Becoming the Street Boss - Hayley Faiman Page 0,91

breath. The sun feels different outside of these walls. It feels brighter, hotter, and just all-out fucking better.

Smirking, I jerk my chin toward Gavino and Arlo who are standing by a dark SUV, their hands folded in front of their waists as they watch me. I don’t bother looking for my wife, I know that she isn’t here. I also know that she’s still in a really bad fucking place, honestly, I can’t say that I’m much better.

“Cugino,” Gavino calls out as I approach.

He extends his hand and I slip mine in his before he tugs me close to him and slams his fist against my back. “Fuckin’ shit, it’s good to have you back,” he murmurs.

“Good to be out,” I grunt, taking a step back from him.

Arlo greets me almost the same way, but I can sense his hesitation. He isn’t sold on me, hasn’t liked the way that I’ve treated Pippa over the past five years and I can say that I don’t blame him, but at the end of the day, it’s none of his fucking business.

“We got business,” Gavino grunts.

“Already?” I ask on a small laugh.

“Yeah,” he says, jerking his chin in the air.

Climbing into the back of the SUV, I close my eyes and inhale a deep breath as the doors close around me. Reaching for the window button, I lower the window and allow the fresh air to wash over me.

Freedom.

I didn’t think it would affect me like this. I didn’t think that it would matter that much to me. I didn’t know that I craved it the way that I do. I didn’t think that I would truly change, but here I am.

I am not the man who walked into that prison.

Vino pulls up to the casino and I grin at the sight of the plain brick building in front of me. “What are we doing here?” I ask.

Vino shifts the SUV into part, then turns and looks over his shoulder at me. “Business,” he clucks with a grin.

We walk into the casino and I’m surprised to see that it’s empty. Raising my brows, I look over to Arlo, then to Gavino. Neither of them spare me a glance as they continue to walk forward. There’s a light in the distance, one of the rooms. I see it like a bright shining beacon.

The closer we approach, I can hear the hushed voices of people. A party. I shake my head. These fucks, or more like their sweet wives, have thrown me a welcome home party.

Gavino and Arlo jerk their chins, signaling for me to go first, when we’re finally in front of the door. Stepping inside, my lips turn up into a smile as soon as a crowd shouts, welcome home. My gaze flicks around the room, my eyes in search of one person and one person only.

I see her.

Standing in the corner, her big blue eyes focused on me, her body trying to disappear into the shadows so that she won’t be seen. She’s trying to hide from me, but that shit would be impossible. Pippa is the most beautiful woman in not only the room, but the world.

With my gaze focused on her, I break through the crowd, stopping to shake hands and accept congratulations when I can, but having one goal in my sight—my wife.

Making my way up to her, I stop when I’m only inches from her body, so close that she has to tilt her head back to look up at me.

Those big blue eyes of hers, that almost haunted face, the sight breaks my heart. I have no doubt that there are people watching us right now, we’re the center of attention, the thing is… I don’t give a fuck.

Lifting my hand, I almost hesitate as I cup her cheek, thinking that I’m being too bold, that someone is going to tell me to step away from her, but then I remember that I’m free. I’m no longer in prison.

I can do whatever the fuck I want, even if it’s fucking my wife right here in this room. Not that I would, but the important thing is, the main thing is, that I fucking can.

“You look tired, dolcezza. Tired but so fucking beautiful,” I rasp.

Without giving her a second to respond, I dip my chin and for the first time in five years, I really kiss my wife.

Chapter Thirty

PIPPA

He kisses me. Massimo’s tongue fills my mouth as he presses his chest against my own and my back