Becoming the Street Boss: A Zanetti Famiglia Novel

by Faiman, Hayley

  “Sexy, young, beautiful. Sad that you’ve been tangled up with a guy like that. Why don’t you get yourself a real man, one that can protect you?”

  Biting the inside of my cheek, my heart races at his words. Protect me? They sound like a threat, or maybe I’ve been around too many of those gangsters he’s talking about.

  “You assume that I cannot protect myself,” I say, squaring my shoulders.

  He chuckles, pushing off of the wall, but thankfully makes no move closer toward me. He tilts his head to the side, his eyes roaming over my body. Then his lips twitch before they curve up into a smile, a slithering snake-like smile.

  “I think you would certainly put up a fight and that would be glorious. But no, you can’t protect yourself. You want someone to show you what a real man can offer you, just let me know. I assume you’ll be back?”

  Smirking, my eyes skirt up and down his body. He’s fit but holding on to about fifteen pounds more than necessary. He’s handsome, in a clean-cut kind of way, but he’s not Massimo. His eyes do not hold that guarded vulnerability, in fact, they hold nothing except anger and resentment.

  “Yes, I’ll be back to see my husband.”

  Without another word, I walk away from him. Whoever he is, his agenda is more than showing me a real man. He gave off something very ugly and I want no part of it. Absolutely none of it.

  MASSIMO

  Another week passes, but instead of being able to look and talk to my wife, I have to meet with Gavino. He sits across the table from me, his gaze flicking behind me, then landing on mine.

  “You got a cop shooting daggers,” he rumbles.

  I nod my head once. “Yeah, he’s said some things about Pippa. She told me that he approached her after she and I had a visit last week.”

  “He a problem?”

  I shrug my shoulder. “Possibly. Not sure, maybe you check him out, double check.”

  “It’s done. If Pippa is in danger, I’ll put a man on her.”

  I dip my chin, still pissed off that he doesn’t have a permanent guard on her, but I don’t have a fucking choice in the matter, not right now at least. Gavino shifts his gaze back to meet my own.

  “You know anyone in there named Mazza?”

  I smirk, knowing exactly what he’s asking me. “A favor?”

  “Possibly.”

  “You take care of that bitch of an aunt for me?” I ask.

  Gavino leans back in his seat, his lips twitching as he shakes his head. “You want that?”

  Leaning forward, I lift my hand and press my index finger on to the table. “I need that. Pippa has never been treated right by her. Pippa’s trying to do right by her sister and if that bitch succeeds in court to take Rosana from her, she’ll never forgive herself for whatever fucked up treatment Irene will met out to Rosana,” I grind out.

  Gavino dips his chin in a slow nod. “You have it. Was hoping you’d ask me for that, I was already prepared to get rid of her. You know she asked me if I would take the girl off her hands, and how much I’d pay for her. Fucking cunt is what she is.”

  “She won’t get Rosana and she won’t hurt Pippa ever again,” I state.

  Gavino’s lips turn up into a grin. “She certainly won’t. I think it’s about time she goes and visits her brother and sister-in-law.”

  “Sounds good to me,” I snort.

  “You got Mazza?” Vino asks.

  Nodding my head, my eyes find his. “It’ll be easy, consider it done. I’ll call you with a confirmation.”

  “Good. Don’t get caught. We miss you out here, cugino,” he rasps.

  Smirking, I jerk my chin toward him. “I won’t. Ready to get the fuck out of here.”

  Gavino and I both stand to our feet, our meeting over. Aunt Irene will be taken care of as will the man that Vino needs me to get rid of in here.

  This is my job now, the only one that I can do from the inside, meting out the will of my boss. All in hopes that he’ll always keep his eye on my wife and keep her safe.

  I have to trust him, trust my other famiglia to take care of her when I can’t. It’s the worst goddamn feeling on the fucking planet.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  PIPPA

  Sitting next to Salvatore, I twist my fingers in my lap, my head tipped as I watch the movement. Salvatore reaches over, wrapping his hand around mine. Turning my head to the side, I lift it and look into his eyes.

