Family: Out of Business

Unleashed

The Nardello estate

Tony's pov

"Attento al tono che prendi con me, sorellina (Watch your tone with me, little sister). Non esiterò a ricordarti la tua posizione in questa famiglia (I will not hesitate to remind you of your place in this family). Capiscimi (Understand me)?"

"Sì, fratello, ho capito e mi dispiace (Yes, brother, I understand and I'm sorry)," she replied humbly. She knows she is in the wrong here and I have every right to be upset.

"Where's Luciano?" I asked, looking beyond her into the main seating area.

"He's upstairs, he wanted to give us some privacy. He knew you'd be upset, Tony."

"Damn right I'm upset, sorellina (little sister)! You way overstepped your bounds by kidnapping my child, Alexandra. What the Hell were you thinking?" I began to pace the floor as I unleashed on my little sister.

Lexie shook her head and chuckled.

"Don't be so dramatic, frattelone (big brother). I didn't kidnap your daughter, mia nipote (my niece), I simply invited her to accompany me and she accepted."

"Don't downplay the idiocy of your actions, ragazzina (little girl). You took her in the middle of the night without my knowledge or permission." I grit my teeth as I felt my temper rising.

"I just wanted to get married before the baby's born, Anthony. I don't want this child to be born out of wedlock. Is that so hard for you to understand? This wasn't some evil plot to undermine the family hierarchy or overthrow the government," she scoffed, belittling my concerns and making me even angrier.

"Yes, such a good Catholic girl you are," I spat with venom, getting right up in her face, confronting her. "Did you even wait til Father's body was in the ground before you started fucking the son of his mortal enemy? Or did you and your whore boy toy get off doing it in front of his casket?"

My sister slapped me hard, right across the face.

"How dare you speak to me that way, frattelone (big brother)!" she shouted, as tears started streaming down her cheeks. "That's not how it happened and you know it. How could you accuse me of that, Tony?" she whispered softly, wiping her eyes. "ls that really what you think of me?"

"I'm sorry, Lexie. That was out of line," I replied, rubbing my assaulted cheek. "I'm just upset. I didn't mean what I said, sorellina (little sister)."

"Do I need to come down there, sweetheart?" Luciano called out from upstairs.

"Not unless you want to get your teeth knocked out," I shouted back.

Frowning at me, Lexie replied, "No, honey, everything's fine."

"Alright, love, holler if you need me," Luciano yelled, ignoring my offer.

"I really wish you wouldn't antagonize him, Anthony. Honestly, you and EJ act like such children whenever he's around," my baby sister chastised me.

"Noted," I replied dismissively. I don't need to be lectured by my younger sibling, or anyone else for that matter. Father was the only one qualified to fill that position and now he's gone. No one will ever be capable of filling his shoes. I only hope I can do half the job he did as patriarch of this family. "Torniamo al motivo per cui sono qui, sorella (Let's get back to the reason I'm here, sister)."

"Fine, brother. Why exactly are you here?"

"You know damn good and well why I'm here, Alexandra," I replied, in exasperation. "I really think we should have this discussion at home with Elliot James present as well."