Becoming the Street Boss: A Zanetti Famiglia Novel

the only place where I know someone from the famiglia will even consider helping me.
It only takes a few moments for the driver to pull up. Slipping into the back seat of the Prius, the driver looks back at me to confirm my destination. My heart slams against my chest as I nod my head. Pinching my eyes closed, I wonder why I’m doing this. There has to be another alternative.
I could call my friend, Marissa, and ask to crash on her couch. But I couldn’t stay there long. She lives in a studio and doesn’t need an extra person taking up space and using her utilities.
Technically, I could couch surf between a few of my friends, but what’s the point. I need a long-term solution and that isn’t going to be one. That will only get me by for a few weeks, two months tops.
My mediocre wages aren’t going to get me far, I couldn’t even rent a room from someone on what I bring home a month. I don’t really have much of a choice, and if I get turned away when I arrive, I’ll basically be living on the streets.
The car pulls up to a nondescript brick building. “You sure you want me to drop you off here? It doesn’t look too safe for a woman alone,” the driver says.
Flicking my gaze around the area, he’s right. It doesn’t look safe, not in the slightest, and if I were anyone else, it wouldn’t be. Especially not at night.
“I’ll be okay,” I mutter.
Thanking him, I leave the car and smooth my sweaty palms down the front of my jeans. I am nowhere near dressed the way that I should be for the proposition I’m about to offer for consideration. And beg is exactly what I’ll do if I have to. Slowly, I make my way up to the door.
Lifting my hand, I knock only once. I know that there is someone waiting for a knock on the other side. The door slowly opens and a large-muscled bouncer, in a suit of course, opens it. His eyes rake over my body, stopping at my boobs before they move to my face.
“Help you?”
“I’m Pippa Mazzilli, can I talk to whoever is in charge?” I ask, my voice shaking.
“They know who the fuck you are?” he asks, gruffly.
I shrug a shoulder. “Maybe, maybe not, but they should.”
His lips twitch and I watch as he presses his hand against his ear. I hear him speak, then his eyes flick over me again. “Arlo’ll be right down.” He grins. “Along with Mia.”
I stay standing outside, waiting. Luckily, I’m not forced to wait for long. Both Mia and Arlo appear. At least, I assume that’s who is in front of me. The woman is gorgeous, but she looks like a complete ball buster. I’m totally in awe of her.
The man, handsome and naturally in a suit, because that’s all the men in this world wear. I almost roll my eyes. Cliché. Cliché. Cliché.
“Pippa Mazzilli?” he asks.
Tilting my head back, I look up into his eyes. “Yes. Can I talk to you in private?” I ask.
He looks over to the woman, then to me and smirks. “Come into my office. I’m intrigued as to what you would like to discuss with us, here.”
They both turn around and I follow behind them. I don’t look around, choosing to keep my eyes to Mia’s back as I follow them. They guide me toward a door that opens into a small, narrow hallway.
We walk, passing by several closed doors, but Arlo doesn’t stop until we’re at the end of the hall. Reaching his hand toward the knob on the left-hand side, he turns it and steps inside. Mia doesn’t even slow down her steps as she breezes through the opened door.
Keeping my pace steady, I walk by as well. Arlo is standing with the door in his hand and closes it, flicking the bolt closed before he rounds his desk and sinks down in the leather chair behind it. Mia takes her place at his left, standing just one step behind him and to the side.
“Please,” Arlo offers, holding his hand out palm up toward a chair across from his desk.
Gulping, I walk over and sink down on to the edge of the seat. I can’t keep my knee from bouncing as I look at the two of them across from me. They are seriously intimidating. Arlo arches a brow as his eyes roam over my body, assessing.
“Please, how can we help you?”
Pressing my lips together, I inhale a deep breath, then release it on a sigh. “I want to auction my virginity,” I blurt.
Mia’s eyes widen. Arlo clears his throat. The room goes completely silent again. I watch, waiting to hear what they’re going to say. What’s the worst that can happen? They kick me out and make me leave? Actually, that would be horrible, because I would have nowhere to go.
Arlo looks down at his desk, then lifts his gaze to me. “Why?” he asks. “You’re free, Pippa. Why do you want to do this?”
“My aunt doesn’t want me to live with her anymore. It’s this, or be homeless. I need some money until I figure out my future,” I admit.
Arlo nods once. There’s a moment of silence, it feels like it lasts a lifetime as I wait for him to speak.
“I have three options for you,” he says, his voice low and even.
I bite the inside of my cheek, waiting to hear what he’s going to say. I have no clue what his options could even entail.
“One, you can auction your virginity. Two, I can have you trained and you can live here, be one of our girls.”
“Three?” I ask.
His eyes almost dance as he watches me, I can tell this is something I may not like, but he thinks is almost comical. Frowning, I wait for him to just tell me. Whatever it is, I have the freedom to tell him no.
“Want to get