Becoming the Street Boss - Hayley Faiman Page 0,19
Her top lip curls, then she shakes her head and the look of disgust disappears. I realize now what must have happened. Her husband had been with Bellarosa, maybe even after they were married.
I feel guilty, even though it wasn’t me. I feel terrible that Bellarosa was put in the position at all. I feel consumed because I was too young and Bella suffered alone.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper.
Luciana’s heels click as she approaches me. She takes my hand in hers and squeezes my fingers. “Never,” she snaps. “We are not responsible for the sins of our relatives. You are not guilty because of the sins of your sister. Just as I am not guilty because of the sins of my father. Now, I’m Luciana and you are Pippa. You’re going to be marrying someone that I hold very near and dear to my heart, let’s make sure you blow him away on the big day.” She smiles.
She turns and walks toward the waiting room. Lenora follows her and I just stay planted exactly where I am.
Zeta approaches with a smile on her face. I can’t tell if it’s fake or not, but I feel like a deer caught in headlights as she begins to talk about shapes of dresses and styles. Shaking my head, I bring myself back into focusing on this moment.
“I just need something appropriate for the church,” I say.
“No other limits?”
I shrug a shoulder. “You’re gorgeous, your shape is beautiful. Would you like to be sexy or demure and sweet?”
Thinking about the question, my gaze flicks over to my aunt. She’s got her back turned to me, but she’s sitting ramrod straight. I know that she doesn’t want to be here, that she’s trying to figure out who I’m going to marry and how I got to where I am.
“Sexy,” I whisper. “I think my groom would like me sexy,” I say.
At least, I hope that he does. I’ve never worn anything sexy before, not until Lenora and Chloe took me shopping. They forced me to try on dozens of curve-hugging, low-cut, dresses and paired them with sky-high heels yesterday.
Her lips twitch. “I was hoping you would say sexy. I have the perfect dress for you. I doubt you’ll try on any of the others once you see yourself in this one.”
She guides me over to a rack of dresses. There are only three hanging on the bar, and they’re highlighted by spotlights.
“This is from a couture line. It’s a Lazaro. It’s appropriate for a Catholic ceremony but so sexy that your man will not want to wait until the honeymoon to have you.” She giggles.
I stare at her, not only surprised by her words but more so by her giggle. Zeta doesn’t seem like a giggler. Licking my lips, I blink then give her a smile of my own. She shakes her head, lifting her gaze, shifting it over my shoulder and I watch as her cheeks turn pink.
Turning my head, I try to see what she’s looking at. It’s Dante. His eyes are focused on her and nowhere else. Shifting my gaze back to Zeta’s, I can’t help but smile. She looks flustered, but it’s obvious that she wants his attention.
“Should we try the dresses on now?” I ask, keeping my voice low.
Her entire body jerks and she clears her throat. “Yes, yes, right this way,” she quickly rambles, taking the light blush dress off of the hanger and begins to walk toward the back of the store where I assume the dressing rooms are located.
MASSIMO
My phone alerts me to a new text. It’s Dante. I don’t know why he’s texting me. He’s not one of my men any longer, he’s now the private guard for Nicola Ricci herself. It’s a good gig, I had it for a while when I was Luciana Santoro’s guard.
DANTE: YOUR WOMAN IS YOUNG. BUT SHE’S HOT.
My response is short and sweet. I almost throw my phone across the room in a fit of jealousy. Dante has his eyes on her and I’m keeping away, too afraid that I’ll ruin everything.
KEEP YOUR EYES TO YOUR FUCKING SELF.
I don’t know why, but I feel like this should stay a secret. It’s not as if her finding out about me will change anything. The wedding is in two weeks, she’s as good as mine without saying a single word of her vows. I just don’t want any of this to get fucked up.
At least not yet. Not while she can possibly change