AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Oohh!” squealed Pina.
He felt Lena sag beside him with disapproval.
“It’s Tigran Arkashian!” Camilla exclaimed, grasping her daughter’s hands excitedly.
Pina blinked and gasped. Lena tutted. Jovan beamed. Clearly this Tigran had a reputation.
“As you may know, his father just passed away and he’s inherited his family’s casino on the Vegas Strip-”
“Tigran? The thirty year old, womanizing, party boy-”
“Lena!” Camilla harshly shushed her oldest daughter. Carmelo gulped. Fuck.
“Tigran is a dream boat!” Pina explained, “He’s so handsome!”
“So handsome! So rich!” Camilla nodded, checking them off her fingers with a smile.
Jovan beamed. “Yes, we thought a strong relationship with my cousin’s other half of their family would be beneficial. They are the other largest Armenian family and we work with them regularly, they keep the Vegas strip open for us, and they work with the Black Coyotes Vegas chapter, as well-”
“So a good partnership for the family,” Camilla said pointedly.
“And it would mean we would be able to broaden our influence into Nevada, solidifying our presence in the South-”
“He has a Ferrari, and a Tesla, and a summer house in Tuscany, and a yacht in the Caribbean-” Camilla was still counting off her fingers.
“Oh my God, this is a dream come true!” Pina squealed, hugging both her parents hard.
“This is a fucking nightmare,” Lena mouthed under her breath to Carmelo.
Carmelo couldn’t help but agree. What a way to kick off married life to the Mafia; gunshot wound at the wedding, back from honeymoon to find the younger sister being shipped off to Vegas to marry some douchey casino owner…
Jovan spoke up now. “You turn eighteen next month, so when you do, you will travel to Vegas, the condo we’ve rented for you is near his casino, so he will court you, get to know him, become part of his world… then, all being well, you will marry!”
“I get to go to Vegas! Marry an Armenian Vegas Casino owner who looks like a Vogue model and is minted? Er… all will be well!” Pina gushed.
Lena stepped forward. “Do you think maybe a bit more caution-”
But Pina shut her down. “Just be happy for me,” Pina said, a sad look on her face, steel in her voice. “Just be pleased, sister, because this is what I want. I know it isn’t what you would have chosen for me, but it’s what I want.” Pina finished quietly.
Lena took a deep breath in, Carmelo felt her summoning all her patience, all her strength and trust and love. Fuck, he tried to do the same. He put his hand on her back and gently felt the warmth radiating from her, felt her shiver a little then relax a fraction.
“I… I want you to be happy, Pina, I do, I will be there for you, you know that, right, I will support you in whatever decision you want to make…” Lena managed to croak out.
Her sister’s face split into a teary smile. “I want to go to Vegas!”
Lena sighed. “Then Vegas it is. Tigran, yachts and Ferrari’s it is,” Lena said, throwing a daggered look at her parents, the anger directed to them barely contained.
Jovan and Camilla smiled, oblivious and proud. “Then it is done. The condo is already rented, your mother is just furnishing it a little, we have the master bedroom for you, complete with ensuite, and there is a room off the hall for Ardian-”
Pina’s face fell. “What? Ardian?”
Jovan nodded. “Yes, he will go with you, your chaperone-”
“Ardian?” She pulled a face of disgust and derisively laughed.
Carmelo turned to the guy who still stood holding the plate of half-finished BBQ food. The shock on his face was a give-away he hadn’t been consulted about this, either. Wow, Jovan was dropping bombs tonight.
“Me, go to Vegas? For six months? With her?” The horror that idea conjured for Ardian was clear for Carmelo to see. He didn’t blame him.
