Becoming the Street Boss: A Zanetti Famiglia Novel Read online

  She nods her head, her hands lift to her tits, and without another word, I pull out of her a bit before I sink back inside. My fingers continue moving through the folds, then fill her, pulling out before I flick her clit—over and over.

  It doesn’t take long for her to come and for me to be on the edge of my own release. “Harder, please,” she begs.

  My hands grip her hips, and I do just that. I fuck her harder. Probably too hard, but I know that she can take anything that I dish out. Slamming my hips forward, I bury myself inside of her completely before I shudder and fill the condom with my cum.

  Slowly I slip from between her sweet cheeks, and slowly lower her torso onto the bed before I make my way toward the bathroom to clean up and dispose of the rubber. When I return, she’s wrapped in a robe, lying on her side, her eyes immediately finding mine.

  “You never stay, but I’ll still ask you if you will,” she whispers.

  “Why do you want me to?” I ask, standing at the end of the bed, my gaze connecting with her blue one.

  She licks her lips, then they turn up into a soft smile. “I like you,” she says with a shrug of her shoulder. “You’re nice and you make me feel good. Plus, you understand my life. You’re not here because you can’t get what you want out there. You’re not here for anything I can do for you or give you. You’re here because we’re all connected, we’re all in this life together.”

  My shoulder jerks at her words. She’s right to a degree. But she’s also wrong. I can’t get what I want out there, because I want Pippa. I do understand her, but she doesn’t understand me. If she did, she wouldn’t say that we’re connected. I am here for what she can do for me and give me, nothing more.

  She isn’t famiglia. She’ll never be with a Made Man. She is and will always be dispensable to the famiglia. She has protection for the sole purpose of the service she provides.

  She’s paid for her duties, but there are a dozen girls that can and will take her place. She is owned by the Zanetti famiglia, as am I, but in much different ways.

  Reaching out, I extend my index finger and slide it along the side of her face. “You’re special to me, and I’ll be back for more, but I need to leave.”

  She nods once. I quickly dress, then without a backward glance, I leave her on the bed, wearing nothing but a short sexy robe.

  Slipping out of the nondescript house, I reach for my phone and frown when I see that I have a missed call and a new voicemail from Arlo. Clicking on the voicemail, I touch the speaker and wait for his voice to begin speaking.

  “Call me. I have something you need to hear.”

  Chapter Two

  MASSIMO

  I don’t call Arlo back. Instead, I drive straight toward the casino where I know he’s working tonight. Pulling into a parking spot, I unfold from the driver’s seat and straighten before slamming the car door closed. Shoving my key fob into my pocket, I dip my chin and jog toward the brick building.

  Lifting my hand, I ball it in a fist and knock on the door. Lifting my face slowly, I watch as it opens, knowing that whoever is standing guard will want to see me before they allow me inside. I don’t recognize the man at the door, but he knows who I am.

  “Mr. Ferrucci,” he greets, tilting his chin as he shifts to the side, allowing me entrance.

  Breezing past him, I make my way straight toward the front desk where Mia is stationed. She lifts her head from her computer and looks up at me. Her bright red lips part as she smiles. She’s sexy as shit and completely untouchable, not that she’s my type, but she’s still hot.

  Extending my arm, I touch the tip of her nose with my index finger. “He called me, is he in?” I ask, keeping my voice low.

  She wrinkles her nose, then jerks her head back slightly. Allowing my hand to fall, I chuckle at her movements. She lifts her hand and bats my finger away from her. I watch as she stands, giving me a view of her sweet curvy body.

  “When are you going to run away with me, Mia?” I ask.

  Mia lets out a sensual low laugh. “Never. You’re far too full of yourself for me. I have no desire to be with a Made Man anyway. Been there, done that,” she snorts.

  “You don’t know what you’re missing, cara,” I purr.

  She leans forward slightly, her lips so red, pouty, shiny, and only inches from my own. My cock twitches just at the closeness.

