Zeta approaches with a smile on her face. I can’t tell if it’s fake or not, but I feel like a deer caught in headlights as she begins to talk about shapes of dresses and styles. Shaking my head, I bring myself back into focusing on this moment.
“I just need something appropriate for the church,” I say.
“No other limits?”
I shrug a shoulder. “You’re gorgeous, your shape is beautiful. Would you like to be sexy or demure and sweet?”
Thinking about the question, my gaze flicks over to my aunt. She’s got her back turned to me, but she’s sitting ramrod straight. I know that she doesn’t want to be here, that she’s trying to figure out who I’m going to marry and how I got to where I am.
“Sexy,” I whisper. “I think my groom would like me sexy,” I say.
At least, I hope that he does. I’ve never worn anything sexy before, not until Lenora and Chloe took me shopping. They forced me to try on dozens of curve-hugging, low-cut, dresses and paired them with sky-high heels yesterday.
Her lips twitch. “I was hoping you would say sexy. I have the perfect dress for you. I doubt you’ll try on any of the others once you see yourself in this one.”
She guides me over to a rack of dresses. There are only three hanging on the bar, and they’re highlighted by spotlights.
“This is from a couture line. It’s a Lazaro. It’s appropriate for a Catholic ceremony but so sexy that your man will not want to wait until the honeymoon to have you.” She giggles.
I stare at her, not only surprised by her words but more so by her giggle. Zeta doesn’t seem like a giggler. Licking my lips, I blink then give her a smile of my own. She shakes her head, lifting her gaze, shifting it over my shoulder and I watch as her cheeks turn pink.
Turning my head, I try to see what she’s looking at. It’s Dante. His eyes are focused on her and nowhere else. Shifting my gaze back to Zeta’s, I can’t help but smile. She looks flustered, but it’s obvious that she wants his attention.
“Should we try the dresses on now?” I ask, keeping my voice low.
Her entire body jerks and she clears her throat. “Yes, yes, right this way,” she quickly rambles, taking the light blush dress off of the hanger and begins to walk toward the back of the store where I assume the dressing rooms are located.
MASSIMO
My phone alerts me to a new text. It’s Dante. I don’t know why he’s texting me. He’s not one of my men any longer, he’s now the private guard for Nicola Ricci herself. It’s a good gig, I had it for a while when I was Luciana Santoro’s guard.
DANTE: YOUR WOMAN IS YOUNG. BUT SHE’S HOT.
My response is short and sweet. I almost throw my phone across the room in a fit of jealousy. Dante has his eyes on her and I’m keeping away, too afraid that I’ll ruin everything.
KEEP YOUR EYES TO YOUR FUCKING SELF.
I don’t know why, but I feel like this should stay a secret. It’s not as if her finding out about me will change anything. The wedding is in two weeks, she’s as good as mine without saying a single word of her vows. I just don’t want any of this to get fucked up.
At least not yet. Not while she can possibly change her mind. Though, I know that she won’t. Her options are fucked, but it’s that underlying uncertainty that has me staying away until she is officially mine.
DANTE: NOT MY TYPE. JUST WANTED TO SAY, YOU DID GOOD.
SEND ME A PIC.
I’m like a fucking addict. I need to see her. It’s been months since I last laid eyes on her. I need to see her—I need it.
A few seconds later my phone alerts me to a new photo. Opening it quickly, my cock hardens immediately. It’s her. She’s standing to the side and I can only see the profile of her face. Fuck. She’s still so goddamn cock-achingly gorgeous.
Shifting my gaze back to the men that I was instructing, I clear my throat.
“The Boss wants us to up our game, he wants an extra two percent from each business we collect from. Is this going to be a problem?” I ask.
The Capos are quiet, but Luca breaks that silence. “Boss, I just don’t see how we can do that. Some places are barely afloat as it is,” he says.
I shake my head once. “They haven’t had an increase in years. This is the new norm. If they give you any shit, you let me know. I’ll straighten them out myself,” I grunt.
I’m sure that I sound heartless, maybe I am, but this is the life and I don’t have a choice here.
“You sure you up to that?”
Arching a brow, I smirk. “It’s been a while, but can’t say I don’t miss shaking someone down for a little extra dough.”
Luca barks out a laugh. “Fuck, you’re cold, Ferrucci.”
Shrugging a shoulder, I shake my head once. “Business is business, Luca. That’s the way I see it anyway.”
“Black and white?” he asks.
“Pretty much.”
“Can’t wait to see how much that changes after you tie the knot.”
Thinking about Pippa, I wonder if that will change. She already owns me. How much will I change to make her happy? How much will I let her get away with? I have a feeling if I allow it, she could get away with a fuck of a lot of shit. And I have a feeling that I wouldn’t mind one fucking bit, either.
Chapter Six
PIPPA
Stabbing my lettuce, I wonder how much time I would get for murdering my bitch of an aunt? The other women around me are chatting amongst themselves, but all I can do is think about how much my aunt embarrassed me this morning.
“You can’t kill her, but it’s tempting, right?” a voice says next to me.
My entire body jerks and I turn my head. Luciana is next to me, smiling as she watches my reaction. Pressing my lips together, I hate to admit that I want to hurt anyone, but yes. I would love for my aunt to disappear the same way my mother did.
“Your dress is gorgeous. It’s indecent and absolutely perfect. Your groom is going to shit himself when he sees you,” she says.
“But you’re not going to tell me who he is, are you?” I ask.
She shakes her head slowly. “I’m not. Just know that almost everyone here knows him, some of us better than others, but we all know that he is a good man. You are not being delivered into the hands of a devil. Besides, Gavino wouldn’t do that. He likes you, likes all three of you actually.”
“But Bella too much?” I ask, arching a brow.
Luciana shakes her head once, her lips turning up into a small smile. “In the beginning. You’ll find out. In the beginning, it will not be perfect. It will not even be bearable, but it will get better. Once things are a little more settled. Once you have boundaries set up, things change.”
My lips twitch, and I let out a snort. “Boundaries?” I ask. “These men do not respect boundaries. Don’t you mean, once you submit to their demands?”
Luciana’s eyes widen, her lips press together and her gaze flicks to the side. I feel bad for my outburst and know that I shouldn’t talk to her that way, she’s the wife of the Boss after all.