Page 201 of The Enforcer

“I love you.” He stroked her sweaty hair away from her face. “I just love you, baby. That’s it.”

“Is that it?” she asked with a smile.

He nodded and smiled back. “That’s it.”

Epilogue

Somewhere in West Virginia

November 2014

And they lived happily ever after…

Brianna drew little swirly lines and hearts under it on the hotel stationery like she would’ve when she was eighteen. She’d been sitting in this room all day, hungry, with nothing to eat but the few snacks she and Carina bought at the Kentucky border.

No phone either.

She was just trapped with her thoughts for hours and hours.

Now she was left in that place with the lights and Tino adoring her to the sound track ofJersey Boys, wondering if that young, incredibly naive Brianna would believe for one second where she’d be six years later.

After all of them learned firsthand what love could destroy.

The kingdoms it could rip apart.

The lives it could ruin.

The hearts it could break.

Before the war that taught them there were no happy endings in Cosa Nostra, just the little collection of special memories they all had to learn how to survive with.

It had to be enough.

There was a knock on the door, and she nearly jumped out of her skin after being stuck in the room for so long. Then she sat there, staring at it, not moving, barely breathing before she heard, “It’s me.”

She still didn’t move, because that didn’t feel like enough.

“Brianna—” It was a bark of annoyance. “It’s fine.”

She very quietly got up, keeping her footsteps light as she reached for the gun on the nightstand. She turned toward the door and pointed it there. Even if she recognized Nova’s voice, they could have him hostage for all she knew.

If he were really okay, he’d know she’d need proof.

“Cazzo.” Nova groaned, sounding exhausted. “What the fuck do you want? Proof? You want proof? Fine. Um. I used to call you the BFF until Tino lost his shit on me and knocked me out with the shower door ’cause I wasn’treverentenough.”

She frowned, because she honestly didn’t know that.

“Jesus, you’re more paranoid than I am.” He huffed when she didn’t respond. “The train ride in Harlem after the rave. The coffeehouse in the village where we met Lola. I don’t know what you’re looking for. It’s me. No one’s holding me hostage. I got you double the scholarship money when you first started college, and you’re leaving me out here spouting off shit when I haven’t slept in two days.”

She undid the locks. “I didn’t know you did that.”

Nova snorted in disbelief. “You thought they just hand out that much scholarship money for no reason?”

“Carina told me she did it,” Brianna mumbled.

“Okay.” Nova let out a harsh, cynical laugh. “But you’re still a smart girl, Brianna. Still very smart. Anyone else would’ve just opened the door. What dumbass thought they could get that cretino you married to ice you?” Nova looked away, seeming lost in thought. “You’ve been through a fucking war. The old man knows you’re smart. He knows you’re tough too.”

Brianna shrugged, because she didn’t have any more answers than Nova did.