Her Mafia Daddy - Chapter 15: Chapter 15

"That is good. We'll make a Calabrian out of you yet." No, they wouldn't. I'd rather die than be a mafia wife. "I like you, Dimitri ." I shook my head sadly. "I don't want to, but I do."
"It will make it easier, Tina . I'll be a good husband to you And some day, this will all be ours."
"No offence, but I honestly hope you are wrong." I finished my grappa and swayed on my feet. "Whoa." Dimitri grinned. "I think it is time to go back."
"Do we have to? I hate being cooped up inside. It was so nice to be out with the plants and trees today."
"I'm afraid it is almost dinner time. My father will be expecting us."
"Your father." I made a dismissive sound in my throat. "He's already put me in the dungeon. What will he do next if he disapproves? String me up on the rack? Strap me to a dunking bench?"
Dimitri was unamused, his mouth flat and serious. "You do not want to ever find out, bella. Come on. You need food to soak up all this grappa."
He took my arm and began leading me out of the tasting room. We said goodbye to Vincenzo and strolled along the dirt path to the castle. "I have decided that I love grappa," I declared as I clung to Dimitri 's arm. "And the estate isn't so bad."
"I am happy to hear it." He was humouring me. "I will honestly miss it when I go back to Toronto."
"You've got to put an end to those thoughts. Unfortunately for both of us, Tina , you are here to stay." My stomach turned over. I ran behind a fig tree and threw up.
Rafael's POV
I came into the kitchen the next morning at my usual time. My son was there with Zia, but Valentina was still absent. She'd been too ill from grappa to eat with us last evening and apparently was not yet awake. I didn't like it.
Dimitri and Valentina seemed happy yesterday in the tasting room. Unable to help myself, I'd watched the security footage, soaking in the way she smiled at him. Studying the curve of her lips when she laughed. It was clear she liked my son, and I told myself that was a good thing. A sign of their future together, a team working toward the common goal of the future success of the Ravazzani family.
I kissed Zia's cheeks and made a cup of espresso. Dimitri was on his phone, scrolling through videos of some kind. He'd gone out last night for work and, from the looks of it, was only getting home. "Rough night?" I asked.
Out of respect, he put down his phone and gave me his full attention. "No. I was at the club until around three. Then we had a shipment to oversee. Everything is stored."
"Any problems?"
"None."
"You are just getting home now?" A flush worked its way above his collar. "I was out with friends." Getting laid, then. "Try to keep your other women away from your fiancée, at least until after the wedding."
"And not in this house," Zia said, pointing at Dimitri . "Your father and his women are bad enough. I cannot take more."
I frowned and sipped my espresso. Zia hated that I brought my mistresses into the castello, but I had little choice. There have been many attempts on my life and, after what happened to Lucia, I learned to be more cautious. I was safe here. Besides, I was the boss. If I wanted to fuck a woman in my own house, I would. "I won't," Dimitri told Zia. "I promise."
"Your fiancée is alive?" I asked. "Not too much grappa?"
"She was sleeping when I left last night. There couldn't have been much remaining in her system at that point."
"Good. Bring her to my office this morning." Dimitri searched my eyes as if trying to read my intentions, but he knew better than to question a direct order. "I'll fix her a tray and take it up."
I nodded, refreshed my caffé, and departed for my office. Marco would arrive soon with verbal updates on business matters. Until then, I would read the emails regarding the legitimate ventures, offering up opinions when warranted.
Truth be told, I liked the legitimate work better, the strategy and moving money around, but I was more suited to the extortion, drug-running, and gambling operations. Not everyone had the stomach for what needed to be done to run an organisation like ours, but I did. Some days, I even relished the violence and chaos.
The sun was just rising over the vineyards outside my office window. The sight never failed to please me. All of this belonged to me, as it had belonged to five generations of Ravazzani men. And it would eventually belong to Dimitri and his sons after him. Would they appreciate the sights and smells as much as I did? The rich tang of the earth and the slightly salty air from the ocean? I loved this property, this land that was in my bones. I would fight for it until my last breath.
I'd murder, cheat, and steal to keep it, if necessary. Briefly, I wondered about Dimitri 's amante. Who was he seeing? I trusted my son to keep the family's secrets, but not all women were trustworthy. I should learn her name and do a little digging.