“She wanted me to auction off her virginity,” he says.
Immediately, I stand to my feet and my body lurches forward. Gavino stands. He slams his fist down on the desk and my body jerks. “Sit,” he growls.
My body does what Gavino demands. I flop down in the chair, my hands balled into fists.
“Do you think that I would let Pippa Mazzilli be auctioned off that way? Do you think that I don’t know the connection you have with her? The way you’ve kept tabs on her? Watched her over the years?”
“How?” I grind out.
He shakes his head once. “I keep all the men in my inner circle close, Massimo. I know all of your movements, just like I know all of Arlo’s, Benicio’s, and Salvatore’s. It’s just fucking smart business,” Gavino snorts. “Plus, I saw the way you looked at her when we took her to see Bellarosa.”
“Yes. Fine. I have always had a thing for her. She was given her freedom. She’s too young, and she deserves to be happy. So, I’ve always stayed away.”
Arlo dips his chin in a nod. My eyes flick back and forth between the men. “What now?” I ask.
“You must decide. Do you want to marry her? She doesn’t know that it’s you, just that I’ve offered her up for marriage to a Made Man. I gave her three options, knowing that she would choose this one.”
Sinking my teeth into my bottom lip, I bite until I taste the tang of blood. “Two weeks,” I grunt.
“What?” Gavino asks.
Finding his eyes with my own, I release my lip and jut my chin forward. “Two weeks. That’s when the wedding will take place. I’m not going to allow anyone else to have her. She’s mine and this just proves that she’s meant for me.”
Gavino’s lips twitch. “So it does, my cugino.”
Jerking my chin, I stand to my feet. Arlo takes a step forward, his lips slowly curving into a smile. But it is Gavino who speaks to me.
“You deserve to have her, Massimo. You’ve been a good soldier, a better Street Boss. She is who you desire. She is untouched, pure, saved just for you. A true prize to be had by a man who has sacrificed and lost so much in life for the famiglia.”
His words make me choke up. Dipping my chin, I wonder if Pippa will feel the same or if she’ll be disappointed that I am the man who she’ll spend the rest of her life with. I decide that I don’t give a damn. I’m taking her. In two weeks, she’ll have my last name and I’ll own her body.
Chapter Five
PIPPA
Smiling down at the cooing baby, I wonder if there is hope in my future of having my own child. I have no clue who this man is that I’m marrying, so I don’t know if he’ll want children with me or not. I want them though. If I can’t have love with a husband, I want that love with children.
I almost ask Lenora, but decide against it. Not only does it not matter, it is not my decision and it will change nothing about my circumstances. Besides, I have more of a chance of becoming a mother if I am married, than if I work for Arlo and Gavino. I know that I am making the right decision.
The door of the bridal store opens and the opportunity to ask is taken from me, I’m glad for it. Lifting my eyes, I smile at the lady on the other side of the door. Her gaze flicks from me to Lenora. She gives her a tentative smile as she stands to the side to allow us entrance.
I hear my name being called and my steps falter. Turning around, I see Rosana and Aunt Irene making their way toward me. Rosana is waving her hand like a crazy girl and I can feel Irene’s anger even from a distance.
“That’s your aunt?” Chloe asks on a whisper.
“Yeah.” I nod.
“Today is going to be a fucking joy, isn’t it?”
I snort, my eyes flicking to Chloe’s. “That is an understatement,” I admit.
Her lips twitch and she shakes her head once before she speaks. “We got your back, girl.”
Pressing my lips together, I nod my head once and follow behind Lenora and her baby. Chloe is behind me, I hear my aunt and Rosana approach as well. The shop door closes and the lock clicks into place.
Turning around, I frown when Chloe smiles. “Private shopping experience. Get used to the red-carpet treatment babe, these men spare no expense.” She grins.
“They don’t?” I breathe.
Chloe’s lips twitch and she jerks her chin. “Not a penny.” Then she leans forward, her face just an inch from mine. “And if you’re lucky, other parts of them are just as fat as their wallets.”
My eyes widen and I gasp at her innuendo, which makes her break out into a fit of giggles.
“My name is Zeta. I’ll be helping you today. I manage this bridal boutique, my mother is the owner.”
Zeta is beautiful. She’s tall and lean with dark curly hair and dark eyes. Her full lips turn up into a smirk as her eyes roam over all of us. She stops at Chloe, then tilts her head to the side.
“So, are you the bride?” she asks.
Chloe snorts. “No, thank God. I already did that shit.” Chloe lifts her hand and waves her fingers at me. “This is your bride, her name is Pippa and she has zero budget. Her dude is loaded as shit, so please, show us your most expensive dresses,” she says, then she snaps her fingers.
My eyes widen, my lips part and I stare at Chloe, at the same time I hear Irene suck in an audible breath. I press my lips together, trying my hardest not to burst out laughing, especially since my aunt’s whole reason for kicking me out was money-driven, I’m sure it’s eating her up to hear Chloe
