“That’s good to hear, but you were warned.” Valentina giggled. “Listen, I’m not stupid. Dario loves pussy. Men are cheaters with little to no self-control.” Valentina glared up at me. “I understand a man’s nature, but I’m not going to supply his dick with pussy that is supposed to be my loyal family member. You understand me?”
“Yes, makes perfect sense.” Alexis said without any hesitation.
“Okay, now that we got that out of the way. I want to welcome you to the family. My home is your home.” Valentina shockingly grabbed Alexis in her arms and hugged her tight.
As soon as they pulled away from each other, Dario walked over to us three.
“Did she give you the speech?” Dario asked Alexis and took a sip from his whiskey glass.
“Ah.” Alexis shied away from a lengthy response and gave no response at all. Poor girl.
“Did she tell you not to fuck me?” He asked.
“Ah.” Alexis shook her head yes.
“Valen, why do you do this all the time? I fucked that one girl and you will never let me forget it.”
“I can’t. You’re a fucking whore.”
Dario looked at me for help and I had none to give. Valentina’s marriage to Dario wasn’t arranged. She wanted to marry him and she got him, so she had to deal with all the things that came with him. Dario Graziano was a good soldier and a respectable brother-in-law. He was a loyal solider and his father was capo right here in Vegas. The Graziano family had been a loyal ally to the Bregoli’s since the old country.
Dario stuck his hand out to Alexis. “Welcome to the family, Alexis. Please ignore my crazy wife.”
Alexis stared down at his hand and took it to shake it after my sister smiled at her.
I wrapped my hand around Alexis’ arm. “We’re going to mingle.” I pulled Alexis away from the warring couple. We left the balcony and stood by the French doors.
“I needed to escape. They argue all the time. It’s annoying. You know you don’t have to stay with Valen. You can stay at the hotel free of charge. I own the hotel.”
“That’s why everyone knows your name.”
“If you want to leave this thing and spend time with your mother and sister, I can have my driver take you back to the Palladium.”
“I thought this was a mandatory event.”
“It is, but I’m the boss, so I can send you back to the hotel if you want to go.”
“Can I go? I want to hang out with them for a little while before they leave.”
“But you’re going to stay here with us for a while.”
“Yes. I like Vegas.” She claimed with sincerity.
I reached into my suit jacket pocket and removed my money clip. I counted out ten one hundred-dollar bills. “Okay, here’s some money. Take you mom and sister out to dinner.”
“It’s not going to cost that much to eat.” She said as she looked down at the money I was trying to hand over.
“Take the money.” She reluctantly took the money from my hands. “Go wait at the valet stand. My driver will take you back to the Palladium.”
“Oh, my God. Thank you.” She wrapped her arms around me and gave me an unexpected hug. Alexis put the cash in her purse. “Like no cap. You are my favorite brother. Can I tell them you gave me the money for dinner?”
“Of course. Go, before it gets too late.”
I watched Alexis sort of skip away from me. She was easy to please. I texted Lefty to retrieve her from the front door and drive her back to the hotel. I had received a hug from my daughter and my new little sister and it felt good to be liked. I’m sure they didn’t even fear me. They didn’t know they were supposed to and even that felt good.
In death, one’s sins were washed away. Our half Black sister didn’t have to be a secret anymore now that Dom was dead. If she wanted to change her name to Bregoli, I would even pay for it. The only problem with being a Bregoli was that the name came with a lot of responsibilities and maybe even an enemy or two.
Chapter Fifteen