  “I know exactly what I’m not missing, Massimo. Trust me when I say that I played in that wading pool and I have no desire to revisit.”

  She takes a step back and I watch as she rounds her desk, then walks over to a door and touches a small keypad to the left of the knob. She turns the handle and opens it, tilting her head to the side.

  “All the way to the back, last door on the left. He’s waiting for you,” she offers with a small smile.

  Smirking, I walk toward her, stopping directly in front of her. “You got any idea what this is about?” I ask.

  When the right-hand man to the Boss, Underboss, calls you, saying that he has something that you need to hear, it’s unnerving. I know Arlo, though I must admit that I don’t know him well, he is a good leader and man.

  Making my way down the dark hall, my mind runs rampant with what-ifs. I know that I have to begin collecting more money for protection, and I’ve had a few places buck me, but I’m going to get it handled.

  Lifting my hand, I rap my knuckles against the closed door. I look from side to side when I don’t hear anything immediately. I’m definitely at the last door on the left. Finally, I hear movement from the other side of the door. Then it flies open. Arlo stands on the other side, a smirk firmly planted in place.

  “I’m glad you came over. It’ll be easier to talk about this in person. C’mon in,” he says, stepping to the side.

  Walking past him, I make my way over to a chair across from his desk and sink down. He sits across from me in his chair, his eyes searching my face as he stays silent. Arching a brow, I wait for him to tell me why the fuck he called me so late at night, and so suspiciously.

  “You’re a Street Boss now,” he begins. I don’t respond to his statement. I know what and who I am to this famiglia. “The time has come that you settle down, get a wife, start a family. Have you thought about that?”

  Shifting in my seat, I clear my throat wondering where the fuck he’s going with this. Biting my tongue, I wait for a few moments before he decides to finish his thought.

  “I have a proposition for you. She hasn’t completely agreed. She’s thinking about her options. But one of them was marriage.”

  “Who?” I ask.

  He arches a brow, his lips turning up into a coy smirk as he shakes his head a couple of times. “Doesn’t matter who she is. Are you up for it?” he asks.

  “What, like an arranged marriage?”

  Arlo stands, I watch as he walks over to his bookcase and stares at the shelves for a moment, his arms behind his back, then he turns to face me.

  “She is a daughter of a Made Man. Her prospects are slim. She has come to me to auction her virginity. I don’t feel right about that, not with who she is and who she’s related to. I’m offering this to you, not only for her benefit, but yours as well. You deserve a good wife, Massimo. You have worked hard for the famiglia and you deserve to have someone for yourself, a reward if that’s how you want to look at it.”

  “She is a reward?” I ask.

  He shakes his head slightly. “A virgin in today’s world? I think that is a reward in itself, no?”

  I laugh, shrugging my shoulder. “I suppose you’re correct. I’ll need more than just the fact that she’s a virgin though, don’t you think?”

  “First, I need to know if you’re willing,” he says.

  Thinking about his words. I wonder if I am. Could I marry a complete stranger? Could I vow my fidelity to some woman that I’ve never met before? It would be a good way to rid my mind of Pippa.

  Though, I’ll probably continue to desire her, at least I won’t be able to do anythi
ng about it. Unlike my father, I decided at a young age that I would never keep a mistress.

  I never want a woman to live a life in secrecy the way my mother did. I will never ask someone else, woman or child, to take a back seat and accept bits and pieces of my time.

  When I marry, I plan on it being real. I’ll work on that marriage until the day that I die. There will be no comaré. No other woman will have my attention in that way.

  The decision that I make, it is made quickly, but not lightly. I’m almost thirty years old. It is time to begin the second part of my life, to start a family of my own.

  “I agree to this,” I state with a nod.

  Arlo lets out a small laugh. “I knew that you would. Which is why I set her up in a room here. She is isolated, untouchable, and will remain that way until you give me instructions.”

  “Have you talked to Santoro?” I ask.

  He shakes his head once. “Not yet. He’ll agree to the union. He doesn’t care who you marry as long as she is a good fit for the famiglia. And she is just that.”

