Page 26 of The Enforcer's Revenge

“Yeah, you probably should,” Nova agreed. “Speaking of Ma.”

Not that their mother had been the most stand-up Catholic in the world, but she had tried with the three of them. Nova went faithfully in her memory. Tino made it most Sundays, though maybe not for the same reasons. He liked to hear Carina sing, and unless Brianna had a performance on Sundays, she was there, too. Mass was something nice they could all do together.

“Forgive me if I have an issue going to mass with the motherfucker who put me in prison,” Romeo snapped, clearly getting defensive.

“You think Frankie goes to mass?” Nova laughed in disbelief. “Plus, in case you forgot after the little party you threw for his arraignment, he’s still down for another year.”

“I bet Aldo’s there,” Romeo countered.

“Aldo didn’t put you in prison,” Nova reminded him. “He was pissed at Frankie for that. I saw first-hand how pissed off he was about it. He didn’t even know what Frankie did until after we gotthere. Why would he give you the lawyers he did if he wanted you in prison?”

When Nova turned back to his computer, Romeo rolled his eyes, and Tino secretly agreed with him. Nova’s loyalty to the Don annoyed him more than anything; he just couldn’t express it like Romeo did.

“Tell Aldo not to do me any favors,” Romeo growled. “And I bet that punk Carlo goes to mass, too, doesn’t he? I’m sure he sits there every Sunday next to his father, who won’t even acknowledge him in the eyes of the church they’re praying in ’cause that’s not fucked up.”

Nova glared as though Romeo struck a nerve. “No, Carlo’s usually sitting next to me.”

“What? In the back? Is that where all thebastardiget to sit in that gangster church you go to?” Romeo asked with an arch of his eyebrow, which was made all the more painful because Carlo and Novadidsit in the back. Tino did, too, and he flinched when Romeo went on, “I will never understand why you are so loyal to that motherfucker Aldo, and yourziodoesn’t have an excuse either. He’s in the same fucking boat.”

Nova was silent for a moment before he closed his laptop and said tensely, “Look, I’m not explaining the politics to you, but we choose to sit in the back.”

“Keep telling yourself that,” Romeo countered.

Nova couldn’t tell him the enforcers always sat in the back. In a lot of ways, theywereexiled, always on duty, even at mass, but the real reason why they did it was because they could see more that way. Carlo had been on good behavior for Lola and started going every Sunday. Nova liked the company since Tino wasn’t as dedicated about it, and he happily sat in the back with Carlo, even though, asConsigliere, he could sit in the front with the Don.

Tino put a hand to his face and took a deep breath because this seemed to be an ongoing theme in his life. One way or another, there was tension between his siblings. He loved them all, but there was always a wedge being driven between them.

“I just wanted one day.” Tino threw up his hands and gave up. “Forget it. Carlo’s coming. If you won’t go to mass with him, you’re sure as shit not partying with him.”

He looked back to Romeo, pissed at him for all his integrity and hatred of the Borgata. Not that the Morettis were perfect, but there were people in the family Tino loved, and the hurt must’ve shown on his face.

“There’s a lotta good reasons why I don’t want to be around your family,” Romeo said sternly. “I’m a convicted felon. I don’t need to be on the wall at the FBI. I’m barely holding onto my fighting contract as it is.”

Nova started laughing at that, and Tino gave him a warning look. He ran his hand through his hair for good measure, using the gesture to tilt his head and make sure Nova saw his narrowed gaze. If Nova told Romeo what the two of them had to do to get that contract, he would lose his mind.

“You’re not losing your contract,” Nova assured him with a roll of his eyes at Tino’s look. “It’s extremely legally secure. They can’t just drop you for going out on a boat with your brothers who came outta the same fucking womb as you.”

“I have a girl, and you barely know her because she’s part of the Borgata you hate,” Tino growled at him before they could start fighting about the fucking FBI wall. “Maybe I want to marry her one day, and I want you to know her before I fucking do that. I want you to know my sister, too. And you know what, I want you to know our zio. And even if he wasn’t our zio, Carlo’s still Nova’s best friend. Do youeverremember Nova having a friend who wasn’t us? Carlo is the only one. That should matter to you.”

“Oh, thanks,” Nova said dryly.

“Come hang with us,” Tino pleaded.

Romeo stayed quiet after Tino got done begging.

“I’ll leave my cigarettes on the dock,” Nova added.

Tino suspected Nova was trying to help him since Tino had been talking a lot about marrying Brianna.

He didn’t want his wedding to be a family trainwreck, and Nova knew that, so he added, “Carlo is my friend. Carina does matter to Tino, and Brianna is the girl he’ll probably marry. You should come hang out with them.”

Romeo turned off the water and sighed, his broad shoulders slumping in defeat. “Who else is going?”

“Just Carlo’s girl, Lola, who is very cool,” Tino assured him. “She’s been my friend for a long time, too.”

“Is it a couple’s thing?” Romeo asked hesitantly.

“I’m not bringing anyone,” Nova assured him. “And I highly doubt Carina’s bringing someone either.”