Becoming the Street Boss - Hayley Faiman Page 0,20

her mind. Though, I know that she won’t. Her options are fucked, but it’s that underlying uncertainty that has me staying away until she is officially mine.

DANTE: NOT MY TYPE. JUST WANTED TO SAY, YOU DID GOOD.

SEND ME A PIC.

I’m like a fucking addict. I need to see her. It’s been months since I last laid eyes on her. I need to see her—I need it.

A few seconds later my phone alerts me to a new photo. Opening it quickly, my cock hardens immediately. It’s her. She’s standing to the side and I can only see the profile of her face. Fuck. She’s still so goddamn cock-achingly gorgeous.

Shifting my gaze back to the men that I was instructing, I clear my throat.

“The Boss wants us to up our game, he wants an extra two percent from each business we collect from. Is this going to be a problem?” I ask.

The Capos are quiet, but Luca breaks that silence. “Boss, I just don’t see how we can do that. Some places are barely afloat as it is,” he says.

I shake my head once. “They haven’t had an increase in years. This is the new norm. If they give you any shit, you let me know. I’ll straighten them out myself,” I grunt.

I’m sure that I sound heartless, maybe I am, but this is the life and I don’t have a choice here.

“You sure you up to that?”

Arching a brow, I smirk. “It’s been a while, but can’t say I don’t miss shaking someone down for a little extra dough.”

Luca barks out a laugh. “Fuck, you’re cold, Ferrucci.”

Shrugging a shoulder, I shake my head once. “Business is business, Luca. That’s the way I see it anyway.”

“Black and white?” he asks.

“Pretty much.”

“Can’t wait to see how much that changes after you tie the knot.”

Thinking about Pippa, I wonder if that will change. She already owns me. How much will I change to make her happy? How much will I let her get away with? I have a feeling if I allow it, she could get away with a fuck of a lot of shit. And I have a feeling that I wouldn’t mind one fucking bit, either.

Chapter Six

PIPPA

Stabbing my lettuce, I wonder how much time I would get for murdering my bitch of an aunt? The other women around me are chatting amongst themselves, but all I can do is think about how much my aunt embarrassed me this morning.

“You can’t kill her, but it’s tempting, right?” a voice says next to me.

My entire body jerks and I turn my head. Luciana is next to me, smiling as she watches my reaction. Pressing my lips together, I hate to admit that I want to hurt anyone, but yes. I would love for my aunt to disappear the same way my mother did.

“Your dress is gorgeous. It’s indecent and absolutely perfect. Your groom is going to shit himself when he sees you,” she says.

“But you’re not going to tell me who he is, are you?” I ask.

She shakes her head slowly. “I’m not. Just know that almost everyone here knows him, some of us better than others, but we all know that he is a good man. You are not being delivered into the hands of a devil. Besides, Gavino wouldn’t do that. He likes you, likes all three of you actually.”

“But Bella too much?” I ask, arching a brow.

Luciana shakes her head once, her lips turning up into a small smile. “In the beginning. You’ll find out. In the beginning, it will not be perfect. It will not even be bearable, but it will get better. Once things are a little more settled. Once you have boundaries set up, things change.”

My lips twitch, and I let out a snort. “Boundaries?” I ask. “These men do not respect boundaries. Don’t you mean, once you submit to their demands?”

Luciana’s eyes widen, her lips press together and her gaze flicks to the side. I feel bad for my outburst and know that I shouldn’t talk to her that way, she’s the wife of the Boss after all.

“If you’re smart, you figure out your own way to set boundaries without them ever realizing they’re respecting them,” Nicola states, leaning forward. She’s sitting across from me, her eyes bright and mischievous as she shifts her gaze from side to side.

“Nicola is right,” Lenora states.

Suddenly, I have the attention of the entire table. “I’ve seen how these men are. I’m sorry, but I don’t think there are any boundaries