been too fierce, too sudden to risk a small speedboat or the helicopter. I hadn’t even been able to reach her by phone to reassure her, as we’d lost service early on in the storm.

I knew the yacht was sound. Nothing, not even a category five hurricane, could capsize a boat that big, equipped to handle rough seas. But for someone not used to the ocean, a storm such as the one last night could be terrifying. I hated that I put her through it. Instead of letting her come back to the castello, I’d left her on the yacht, alone and with no way to reach me, surrounded by a crew that spoke little if any English.

Bastardo! What had I been thinking?

The night had been a sleepless one. I paced and worried over Valentina . At dinner, Zia had given me an earful about my treatment of Valentina , hissing, “Vecchi peccati hanno le ombre lunghe.”

It was true. Old sins did have long shadows, and I knew that what I’d done would have long-lasting repercussions. While I regretted leaving Valentina the instant I departed the yacht, I could not weaken and reconsider. I intended to live with the consequences, good or bad. Of course, if I had known about the storm, I would have handled things differently. I prayed she would forgive me.

As we approached, the yacht was still, the waters once again calm. I held onto the door handle, tossing my headset onto the seat next to me, and As soon as the helicopter touched down, I was out and racing along the deck.

A lump of fear lodged in my throat as I opened the suite’s door. Valentina was sprawled out on top of the bed, limbs askew, asleep in one of my dress shirts. My shoulders relaxed slightly, until I got close enough to see the dried tears on her cheeks.

Something in my chest turned over. I found a soft blanket in a drawer. Carrying it to the bed, I crawled next to her, gathered her to me and covered us both. She sighed and nestled closer, her eyes never opening, and I sagged into the mattress, exhausted. I should have been here last night, as we’d planned. Or we should have been in my bedroom inside the castello.

My anger over her disobeying me was not an excuse for isolating her and scaring her half to death. Marco had tried to tell me as much on the ride back to the estate yesterday, but I hadn’t listened, so full of my own importance that I couldn’t see reason. I closed my eyes, determined to make this up to her. I wanted my sweet girl back.

Though I meant to stay awake, I must have slept because movement at my side brought me out of a deep fog. I felt her edge away, and I instinctively reached for her. “No. Non muoversi,” I mumbled, telling her not to move.

“I have to use the bathroom,” she said, her voice distant, and I released her. She was gone for quite some time. I was beginning to worry when I heard the latch. I pushed up to my elbows as she emerged, her face clear and freshly washed. She stood by the side of the bed and crossed her arms.

“When did you arrive?”

“At daybreak, when the storm abated. Dolcezza”

“No, Rafael . You do not get to call me that. Not anymore. You left me here. I was all alone,” her voice cracked as it trailed off, and I was on my feet instantly. Crossing to her, I pulled her tight to my chest. She pushed back, trying to get away, but I didn’t let her.

I held her tight, whispering, “I am sorry, Valentina . Mi dispiace. Perdonami, bellissima.” I repeated it again and to my astonishment she broke out into tears, her fingers clinging to my shirt.

The sound of her misery tore me apart. I kissed the top of her head and sat, holding her on my lap. “You’re safe now,” I told her. “You are safe.Nothing will ever hurt you.”

“I was so scared.”

“I know, but you were not in danger. This boat could never capsize.”

“That is what they said about the Titanic,” she said, her face buried in my throat. The Titanic hadn’t capsized, but I didn’t say as much. “You were safe, though I know storms on the water can be very scary.”

“I was terrified. And I got sick. Twice.”

“Oh, piccolina.” I squeezed her, hating myself even more for not being here. “I am so sorry.”

“All because I wore a bathing suit you didn’t like.” She pushed off my lap and stood, glaring down at me. “I hate this. I don’t want to be your mistress or your prisoner or your daughter-in-law. I want to go home.”

I would never allow it, not yet, but I suspected she didn’t want to hear that at the moment. I had to use honesty and finesse to coax her anger away. I rubbed her hip. “You don’t mean that. You are angry and you have every right but I am asking for your forgiveness. I should not have left you here alone. I let my temper and jealousy control my tongue. If there had been any way for me to get to you last night I would have tried, but the the wind was too strong.”

She slapped my hand away. “I don’t believe you, not after you said the separation would be good for both of us. What the fuck did that even mean?”

“It meant I was angry, Valentina . I was trying to spare you my temper. But I regretted leaving the second we lifted off.”

“I can tell.” Her eyes dipped to my crotch. “But I am not fucking you today, Rafael .” I trailed my fingers to her seam, but she edged away. “Did you not hear what I said?”

“I feel as though you need a reminder as to how our relationship works.”

“And after last night, I feel as though you need a reminder that this pussy belongs to me, until I decide you’ve earned it.” The back of my neck itches, my chest hot. “Not even close, Valentina .”

I started toward her and she retreated, step by step, until I had her pinned against the wall. Then I slid my hand between us and cupped her. “This pussy is mine until I decide it isn’t.”

She started to argue, so I grazed her folds with my fingers, brushing over her clit. Her body softened, relaxing into the wall and into my hand. “You are not playing fair,” she whispered.

“I never do. This is mine and I will fuck it raw until I’ve had enough.”

“You are an asshole.”

“The biggest.” But I didn’t want her to regret giving herself over to me. While I craved having her again, her submissive compliance was a thousand times more satisfying. Was I growing soft when it came to her?

Possibly, but I couldn’t seem to help it. I let her go. “Come. Let’s return to the castello. Zia is worried sick about you. Not to mention that Dimitri nearly punched me when he learned where you were last night. They deserve to know you are all right.”

“I wish he would have punched you. You deserve it.” When I took her hand, she said, “Wait, what am I going to wear? I don’t have any clothes.”

“I’ll find you something to cover your legs. But keep my shirt on, because I love the way your tits look in it.” She rolled her eyes and walked to the television. “Fine, but I am taking some of your porn back with me.”

I smothered my grin. “I see you were busy exploring. Which one did you like best?”

“I’m not watching them to get off. I am trying to learn Italian from them.” Madre di Dio. Learning dirty talk in my language from porn? This girl was going to be the death of me. “Bring four or five. Just for variety.”