  Inhaling a deep breath, I jerk my head once. “How do we proceed?” I ask.

  “You’re not a boss, so a grandeur wedding isn’t necessarily needed, but a nice ceremony would probably go over well with your bride. She is a virgin, after all. Why not give her the fairy tale beginning?”

  I almost snort. A fairy tale beginning for and ending of hell as my wife. I think about his words, then decide that I’ll do it. I’ll agree to an actual wedding so that the famiglia can celebrate. Weddings and babies are always a reason to party for us, so why shouldn’t we with this one?

  “Let’s do it. A wedding for my bride.”

  PIPPA

  I stand at the small window and look out at the city. There isn’t much to see, it’s too dark outside to really take in much, but the moon is bright and if I close my eyes, I can almost imagine that it’s the sun and that there is heat coming from it.

  I’m in a fancy room, a suite. It’s the nicest place I’ve ever been in before. I was escorted here a few hours ago and locked inside. Arlo promised me that he was going to proposition the man that he had in mind to be my husband. I haven’t decided yet if I’m going to enter into a marriage or not. The idea scares me, actually all of my options terrify me.

  I hear the door deadbolt unlock, then it opens and closes before it’s locked again. I don’t look behind me, my gaze is still focused out at the city ahead of me, out at the moon shining down. He doesn’t speak immediately, probably wondering if I’m going to turn around to face him or not.

  I don’t.

  “The man that I had in mind has accepted the proposal to marry you, Pippa,” Arlo says, his voice ringing through the otherwise silent room.

  Pressing my lips together, I nod once, then turn around to face him. “And he is?”

  Arlo’s lips twitch as he shakes his head. “Sorry, I haven’t told him who you are either. Don’t worry, you’ll find out soon enough.”

  “As long as I agree,” I say, reminding him that I haven’t completely agreed yet.

  He walks over to the living area and sinks down on to the sofa. He jerks his chin toward the empty chair across from him. My eyes flick from the chair to him, then back to the chair before my feet shift and move, carrying me over to the empty space.

  Sinking down, I sit on the edge of the cushion, my gaze meeting his. “You want to fuck someone who bids on a woman’s virginity? Trust me when I tell you, he will probably not make it pleasant for you and I will not be able to force him to do so, either. All I can do is ensure your safety and your paycheck. I cannot ensure your pleasure.”

  My entire body jolts at his words, my eyes widen and my lips part. I know that he’s right. I’d thought of it briefly, but was trying to live in denial.

  The idea of a man being unkind to me, paying for my body then walking away doesn’t really sit all that well with me, but what if my husband is the same kind of man?

  “If you choose to be one of my girls, the same goes, but know that there are tricks you’ll learn that will aid in pleasure for both you and a client. Also, if you do work for me, you have no say as to who comes to your bed. You’ll share your body with countless men,” he explains.

  I stay silent. I don’t know what to say or think. Thoughts of my sister, Bellarosa, move around in my head. Images of her being taken by man after man for years fill my mind. My heart aches at the idea of what she must have gone through. I’m not sure if I can do that, too.

  “Bellarosa?” I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.

  He nods his head. “I knew her. She’s a very sweet girl, reminds me very much of you. She fell for one of her clients and her heart was bruised. It’s hard to be in this industry and not every person can do it, man or woman. I’m not sure you have the disposition.”

  I agree, though I don’t tell him that. “This man? What can you tell me?”

  Arlo’s lips curl up into a smile. He stands and I watch as he walks over to the window. He rocks back on his heels as he reaches for his hands behind his back. He doesn’t speak right away, I wait.

  “You know that I was contracted into marriage?” he asks.

  Shaking my head, I clear my throat to verbally answer him, because I know that he can’t see me. “I didn’t,” I state.

  He nods his head, turning around and his gaze flicks up to meet my own. “I did not love her, I did not even like her to be truthful,” he begins.

