Page 144 of The Enforcer's Revenge

When Tino thought of Carlo, it was too much, especially with that awful fucking picture and everyone in New York City thinking that was all his uncle was—the mean-looking gangster in the mugshot.

He thought about seeing that picture online years from now, with some writeup about the Brambino murders. Just another paragraph in mafia history next to an ugly mugshot. That was all the world was going to remember about Carlo Moretti if Tino couldn’t find him.

And even if Tino did find him, what then? His picture was all over the fucking news. Every law enforcement agency in New York City was looking for him now.

“I’m sorry about your uncle,” Maria whispered quietly.

Tino nodded and took another sip of his coffee. His voice cracked again when he said, “Yeah,” against the rim of his cup.

He bit the inside of his cheek when the room got blurry. He was trying so hard to pretend none of it was real, but reality kept sneaking in. It would help if he could turn off the news, but hecouldn’t stop himself from watching it now that his zio was all they were talking about.

Maria leaned her forehead against his bare back. “I’m a cunt.”

“You’re not a cunt.” Tino shook his head, even as he lost the battle against tears. “I want you to stay clean. I don’t want you to fuck up again like I did.”

“Okay.” Maria lifted her head and touched his cheek. She wiped at the tears and forced Tino to turn back to her. “I won’t fuck up.”

“You promise?”

She nodded and leaned in, pressing her lips against his as she whispered, “I promise.”

Maria threaded her finger into his hair and kissed him even though he still held onto his coffee. Her tongue pushed in past his parted lips, brushing against his over and over. Slow. Sensual, but a little too hungry. Tino knew she could taste the blow, bitter at the back of his throat.

He hadn’t intended to use it while he was staying there. He knew Maria would notice, but he’d seen Carlo’s mugshot pop up on the news with the report that he was now the prime suspect in the Brambino murders, and that was all it took. Just because he left the stuff from his pocket in Tony’s car didn’t mean he left behind what he had hiding in the boots he put on before he walked out of the Don’s mansion.

So, he let Maria taste the cocaine on the back of his throat and tried to forget about the mugshot. He was about to lose the towel and give Maria something else to keep her occupied when someone coughed.

Maria let him go, and the two of them looked toward the open bedroom door to find Nova standing there, dressed summer casual in beige dress pants, matching belt and shoes, and a tight black t-shirt that was tucked in, making him look veryhigh-class Italiano, especially with the way he held up his hands at the two of them.

“Hi, Zu.” Maria’s voice was warm despite the interruption. “You’re looking nice today. I like this style. It’s very Brando of you.”

Tino just glared at his brother and asked, “What are you doing here?”

“Me?” Nova gestured to himself. “What areyoudoing here?” Then he stopped, narrowed his eyes at Maria, and repeated with insult, “Brando?”

“Streetcar Named Desire Brando. Young Brando,” Maria clarified. “Not Godfather Brando. Although you do seem extra Zu-like today. I bet you had a hookup before you got here.”

Nova scowled at that, looking like he wasn’t sure what to say.

“How’d you find me?” Tino asked him before Nova had to respond to Maria. “I turned my phone off.”

Nova arched an eyebrow. “I noticed.”

“Then, how the fuck?—”

“I didn’t know you were here. I came to talk to Tony, and he told me.” Nova gestured to Tony. “Finding you was unexpected.”

“He asked me if I’d heard from you.” Tony winced at Tino behind Nova’s back. “I didn’t think it was a big deal. Is it?”

“It’s something.” Nova looked from Tony standing there in a towel back to Tino and Maria. The question was written all over his face as he glared at Tino. “Can I talk to you? Alone.”

Tino gave him a pointed look. “I’m kinda busy.”

“Jesus Christ.” Nova took a long, shuddering breath of defeat, reached into his front pocket, and pulled out a pack of cigarettes rather than say anything more.

“Don’t you smoke that in here.” Tino got up before Nova could do it, forcing Maria to stand, too. He knew Tony and Maria would gladly let the Zu smoke whatever the hell he wanted, and he got the impression Nova was reaching for it as a last resortagainst losing his shit rather than just being a dick like usual. “Just give me a fucking second. You cannot make this beautiful apartment smell like those things.”

“It’s not a big deal,” Tony argued, which was exactly what Tino thought he would say about it.