Page 128 of The Enforcer's Revenge

It only took one bullet.

“You think he has questions now? Wait until he sees his closest,” Tony said casually as he looked at the grand staircase rather than the magazine Tino was staring at longingly in his hand. “You know you can’t kill him, Tino.” He gave Tino a look that made his entire poker hand crystal clear. “Not yet, but the Zu won’t be kissing his ass forever. It’s gonna end one day soon. You know it, and I know it.”

Jesus, the balls on Tony.

Tino had forgotten how fucking ice cold and fearless he was. Nothing rattled him. Tino glanced around, making sure everyone was out of earshot because even he wasn’t pissed off enough to say it out loud like that.

Not yet.

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

Tino sat on the stairs fifteen minutes later, staring out into the darkness past the blown-open front door. He was technically doing his job, guarding the door. Needing something to do with his hands, he started playing with his gun, looking at his last bullet before sliding it back into the chamber. Over and over. Staring at that last bullet and then loading it again.

Tony leaned against the railing, very calm all things considered. He just silently let Tino deal with his shit.

Tino couldn’t stop seeing Brianna passed out on the basement floor, bleeding out, just like Lola had.

“Are you sure?” Tino asked Tony distantly.

“I’m sure,” Tony promised him for what had to be the fifteenth time. “She’s gonna live.”

Tino nodded because Nova said the same thing.

And if Nova said it, then it was probably true, but still…

He might have asked one more time, but Nova showed up, half-dragging Carmen with him. Things seemed tense between them.

Nova was noticeably pale and looked like he might drop right where he stood. It was unnerving. Tino couldn’t ever remember Nova getting sick or injured enough for it to actually takehim down a notch, not once in their entire lifetimes. With the exception of his nervous stomach, Nova had always been very immune to shit like that. Even if he was ill or hurt, it didn’t show because of his high pain tolerance.

It scared Tino.

It made him feel like his world was falling apart.

Even Nova was down.

They were all fucked—for real.

“Boss, you’re looking rough.” Tony sounded concerned, too. “I’m serious, you don’t look well at all.”

“That’s because I’mnotwell, Tony.” Nova sat one stair below Tino and took a deep breath. Then he actually leaned back, stretching out over the staircase like even sitting was too hard. Tino moved over to give him room while Nova sprawled out and breathed through the horrors of the week. “I got shot a couple of days ago.”

Tony eyes grew wide. “Are you serious?”

“Nova,” Carmen barked at the same time.

“It doesn’t fucking matter at this point.” Nova seemed to give up on all of it. He pulled down the white undershirt he was wearing to show Tony the large bandage on his chest.

“You’re bleeding again. It’s going to stain your shirt.” Carmen sat next to him and placed her hand over the bandage, like her touch alone could heal him. “You need rest, bello.”

“Yeah, right.” He just snorted. “Not in this Borgata.”

“Who shot you?” Tony asked, though he looked hesitant. “You don’t have to tell me. I’m just asking ’cause maybe I can help, and?—”

“A Brambino got me,” Nova explained before Tony could finish. “He was protecting Carmen in the strip club she was working at in Tampa, and he took issue with me walking out the door with her.”

“In Tampa?” Tony’s voice got dangerous all of a sudden. “Carmen?—”

“I told him,” Carmen whispered before he could finish.