Her Mafia Daddy (Book 1) novel Chapter 40

Valentina POV

Dimitri appeared in my doorway after I had showered and dressed. “Cristo santo, Tina . I was worried about you last night. Are you okay?”

He was dressed like a fashion model, expensive fabrics carelessly draped over his lean frame, his hair perfectly styled. His features were softer than Rafael ’s, handsome in a more classical sense. His mother must have been beautiful, too.

I sighed and waved him in. “Barely. I was scared shitless.”

“I can believe it. That was a bad storm.” He shook his head and closed the door. “My father’s temper is a fearsome thing. He must have been very mad at you to leave you out there.”

I figured I could level with Dimitri . “He asked me not to wear the black bikini during his meeting with Enzo.”

“And you wore it?” Dimitri winced. “Bella, that was asking for trouble.”

“I know, and he later explained why. But I didn’t know any of that at the time. I should be able to wear what I want.”

“You don’t know many Italian men, do you?”

“There are plenty of Italian men in Toronto.”

“No, there are Italian-Canadian men. I mean, true Italian men. It is a much different thing. They can be very domineering.”

“You’re not like that.” He gave me a wolfish grin. “Not with women, I’m not.”

I laughed. “You’re all assholes.”

“That’s true.” The smile dropped and he stared at me soberly. “Is he...? I mean to say, are you okay with this? With him?” How to answer that? I had so many conflicting emotions. I wanted to go home, but I also craved Rafael ’s body like air and water. And living here wasn’t so terrible.

The castello and the estate were beautiful, and I was in Italy. Other than a lack of a phone and laptop and Rafael ’s refusal to let me leave it was the perfect summer vacation.

I could see Dimitri was truly worried, so I had to be honest. “I’m okay. For now. It’s weird telling you this, but I’m insanely attracted to your father. We’re having fun hooking up.”

But I was still angry with him, so my hormones needed to sit the fuck down. “Do you mind?” I said, attempting to sound stern. “You’re supposed to ask if you can come in first.”

He jerked his chin at his son and Dimitri immediately strode out, closing the door behind him. Rafael turned his attention to me, the edges of his mouth curling slightly. “I thought we covered that, dolcezza.”

“I’m still furious with you. What do you want?” He stalked toward me and put one hand behind my head, the other on my hip. He surrounded me and I wanted so badly to lean into him. To kiss and touch him.

As if he could read my thoughts, his nostrils flared as he stared down at me. “I come bearing gifts.”

The conversation about Katarzyna fresh in my mind, I recoiled. “I don’t want gifts. I want to go home.”

The lines around his eyes deepened, but he continued as if I hadn’t spoken. “You will want this one. Reach into my left coat pocket.”

He was wrong. I didn’t want it, but I couldn’t tell him that without seeing it first. I reached into his coat pocket and a thin rectangle met my fingers. I gasped and pulled it out. “Oh, my God. A phone!”

The relief I felt was overwhelming. I could call my sisters whenever I felt like it. My friends, too. I could watch cat videos and catch up on celebrity gossip. “This pleases you, no?”