Her Mafia Daddy - Chapter 10: Chapter 10

"I tried once," I said with a shrug. "I sent photos to a modelling agency in Toronto but they told me my boobs were too big."
Dimitri smiled and kept his eyes on my face instead of checking out my chest like most guys. "It is their loss." He shifted on his feet, looking increasingly uncomfortable. "I should let you shower. You must be exhausted."
He turned for the door. This couldn't be it. Wasn't there more to discuss, like how I didn't want to marry him? "Dimitri , wait!" When he paused, I said, "Are you okay with this? Us, getting married, I mean. Wouldn't you rather choose your own bride instead of marrying some random?"
His eyes were flat and resigned, hardly the excitement of a man about to be married. "It doesn't matter what I wish. It only matters what he wishes."
"That can't be true. You're his only son. We could help each other, tell him we don't suit each other. You could say that you don't find me attractive or I'm too bitchy. Anything."
"He won't believe me, and furthermore he wouldn't care. He never changes his mind once he decides something." The walls felt like they were closing in on me and my palms began to sweat. Still, I had to try again. "Dimitri , I don't want this. I want to go home, back to Toronto. I'm supposed to go to school in a few weeks."
"I'm sorry, Valentina ." I wanted to scream in frustration but my throat was too raw. "Tina ," I whispered, needing someone to call me by the name I'd heard all my life. I needed a reminder of home, of people who actually cared about me. "Cosa?"
"Everyone calls me Tina ."
"Tina ," he said quietly, his gaze full of pity. "Cheer up. At least we'll be miserable together." After that cryptic statement, he left me alone in the bathroom.
Rafael’s POV
I waited at the bottom of the stairs as my son came down the steps. "My office. Now."
Dimitri regarded me with a carefully guarded expression, but said nothing as he crossed the marble floor and went toward the other side of the castle. Clamping my jaw tightly, I followed and tried to get a hold of my anger instead of shouting at him.
Once in my office, he went directly to the liquor bottles. Marco was still there, sitting in one of the armchairs from our earlier meeting. No doubt he wanted to make sure I didn't kill Dimitri for interfering tonight. I slammed the door behind me, rage burning every inch of my skin. "Sit The Fuck down, Dimitri ."
He did, but not until he held almost a full glass of bourbon in his right hand. "You wanted to see me, Papà?"
I poured my own drink and went behind my desk, breathing deeply to keep my head reasonably clear. As the boss, I strove to be level headed and calm in everything. It didn't always work, especially around Dimitri And Valentina , apparently. "Who is in charge of this family?"
"You," my son answered.
"And who is your capo?"
"You."
"Then will you explain why you went against my orders and released Valentina from the cell?" He took a drink before answering me. "She is my fiancée. It's not right for her to be locked up in the dark the minute she arrives."
"I decide what is right in this family, Dimitri . Me, not you." I held up my injured hand. "She stabbed me with a pen in front of the men. A few hours down there wouldn't have hurt her."
He shook his head. "You didn't see her, Papà. I think she's afraid of the dark or claustrophobic. She was nearly catatonic when I found her."
I ignored the pang in my chest that might have been guilt. I had to. I couldn't afford weakness. So, was this Dimitri 's attempt to play the hero? To make me appear the villain? You are the villain And she should prefer him to you, stronzo.
I don't know why that bothered me so much. I wanted them to like each other, to find happiness in their marriage. Perhaps they would have good fortune together, more than Lucia and I ever did And I needed grandsons.
Dio, I was losing my mind. I downed my drink and let the burn alleviate my anger. "I'm glad you helped her, then. No doubt she was grateful to you, which pleases me."
Dimitri frowned, eyes so like mine turning suspicious. "I didn't rescue her to earn her gratitude, but now I am wondering if that's why you put her in the dungeon. So that she'll not fight me."
I hadn't been so crafty, but good he thought me capable of it. "She will not fight you. Still, I'll give you a few weeks to get to know one another before we host the wedding."
"I'm surprised you are waiting." I cleared my throat, knowing the news must be shared but unsure how he would respond. "She had a boyfriend in Toronto."
Dimitri sipped his drink, not showing any outward reaction to the news. "And?"