“Asked the question, Boss,” I snap.
There’s a moment of silence, and I ignore the looks that Gavino and Arlo are sharing, obviously both of them in on their own little secret.
“When do you want to do this? We can’t keep her for too long where she is,” Gavino says, changing the subject slightly.
“Sooner the better, I guess,” I say with a shrug.
Gavino arches a brow. “You ready for soon? Got any loose ends you need to tie up first?”
I snort, knowing exactly what he’s asking. “Got no woman or kids, got a place of my own big enough for two people in a safe building. Got a car. Haven’t wasted my money, been investing since I was a kid. Ready as I’ll ever be, I guess.”
Gavino nods his head. “You’re sound, cugino. Always have been a good man, proud to have you by my side. Which is why I had no problem approving this union. You deserve the gift that’s being given to you. You’ll make me proud, make a good family, and have a good life with her. If I thought she wouldn’t fit, I wouldn’t have said yes, not after that bitch Arlo married,” he snorts.
“Fuck you,” Arlo snaps.
Gavino lifts his hand and waves it around. “You’ll be happy, Massimo.”
“Do I get to know her name, at least?”
There’s another moment of silence and I think that he’s not going to tell me. That he’s going to fuck with me until the wedding day. He would, too. Gavino may be a serious boss, but he’s still my friend, and he’d still fuck with me just to get a laugh. He flicks his gaze up to meet mine and I watch as his lips curl into a huge smile.
“Pippa Mazzilli.”
Chapter Four
PIPPA
Enrico groans as we walk out of the department store, his hands filled with bags. My hands are filled with bags as well as Chloe and Lenora’s. These two women can shop and now my wardrobe is full to the brim of acceptable mafia wife clothes.
I hate most of them.
Thankfully, I also have another set of clothes that are just for me. Jeans and t-shirts, tanks, flat sandals. Everything that is full of comfort, everything that I crave to feel like myself.
Because even Lenora says, there will be times that will be overwhelming and sometimes all you need to do is pull on something that’s comfortable to make you feel at peace. Call it a security blanket, call it whatever, sometimes you need it.
“I’m going to need to head back home soon, Luca will worry,” Chloe announces.
Lenora snorts. “Since when do you care if Luca worries?” she asks, arching a brow as we approach the back of the SUV.
I hear them talking, but I can’t hear anything they’re saying. A slow driving car approaches us. I don’t know why, but I look up. It’s a deep red sedan, it’s expensive, but I can’t tell the make or model, I’m too focused on the driver.
The car is moving forward, but the driver is looking directly at me. He has dark hair, dark eyes, and is wearing a white button-down shirt, probably goes with his suit. He stops in the middle of the road.
I watch as his lips curve up into a smile showing off his white teeth. He lifts his hand and points at me. My eyes widen and I open my mouth to scream for Enrico, but the stranger jerks his chin, then his car zooms forward and disappears with the others.
“Pippa?” Lenora’s voice calls.
My entire body jerks before I shift my gaze over to meet hers. “Yeah?” I breathe.
“You okay? I called your name three times,” she murmurs.
“I’m okay.” I nod. “Sorry, I must have been daydreaming.”
She hums, then closes the short distance between us. My spine stiffens when she hooks her arm with mine and smiles. “Carlo just called me. He said that Gavino has agreed to all of this and they want the wedding in two weeks,” she squeals.
“Two weeks, how?” I breathe.
My heart slams against my chest. It beats so hard and fast that I glance down at the sidewalk to see if it flops out on the ground. It doesn’t. Shifting my gaze up to meet Lenora’s, I gulp.
“It will be okay. We’ll get you a dress and the rest we’ll just have to hire out and have a planner take care of. It will all be taken care of,” she says with a smile.
Her smile is too kind, too calm, and way too reassuring. “But two weeks?” I exhale.
She laughs softly. “Tomorrow morning we’ll come and pick you up again, we’ll take you dress shopping,” she offers as she guides us toward the back seat of the SUV.
Thoughts of the man in the red car disappear, my mind now consumed with thoughts of my wedding.
My. Wedding.
In just two weeks.
Two. Fucking. Weeks.
“Can my sister come?” I ask as I climb into the back of the car.
Buckling my seatbelt, I lift my eyes up to meet Lenora’s. She’s smiling at me. “Of course she can. I’ll text you the address and you can let her know. The appointment is set up for ten in the morning. I just received the confirmation.”
“You’re fast,” I exhale.
Lenora smirks. “Throwing around my name gets you a little extra clout, especially in the fashion industry in the East Village. This bridal boutique is just a few blocks away from my shop.”
The car arrives at the brick building that is now my home. I pause as I look back at Lenora, then I flick my gaze to Chloe in the front seat.
“Thank you for today. It meant more to me than you could ever know,” I whisper.
Chloe smiles, but Lenora reaches for my hand. She squeezes my palm in hers. “This is a roller coaster, the whole life here. We are both riding in the cars ahead of you, but we’re here. We’ve been where you are and together, we’ll get through it all. Plus, you haven’t even met Luciana, yet. You’re going to love her.”
Gulping, I look down at our hands thinking about meeting Gavino’s wife. I’ve thought about what kind of woman she was since I met him the first time three years ago. What kind of woman could love and be married to a man like him? But then again, he gave me my freedom. So, perhaps he’s not as bad as I think he is, as bad as he seems.
Lenora’s phone rings and she smiles. “It’s Arlo, he’s probably home and wondering where I am. The nanny has no doubt left for the day. He’s kind of hopeless at being alone with Simonetta, our baby girl.”
“Go home and be with her,” I say, giving her a smile as I imagine her little blonde beauty. “Why don’t you bring her tomorrow.”
“Do you mean that? I mean, I have a nanny to watch her while I’m down at the shop, she can watch her tomorrow too.”
Shaking my head, I squeeze her fingers. “Bring her,” I say, meaning every word.
“Okay, I will. I’ll see you tomorrow, I can’t wait.” Releasing her hands, I slide out of the SUV.
Enrico is standing at the door, all of my bags just inside of the hallway. Lifting my hand, I wave to both of the women who look at me with huge smiles on their faces. Turning toward the opened door, I stop just short of Enrico.
“Thank you for today,” I offer.
He dips his chin, his gaze focusing on mine for a brief moment. “You’re welcome, cara. I will be here tomorrow around nine in the morning. Be ready,” he rumbles before he turns and walks back to the car.