  “It’s going to be okay,” he says, his voice firm and unwavering.

  “Is it?” I breathe.

  He dips his head in a short nod. “It is, Pippa.”

  “I hope so.”

  I hear the judge being called and we all stand. Tilting my head to the side, my eyes widen when I see that my aunt’s attorney is standing at the table, but he’s alone. Whipping my head back around to Salvatore, my eyes widen, but he ignores me.

  I know that he can sense me watching him, but he doesn’t spare me even a glance. Shifting my gaze back toward the judge, I listen, in awe as he awards me full custody of my sister until she reaches the age of eighteen.

  He goes on to tell me that although my husband is in prison, that in no way reflects on me or my personal life, especially since we had only been married a week. He also warns me that Child Protective Services will be checking on me often and without warning.

  In less than thirty minutes, Rosana is mine. My responsibility and my duty to keep safe. I’ll do it too, gladly. Anything to keep her from having the life that Bellarosa had, the life that I almost had.

  Though, I’m not sure if mine is any better than Bellarosa’s. Some days I think that I’ve hit the jackpot, other days, I think that maybe this could be worse.

  Owned by a man who doesn’t seem to want me half of the time, a man who is in prison.

  Waiting five years for him to get out, knowing that when he does, he’ll more than likely be even more closed off than he was before he went in.

  He may never love me. He may just always exist beside me and nothing more. That causes my chest to ache. My heart to break into hundreds of little pieces.

  “I can’t believe it. I’m free,” Rosana squeals as soon as we step outside of the courthouse.

  Looking at her, I smile and jerk my head to the side. “Get me a coffee from the café?” I ask as I dig into my back pocket to hand her a twenty. Her gaze flicks up to Salvatore and she nods her head, then hurries away.

  “You got what you wanted,” Salvatore murmurs.

  “Tell me, do I have to worry about her anymore?”

  Salvatore’s lips curve up into a grin. “Massimo wanted her taken care of, to ensure that you and Rosana were safe,” he murmurs.

  “Salvatore,” I exhale.

  He snorts. “He likes you, a lot. Adores you, actually. He just wants you happy and safe—well taken care of.”

  “I see him tomorrow,” I mutter.

  Salvatore reaches for my hands, his grip is firm but comforting. “Take care of Rosana, don’t let her get into any trouble. Girls that age, girls your age, they tend to find that. You call me if you ever need out of a tight spot. Don’t ever feel like I’ll rat you out, I’d rather you be safe.”

  Licking my lips, I swallow hard. “Okay, Salvatore. Okay,” I whisper.

  “I’m serious, Pippa,” he snaps, his jaw set hard.

  Squeezing his hands with my own, I lift my face up and my eyes find his. “What happened?”

  His lips part as if he’s going to start to tell me why he’s so adamant that I tell him if I need help. But he catches himself. His lips clamp shut and he smirks as he shakes his head a couple of times.

  I see a familiar red sedan drive by the courthouse slowly. It’s been following me since the day at the bridal shop. I don’t see it every time that I leave, but anytime I’m in a busy public place like this, it seems to appear.

  My heart races, but I shake the whole thing off, I have a lot more important shit to worry about than some car that appears with a man driving who never does anyth
ing other than lift his hand in my direction.

  “You know how to get ahold of me. You have my number. Say hello to Massimo when you see him tomorrow, yeah?”

  Without another word, he turns from me. I watch him as he walks away for a moment before I decide to make my way toward the café. Rosana is still in line, so I grab a table on the sidewalk for two.

  Inhaling the warm air, I wonder if I’ve suddenly become just as bad as my husband, as the Made Men that I have always despised. I know that my aunt is dead, that she’s taken care of and I don’t care.

  I’m not even an ounce remorseful that it was because of me she died. Especially not when I look up and see a smiling from ear-to-ear Rosana heading my way.

  “Let’s celebrate tonight,” she practically shouts.

  I laugh, reaching for my drink as she sinks down into her seat. “How did you want to celebrate?”

