She throws back her head with a loud laugh, it fills the space of the room. A few men glance in her direction, I’m sure their eyes appreciatively roaming over her smiling face and slightly bared cleavage.
Her friend leans forward and touches her hand as she shakes her head in laughter. All of her smiles, every inch of her face lights up as the laughter rolls through her body.
Taking her in, I’m not sure that I’ve ever been so freely happy before. At her age, I had already been through extreme heartache. My mother was shot down, a girlfriend of mine had died a tragic death as well. A kind touch was one that I don’t even remember.
I was raised by a woman who despised me, a woman who was only mildly kind to me when my father was around, which wasn’t often. His wife. My mother was my father’s comaré, his whore, and his wife was forced to raise me, his bastard, as her only child.
My life was never happy, I don’t think I’ve ever truly laughed, not since my mother was taken from me. Seeing Pippa’s happiness, I wonder if I could ever be like her. If I could ever laugh again? Doubtful. I’ve seen too much death and destruction, caused too much of it myself to ever truly smile. I don’t deserve to anyway.
I don’t stay much longer, it’s obvious they are settling in for a long day as they both take their laptops out and begin to work on their studies. As a senior in high school, Pippa is over the age of eighteen, but she’s still finishing up her schooling. Not that it matters, it doesn’t.
I’ll never have her.
I’ll always be on the outside looking in, like a fucking creep, lying to myself when it comes to her. I tell myself that I watch her to make sure that she’s staying quiet about what happened a year ago, but I know that I watch her because just the sight of her makes my cock hard.
Pippa should be free to live the life that she desires. The famiglia will always have her back, but she is not required to marry within the ranks. Maybe at one time, she would have been up for grabs to a Made Man as a reward, but Gavino has given her the freedoms that Bellarosa has earned for her and little Rosana. They will never be beholden to the whims of the famiglia or Made Men.
Leaving them, I walk out of the café as my phone begins to ring in my pocket. “Ferrucci,” I bark as soon as I am out of earshot of Pippa and her friend.
“Shit went down in Columbia. Need you here, now,” Gavino demands.
I jerk my chin as though he can see me, he can’t. “Where are you?” I ask.
“Home office,” he murmurs.
“On my way.”
I end the call, jogging toward my car. Most of the men in our industry drive serious flash. I prefer to invest my money rather than spend it on cars. Though, I don’t drive a piece of shit. I prefer to drive in comfort, my Audi S5 Coupe’s lights flash and the engine purrs as I continue to make my way toward it.
Opening the door, I slip into the driver’s seat and touch the keyless ignition. Gavino is waiting for me and you never keep your boss waiting, especially when he’s the Boss.
I want to stay and continue to keep my eyes glued to Pippa, but I don’t need to. She deserves to live her life and I don’t need to continue to obsess over a girl ten years younger than me. She’s happy and I tell myself that it’s all I need to know. I talk myself into it, but I know that I’ll search her out again. I always do.
Bellarosa wants her free and free she will be. I know that Gavino has issued that order, but I respect Bellarosa as well and would never hurt her like that. I would never force an issue out of respect. What I truly need to do is forget Pippa exists, no matter how my cock feels about her.
Pulling my car into Gavino’s driveway, I’m surprised that I’ve arrived, especially in one piece. I was so consumed with thoughts of Pippa that I don’t remember any part of the journey. Climbing out of the car, I lock the doors, then climb the steps toward the front entrance.
The door opens immediately, Paul, Gavino’s driver, is there, his eyes flicking over me. “He’s waiting,” he announces as he stands to the side.
Arching a brow, I hurry toward Gavino’s office. He’s sitting behind his desk, Arlo at his side leaning against the wall. I’m surprised to see that Salvatore Junior is sitting in one of the chairs across from the desk.
“Well, what the fuck is going on?” I ask. Not used to seeing so many men in for what I thought was a simple last minute meeting.
Gavino snorts. “Sit,” he offers with a jerk of his chin.
I walk over to the empty seat next to Salvatore and sink down, straightening my legs out in front of me.
“The Columbians are no longer an issue,” Gavino explains. Arching a brow, I wait for him to expand on his declaration. He clears his throat as we all silently wait for him to continue. “A group of our soldiers along with the Savage Beast MC took them out, all but the oldest son. We have one of the daughters and the Beasts have the other.”
“Who has her?” I ask.
Gavino’s lips twitch. “Benicio does. He’s keeping her, I didn’t ask questions.”
I want to ask why Benicio has this woman, but I don’t. It isn’t my business. Gavino would tell me if I needed to know. That’s the thing, you never question a Boss and you don’t ever attempt to question, the Boss. Not when it comes to his decisions, especially when they do not involve you.
“What happens now?” Arlo asks.
Gavino’s lips
