Becoming the Street Boss - Hayley Faiman Page 0,29

not to tear up. “You need to know. This life, it isn’t easy. You women have to be stronger than any man on earth. Are you strong, mimma?”

“Do you know Irene Mazzilli?” I deadpan.

His eyes widen and he lets out a low groan before he chuckles. “I see,” he drawls.

“She loves my sister. Me? Not so much,” I say, admitting it aloud to a near stranger makes me feel funny, but Carlo is comfortable.

We twirl around the floor as the song continues to play. “Understood,” he whispers. “So, you are strong. Good. You will need it if you plan on taming one of these men.”

“Tame?” I ask. “I assumed they were all untamable.”

Carlo lets out a laugh, its loud and boisterous. I’m sure that it causes people to look at us, but I can only see this man in front of me who has beautiful laugh lines and an even more gorgeous laugh. I didn’t know it was possible for any of these men to actually laugh and mean it.

My heart skips, wondering if I will ever hear Massimo laugh, truly laugh. Flicking my gaze over to him and his group of men, I bite my bottom lip as I watch them. He’s in deep discussion with Gavino, I can only see his profile. His gorgeous, but serious, profile.

“May I cut in?”

Turning my head, Carlo’s fingers flex against the small of my back. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea,” he says with a clear warning tone to his voice.

The other man doesn’t say a word and Carlo grunts as he reluctantly releases me. The man who takes his place is around Massimo’s age if I had to guess, late-twenties or early thirties. He’s handsome, too, just like most of the men around here.

“Tizaiano Bianchi,” he says, announcing himself.

His fingers curl around my waist as he pulls me a little too close to his body. Lifting my eyes up to meet his, I smile softly, careful not to give away my racing heart at his close presence.

“Pippa,” I say.

He dips his chin, his gaze flicking down to my chest before it lifts back up to meet my own eyes. “You’re a beautiful bride. Massimo is a very lucky man,” he purrs.

My breath hitches, not because he’s complimented me, but because there is meaning behind that compliment. I don’t know who this man is, but I don’t need any trouble. This man is assuredly just that—trouble.

“Thank you,” I whisper, suppressing a shiver.

“That’s quite enough, Bianchi,” an angry voice snaps.

Chapter Nine

MASSIMO

My fingers itch to take my gun out of my holster and pump six rounds into Tiziano Bianchi. I don’t give a fuck if he’s a prince on the verge of becoming a Boss or not.

I could give a goddamn.

He’s touching my wife. He’s dancing far too fucking close to her and the way he’s looking at her, I know that if he thought he could, he’d take a chance to be with her, to take her from me.

“Just dancing with the beautiful bride,” he says, holding his hands up.

“Yeah? I know what you asked Mia and Gavino to help you with. Stop sniffing,” I bark.

Tiziano snorts. “You have no clue, Massimo.” He takes a step away from Pippa and my anger recedes a bit now that he’s no longer touching what’s mine.

“I don’t?” I ask.

He shakes his head once, his gaze flicking to Pippa before he brings it back to meet mine. “None.”

Without another word, he turns and walks away from us. Watching him go, I ball my hands into fists, inhaling a breath before I let it out in a long exhale. Turning to Pippa, I tilt my head to the side. Her eyes are on me, her expression blank and completely unreadable.

“Are you okay?” I ask.

Her lips twitch in a small smile. “I am. Should I be worried about him?” she asks.

Shaking my head once, I hold my hand out for her. Without hesitating, she slips her palm into mine. Tugging her against my chest, I dance with my wife.

Wife.

I’m still in awe that she is mine.

All mine.

I don’t have to watch her from afar, I don’t have to share her time with another fucking soul, she is one hundred percent mine and nobody else’s.

“Should I be worried about him?” Pippa asks after a few beats of the music.

Dipping my chin, I grin down at her. “Not at all. I got you, dolcezza.”

Her eyes widen, but she doesn’t say anything else. I’m glad. The first dance we had, we