Her Mafia Daddy - Chapter 28: Chapter 28

Or maybe I'd never leave my room again. The kitchen was dark when I entered, my feet moving quickly across the tiled floor. All of a sudden, arms grabbed me from behind and pulled me to a halt. I struggled, but the hands only tightened as I was pulled into a strong warm chest.
"Where are you going in such a hurry, piccola monella?" Ravazzani. Shit. Did he know I'd been listening? I licked my lips and tried to keep my voice even. "My room."
He felt like a wall behind me. A tall muscular wall that had just murdered two people. I began trembling, emotions rioting inside me. He was brutal and beautiful, like those jungle cats on the nature channel I sometimes watched, and I wanted to hate him. I wanted to scream and run away. But there was a darkness within me, too, some part of my soul that relished violence and power, and found it exciting. That shameful side was drawn to this man. I found him fascinating and sexy as fuck.
Valentina's POV
Again, what was wrong with me? His rough hand clamped around my throat, holding me tightly. Instead of scaring me, his touch caused slashes of heat to race down my spine and settle between my legs. He surrounded me, his strength on magnificent display, and my body softened as fear shifted to need and hunger. Could he feel my pulse pounding under his fingertips?
I heard him suck in a breath, so I assumed he'd noticed my reaction. Then his voice grew low and sensual, his lips near my ear. "What were you hoping to see Valentina in the dungeon, Valentina ? Hmm?"
"I don't know what you're talking about," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.
"Liar." The hand not on my neck cupped my hip, almost caressing me.
"Do you know what happens to girls who spy on me?"
"Let me go. You're scaring me."
"No, I'm not. You are not frozen in fear or fighting me off. Instead, you are relaxed against me while your heart is beating so fast. Do you know what that tells me?" I was almost afraid to ask. "What?"
"That you don't mind the danger. That you might even thrive on it." He inhaled near my neck, as if smelling me. "As I do."
Moisture flooded between my legs, arousal so swift and fierce that my knees nearly buckled. In fact, I probably would have collapsed if Ravazzani hadn't been holding me up.
"Yes," he murmured. "That is exactly what I thought. Do not ever try to tell me you weren't made for this life, that you weren't born to rule as a queen."
I closed my eyes. God, please don't let that be true. "Fuck you. I will never marry your son."
"You will, bellissima. And if you curse at me again, or use such foul language in my house, I will return you to the dungeon whether it's been
cleaned or not."
I shivered, imagining the blood and brain matter on those dank walls. I never wanted to be down there again ever. "This is the twenty-first
century, Ravazzani. Women curse."
He let me go abruptly, and I had to brace myself on the countertop to keep from toppling over. I looked over my shoulder and saw him run his hands through his hair. His eyes were bright and wild, almost feral, like an animal caught in a trap in the woods. "It may be the twenty-first century out there, but here in Calabria, in my house, it is very much not. We honor tradition, and that means you will also honour our traditions. Because if you don't, I promise you won't like the consequences."
Turning, he strode to the door. "And let this be a warning: do not spy on my business again. The less you know, the better."
He disappeared into the night, leaving me shaken and confused. It seemed like Rafael Ravazzani might understand me better than I did myself, which was an absolutely horrifying thought. I couldn't let that be true.
Looking at the door, I made a swift decision. Fuck this. Fuck the engagement, fuck this castle, and fuck Rafael . Tonight I will escape.
Rafael's POV
Something told me she was going to run. I knew the wedding dress, combined with whatever Valentina saw in the dungeon, would overwhelm her and force her hand. I was looking forward to the challenge, actually. She had no chance of escaping, but it would be fun to see how she tried. I kept working late into the night. As usual, guards patrolled outside and two men monitored the security feeds. There was a complex system of tunnels that connected the castello to hideouts in the surrounding mountains, and if she found them she would be able to get deep into the forest. While she wouldn't get away, it would take us some time to find her.
She was unaware of that option, thankfully, and I meant to see it stayed that way. Dimitri had returned an hour ago. Valentina would wait until she assumed everyone was asleep before making her attempt. Which meant any minute now….
I was checking over a contract we had secured for a government building when I heard the creak of the floor above me. Ah, yes. The monella was on the move. My lips curved into a smile. It was so satisfying to be proven right. I flicked off the light in my office, just in case she came down this corridor. More likely she would go the other way, through the kitchen to gather supplies, then out the back door, but I wanted to be cautious.