  I’m not sure why he’s telling me any of this, but he continues. “While married to her, I did fall in love with my now wife. A lot happened, most of which you don’t need to know. But my wife died, and I was free to be with the woman I loved. Do you know why I’m saying any of this?” he asks.

  Shaking my head, I continue to watch him. He smiles softly, then tilts his head to the side. “This man is much like me. His life is devoted to the famiglia, to his duties. However, you are nothing like the woman that I married the first time. You’re more like my wife, now. Which is why I think this union would be good for you both. Typically, these types of marriages are put together to benefit the famiglia.”

  “But him marrying me doesn’t do that,” I say, pointing out the obvious.

  He dips his chin in agreement, then takes a few steps forward. He doesn’t sit down again, instead he shifts his feet from side to side.

  “It doesn’t. But it will strengthen his position, it will give him the appearance of stability that he needs. And I know without a doubt that you will make him happy, Pippa. I also feel that he will take care of you too. He’s a good man.”

  “I will, make him happy, that is?”

  He nods. “You will. He would like to give you a wedding ceremony of your choice. If you would like a planner, then you shall have one.”

  “What about my sister, can Rosana come, too?” I ask.

  His lips twitch. “Your sister can be at your side of course. In fact, if you’d like her with you full time, it can be arranged as well. All that you’ve said, and not said, about Irene, maybe it’s best she’s removed from her home?”

  My breath hitches. Would he really? Could he give me my sister? She’s fourteen, still a child, but only four years from being an adult. I have wondered if she’ll be in my same position when she reaches of age and Irene no longer receives her compensation checks at all.

  “My new husband, would he agree?” I ask softly.

  Arlo shrugs a shoulder, then he lets out a small sigh. “He’ll agree to whatever his boss requests of him.”

  Shifting my gaze to my lap, I lift my eyes to meet his. “Aunt Irene loves Rosana. I think that she will be safe with her, but if that changes…”

  Arlo smiles, dipping his chin in a nod. “If that changes then we can revisit.”

  “Thank you, Arlo,” I whisper.

  “So, you’re in agreement? You’ll marry the man?”

  Biting the inside of my cheek, I wonder how incredibly crazy I am for agreeing to this. Then, I decide that it’s a
bout the same amount of crazy as if I were going to auction my virginity off or become one of his expensive call girls.

  “I agree,” I blurt out.

  His lips twitch into a smile. “Good. This will be your home until the nuptials. I can send a planner over soon to get started. You won’t want to stay here long, so we’ll need to get moving,” he explains.

  Nodding, I watch as he walks past me and toward the door. He stops with his hand on the knob, then looks back at me from over his shoulder. “This will work out, Pippa. I think that both of you will find your peace in this union.”

  “Can you tell me his name?” I ask.

  Arlo’s lips twitch and he shakes his head once. “I can’t, but you’ll find out soon enough.”

  Without another word, I watch as he opens the door then slips out. He locks the door behind him, effectively locking me inside. I don’t mind. Instead of being upset about being locked in, I curl up into the chair and close my eyes. I’m sure there’s a bed somewhere in here, but right now, I just need to stay right here.

  I can’t believe I’ve just accepted a proposal of marriage to a stranger. Not only is he a stranger, but he’s a Made Man. This is something I told myself I would never do, not ever. Yet, here I am. Call it desperation, but I need his money. I need the money that I despise so much, just so that I can live.

  I’m going to sell my soul to the Devil and I feel absolutely hopeless that my future will be anything but a catastrophe for doing just that.

  Chapter Three

  PIPPA

  The sound of the jiggling doorknob causes me to sit straight up in the chair. I let out a moan as my sore muscles protest. I shouldn’t have slept sitting halfway up and sideways. I’m going to be sore for days.

  Lifting my eyes to the door, I watch as it slowly opens. I blink at the sight in front of me. It isn’t Arlo or Mia, instead it’s a beautiful blonde and a brunette who enter. They both lift their eyes and meet mine before they smile.