Page 82 of The Enforcer

Romeo looked away. “No, I’ve been in solitary. I just got out.”

“What?” Nova barked at him. “Why were you in solitary?”

“I told the lawyer.” Romeo sighed and shook his head. “Not this one.” He pointed to Abram sitting next to them. “The criminal one.”

“I pay that motherfucker. He didn’t tell me you were in solitary.” Nova’s voice was shaking in fury. “What the fuck did you do?”

“I didn’t do anything. They said something about me making threats, but you know I didn’t make any threats. I thought maybe—”

“Thought what?” Nova asked in disbelief. “They can’t legally put you in solitary without a good reason.”

“I thought maybe they were fucking with me to get you.” Romeo whispered it like he was confessing a sin. “But I’d rather they kill me than let them have you. You’re keeping your promise, right?” Nova was quiet long enough for Romeo to growl, “Casanova!”

“Yes, I’m keeping it,” Nova said without looking at him. “Are they hurting you? Is someone in here fucking with you? That’s not supposed to be happening.” Now Romeo was quiet for a long time. He looked at the table, and Nova snapped, “Romeo!”

“Not yet,” Romeo said, but Tino knew it was a lie. “They just put me in solitary.”

“Promise that’s it?” Nova asked him harshly. “You swear on Ma’s grave?”

Romeo nodded. “Yeah, I swear.”

Tino turned to look at Nova, seeing if he believed the bullshit despite the big-ass bruise on Romeo’s arm.

“They’re not trying to get you?” Romeo asked him and then glanced at the lawyer hesitantly even though they were speaking in Italian. Not that it made a whole lot of difference. Nova told Tino they taped these rooms, and were likely going to translate it. “They’re not telling you things?”

“I made a promise, okay?” Nova said it like he believed it. “Don’t worry about me. I’m good.”

Romeo turned to Tino and asked, “And you’re good?”

Tino could see how worn down Romeo was, how much jail was taking it out of his big, strong brother who was supposed to be unshakeable. Still, Romeo would rather be beaten to death than let the mafia get ahold of Nova.

There was something to be said for that.

It was noble.

Stupid and pointless, but noble.

Tino understood now why Carlo called their lives Neverland.

People on the outside didn’t understand.

Romeo included.

They were trapped in another world. A secret world that no one, not even his older brother, was allowed to know about.

Tino gave him his best little-brother smile. “Yeah, I’m good.”

“Really?” Romeo asked like he couldn’t see the lie in Tino’s smile. Maybe he didn’t want to see it as he rubbed at his arm. “I just want you to be safe. I want you to stay outta trouble. I want you to be happy.”

“I’ll be safe. Nova’s got my back,” Tino promised him, even if it was the biggest lie he had ever told in his life, and then said in English, “Just, you know, get the fuck outta here as fast as you can. I can only take so much Brooklyn.”

“You’ll be happy?” Romeo asked again. “And you’ll help Nova? You’ll make sure he doesn’t get too angry? You’ll make him laugh. He needs to laugh, Valentino.”

Tino smiled at him again rather than tell another lie.

“Okay,” Nova agreed for Tino as he ran his hand over the folders in front of him and said in English, “I’m gonna hire you a different criminal attorney. We know someone better.” He looked to Abram. “Right?”

Abram nodded confidently. “Yeah, we got someone.”