  She lifts her face up to the sky, pretending to think about what she wants to do. Without a doubt, she knows exactly what she wants to do.

  Dinner will be involved, beyond that, I’m not sure. Rosana isn’t a movies girl, she’s not someone who likes to hang out at cafés and listen to music. No, Rosana has an idea, I’m just not sure if I’m going to like it.

  “Dinner and dancing. There are sixteen and over clubs, I want to go to one.”

  “Sana,” I say, warningly.

  She shakes her head. “I want to have fun. I’ll get back to school Monday, but I want to celebrate being free, Pip.”

  Pressing my lips together, I nod. “How about I invite some people? Do you have any friends you want to invite?” I ask.

  She shakes her head. “You’re my best friend, Pippa. You’re all I need there.”

  “Shit,” I curse before I giggle.

  It didn’t take much convincing. Lenora, Chloe, Nicola, and Luciana were more than excited to join us, along with their guards.

  Rosana makes a face as soon as she sees the men in suits following behind us, watching us from each corner of the club, but it doesn’t bother me, not in the slightest… in fact, I’ve never felt better.

  Dinner consumed and we all throw our hands up before we head out on the dance floor.

  “Thank you so much for inviting us, I can’t remember the last time that I went anywhere past nine at night,” Lenora calls out as she shifts her hips from side to side.

  Laughing, I wiggle my own hips before I lean in. “You’re welcome, anytime at all.”

  She snorts. “Arlo doesn’t let me out much without him at night, this is probably a one-time thing, but I’m okay with that,” she says.

  I nod, thinking that I would be okay with staying home with Massimo too. Shaking off thoughts of him, I smile brightly toward Lenora and we dance.

  That’s how we spend the evening, we just dance. No men bother us, mainly because the guards end up forming a protective barrier around us, but it couldn’t be more perfect.

  Breaking away from the group, I head to the bathroom before we leave for the evening. Lifting my arms, I shake a little with each step that I take to the beat of the music.

  That is, until I feel a hand wrap around my forearm. My entire body is jerked down the hallway before my back slams against the wall.

  My breath whooshes out of me in a gasp. Looking up, I’m met with the face of a stranger. My heart thumps against my chest matching the bass of the music. The man smirks as he looks into my eyes.

  “You have no fucking idea who I am, do you?”

  I don’t answer him. I don’t want to answer him. All I want to do is stall him from whatever it is he’s going to do to me. Massimo was right, I’m definitely not naïve, if this were Rosana standing in front of this stranger, his fingers wrapped around her arm, I don’t think that she would ever mentally recover.

  “I don’t,” I admit when he doesn’t say anything.

  He tilts his head to the side. “Tell Massimo when you see him tomorrow that he can stop looking for me. He’ll never find me and I’m fucking proud I got him locked up. I’ll be keeping an eye on you, sweetheart. Best ass I’ve seen in a while.” He laughs. Then he lowers his head and his lips graze my ear. “Gonna enjoy watching you squirm.”

  He pushes me away, then without a word he walks down the dark hallway and disappears in the shadows. My entire body trembles uncontrollably, and that is how Chloe finds me.

  “What happened?” she demands.

  Lifting my wide eyes to hers, it spews out of me. I can’t hold back anything, not a single word.

  “I’ll get Luca on it,” she growls.

  Lifting my hands, I curl my fingers in her shirt. “No,” I snap. “Nobody can know. Massimo will just worry. He won’t do anything.”

  “You don’t know that,” she says.

  Nodding, I lift my face up to meet hers. “I understand. But I have a security system at my house, I have Rosana with me, and he knows that Massimo and the men are looking for him. He won’t be bold.”

  “You mean not like tonight?” she asks, arching a brow.

  “Just don’t,” I rasp, pleading with her.

  “Okay,” she breathes. “Anything happens again and I’m telling Luca, I don’t even care if you hate me forever,” she snaps.

  My lips turn up into a small smile. “Okay, Chloe.”

