Page 137 of Sins of the Orchid

I turned to Luigi, hugging him.

“And don’t forget your favorite brother,” Lorenzo teased, driving a growl out of Luigi.

I couldn’t help but chuckle. “I just saw you less than a week ago.”

He pulled me into a hug. “I don’t care. I still deserve sister love.”

Smiling softly, I returned the hug. “You are both my favorite brothers,” I gushed with emotion.

“And what about your favorite uncle?” All our heads whipped around to see Uncle Vincent striding through the door.Family!It felt good to have the entire family back. If Grandma and the Russos were here, it would be complete.

I shook my head, pushing those silly thoughts away.

“We expected you back yesterday,” Dad grumbled, pulling me back to him. He wasn't overly affectionate but with me, he always tried. And I loved him even more for it.

“Our supplier had some delays,” I muttered into his chest. It was easier to lie when not staring into someone's eyes.

Lorenzo pinched my cheek. “You should fire some of those suppliers,” he mumbled, giving me a suspicious look.

Ignoring his comment, I changed the subject. “Where were you three?” I questioned. “Causing havoc in the city?”

“I had business in New Jersey,” Dad responded. By now, I knew what that meant. He had a shipment he had to take care of. I was rich enough to provide for my brothers, dad, and many others, yet my family insisted on thisbusiness. Somewhere along the way, I learned that they all thrived in it. They loved hustling and the Cosa Nostra.

There was no changing it. The Bennettis. The Russos. It wasn’t something I would ever understand.

The exhaustion settled, though Lorenzo insisted we all share ice cream. It wasn’t something I could refuse. So, with Lorenzo, DeAngelo, and I working as a team, we prepared a banana split for all of us.

“Something healthy with unhealthy,” I mused as I handed the dish to Dad.

He chuckled. “I’m guessing bananas are the only healthy thing in here.”

I shrugged, smiling. “Well, there is dairy in the ice cream.”

Settling on the couch in between Dad and Lorenzo, it felt good being home. They talked about a new restaurant they were opening, which I suspected was to launder money through. I told them about my new company The Orchid and how things were taking off quickly.

“Maria is the best partner,” I raved. “Unlike Grandma’s company where major decisions have to go through the board, we get to just talk through them and agree. I love it.”

“Maria, the housekeeper?” Uncle Vincent asked in surprise.

I smiled coyly. I had a feeling he liked her from way before. “Yes. And she is single,” I added. “Perfect age for you, Uncle Vincent.”

“You want to start a dating agency too,” he grumbled though a smile stretched across the planes of his face.

After an hour of catching up, I couldn't fight the exhaustion anymore. I wouldn’t be good to anyone tomorrow if I was dead tired. It was barely eight.

“I better go to bed,” I said through a yawn. “I have to go into the office tomorrow.”

Dad stiffened slightly but kept his words to himself. I couldn’t even imagine what kind of curses played in his mind. But I needed to keep busy, especially now.

I’d exchanged a few text messages with Adriano. He’d promised to come later tonight, but I was too tired. The trip to South America had been exhausting.

“Are you sure you don’t want to stay up for another hour?” Luigi questioned. “Adriano and Santi are swinging by.”

That would be a definite no. Bed was calling to me. I didn’t want to see Santi. Not yet. I wasn’t ready, which in itself was ridiculous. It was ludicrous that I was still hung up on the bastard.

“Yes,” I told him. “I can barely keep my eyes open.”

Yes, I was fully aware of being a coward. So what? It was my life, and I’d be a coward that avoided Santi Russo if I wanted to.