Becoming the Street Boss - Hayley Faiman Page 0,23
it’s much easier than attempting to fight her about any of it.
Shifting my gaze to him, I take a step forward. “Mr. Gallo. Can we talk?”
He nods, then lifts his hand to call me toward the back. Following behind him, we walk into a small room that is decorated as a plain office. There is a small desk, a chair and a computer that looks as though he’s had it since the late nineties.
“How can I help you?”
“Luca tells me you refused to pay?”
He gulps, his eyes rounding. “You’re not shaking more out of me. I have been paying you people since I opened up my cleaners forty years ago. You don’t own my building, you don’t own anything. You come in here and demand money. It isn’t right. Maybe I call the police and let them know what you’re doing?”
I could blow up. Yell at him. I could threaten to kill him, but that isn’t the way Gavino operates. No, he wants people to agree to give him money, to offer it as if they are doing us a favor.
“Arnie, you already know that the police won’t do anything. Why would you threaten me that way? It’s insulting really,” I say.
Gallo inhales a deep breath. I can see his body tremble as he places his hand against the desk. “I don’t have this month’s plus another two percent. I cannot swing it.”
“Why?” I ask.
“Why?”
I don’t bother asking him again. Maybe I should, but I’m not that man. He’ll tell me and he won’t continue to insult me by forcing me to continue to ask the same questions over and over. Inhaling a deep breath, I cross my arms over my chest and I wait.
“My daughter is graduating high school. All of our extra has gone to her. Proms, graduation dresses, parties, all of it goes to her.”
I feel for him. I truly do. Except this expense is nothing new to him. It also isn’t unreasonable. He’s been paying us for forty years.
“She spoiled?” I ask.
Gallo shakes his head. “She’s a good girl. She’s our only child. My wife, she wants to give her everything. It adds up and I couldn’t tell her no.”
“You’re a good man, Gallo. I know that you are. How many times have you been late?” I ask.
“Never,” he says, jerking his chin up.
Nodding my head once. “You pay me next month, I’ll knock off this month’s added two percent, as long as I’m paid in full next month. Does that work for you?”
“Next month I pay my regular fee for this month, then next month’s plus the new two percent?” he asks. Nodding my head once, I confirm his words. “Thank you, Massimo. Thank you so much. What can I do to make this up to you?”
“Two things.”
“Anything.”
Taking a step closer to him, I dip my chin. “One. You never fucking threaten me with the cops again. Two. You owe me. I don’t know what that looks like right now, but when I do, you don’t deny me.”
Gallo’s jaw tightens and I watch as a muscle jumps in his cheek. Begrudgingly, he jerks his chin in a nod. Turning around, I stop at the office door. Looking over my shoulder, my eyes find his.
“Don’t fuck with me, Gallo. I’ll be by personally to pick up your payment in a month.”
Walking away, I ignore the bitch who glares at me as I pass by her. Heading toward my car, I slide into the driver’s seat. Digging my phone out of my pocket, I see that I have a missed call from Enrico. There’s a voicemail so I play that and let his voice fill my speakers.
“Your woman is a good one. She knows her place. She is young and insecure. She is fearful of her future with a stranger. I like her. She will make a good mafia wife.”
I don’t know whether to be pissed off that he’s calling me to tell me about my woman, or if I should puff my chest up with pride that Pippa is impressing the famiglia already. I choose the latter.
Chapter Seven
MASSIMO
Two weeks have passed. There will be no honeymoon, I honestly don’t have the time, not with Gavino’s demands. I am okay with that. A weekend in bed with my new wife is all that I need. I’ll take her on a vacation, but now is not the time. I’m still solidifying my position beneath Gavino. I still have much to prove to him.