  MASSIMO

  Narrowing my eyes on her, I tilt my head to the side before I start to walk in her direction. “Fine piece of ass, Ferrucci. Caught her outside last time she came to see you. Bet she’s thought about my offer to show her what a real man is like.”

  Ignoring the officer, I continue to move toward the entrance to the common area where we’re allowed to sit at a table and talk. The officer that I know is on our payroll grunts as I approach him.

  “He’s too bold. He talked to my woman outside last time she was here. My wife,” I hiss.

  He clears his throat, but I don’t look over at him. I know that the asshole is watching me, waiting for me to do something so that he can fuck with me.

  “He needs to be taught a lesson,” he grunts.

  Jerking my chin, I snort. “Agreed. Who is going to do that?”

  “I’ll handle it,” he murmurs.

  Leaving him standing there, I make my way toward Pippa. She stands as soon as she sees me. Today she’s wearing a pair of tight-fitting pants and a buttoned-up blouse tucked in. She looks sexy as shit, but I have a feeling she’s ditched her skirts and dresses because of that asshole cop.

  “Massimo,” she sighs as soon as I’m close enough to hear her.

  “Dolcezza,” I grunt as my eyes continue to take her in.

  “Last time I was here, they told me that I could bring you some pictures. They also told me they couldn’t be too sexy,” she explains as she laughs softly.

  Once she sits down, she pushes a couple of photographs across the table toward me. I think about shoving them in my pocket to look at later, but I don’t.

  Flipping them over, my breath hitches at the sight. They aren’t indecent, but they’re sexy as fuck. She’s dressed up like a fifties style pinup model. Her skin is covered, but they have to be sexier than anything I’ve ever seen before.

  “I had to get creative. I couldn’t do a picture of me just sitting in a room,” she rambles. “Rosana took them, she’s studying photography in school.”

  “They’re perfect,” I rasp before I lift my gaze up to meet hers. “Absolutely perfect.”

  Pippa lets out a shaky exhale before her lips turn up into a smile. “I’m glad you like them. I took them at home. I don’t know, I figured you were missing your place, so I wanted to give you a little of that too.”

  I grin, shaking my head, knowing without a doubt that she took the sexy secretary one in my office. I shift in my seat also knowing that in five years, I’m going to fuck her in that sexy secretary outfit on my fucking desk.

  “Keep those outfits, yeah?”

  My world completely stops when she lets out a loud laugh. I watch her in awe, this is what I want
ed from her. Uninhibited laughter, just like she had with her friends in the cafés when I would watch her from afar. I wanted this and I have it, finally.

  “Yeah, Massimo, I’ll keep the outfits,” she whispers. “Thank you, by the way.”

  “For?”

  She reaches for my hand, our fingers lacing together across the tabletop. Her eyes focus on mine and they water as she watches me. Then she squeezes my fingers before she speaks.

  “Giving me Rosana. I know you helped me with that and I thank you for it.”

  “You’re not angry?”

  She shakes her head, her lips curving up into a smile. “Not at all. I’m thankful, grateful to you and for you. I appreciate all you’ve done.”

  I squeeze her hand, wishing that she could show me just how appreciative she is. Licking my bottom lip, I nod my head. We spend the next thirty minutes chatting. She tells me about her sister, what she’s up to and before we leave, I touch my mouth to hers and she tells me to be good so that I can come home soon.

  Turning away from her, I don’t promise her that I’ll be good. I haven’t been. I’ve issued an order to kill her aunt and then to fuck with that asshole cop, plus there’s the little fact that I killed a man in the showers three days ago. There is no good in this life for this man that I am.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  PIPPA

  Years.

  They pass by in a blur. Each year that passes, I can feel Massimo slipping away from me. Not that I really had much of him, but the bit that I did in the beginning of this sentence, it’s gone.

  The man that sits across from me, I don’t recognize him. He sits back, his chin up in the air as he looks down at me. His dark hair is stylishly clipped, his face clean-shaven, but his eyes. They’re not just black, they’re cold and hardened.

  “Rosana turned eighteen,” I whisper.

  He nods his head slightly. “What’d you buy her?” he asks.