Page 27 of The Enforcer's Revenge

“I thought she was with Paco.”

Tino snorted. “Paco was like three boyfriends ago. They’re still friends, but they don’t hook up anymore.”

“Fine.” Romeo threw up his hands. “I guess I’ll go get tan today.”

“No shit?” Tino couldn’t believe his luck. This was bigger than Nova signing over the Mills Basin mansion to Carina. “You’ll come?”

Romeo shrugged like he didn’t have a choice. “I guess.”

“Grazie, Rome. I love you.” He jumped on Romeo, hugging him, unable to contain his excitement. “This’ll be sick,” he said in English before he switched back to Italian. “I’m going to call Bri and tell her you’re coming. The girls are picking up food on the way to Brooklyn.”

“I hate Brooklyn,” Romeo reminded them as Tino pulled his phone out of his pocket and walked to his room to call Brianna.

“It’s not so bad.” Nova sounded amused. “Besides, Brooklyn’s just the pit stop.”

CHAPTER NINE

The weather was perfect. The temperature was in the seventies, and the sun was shining when Tino, Romeo, and Nova hit the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel.

Nova drove his brand-new Bentley GT, which was ballin’ enough to makeanyonebelieve all the Cosa Nostra bullshit was worth it. The car was bright white, with a tan interior and all wood paneling, not typical mafia style, but somehow, Nova made it work in a way few gangsters could.

“I’m thinking of buying a car,” Romeo said as he sat in the front seat. “Something expensive.”

“Yeah?” Nova glanced at him. “How expensive?”

“Thisexpensive.” Romeo put his hand on the center console. “I figure if I’m getting my head beat in for a living, I might as well enjoy it. Think I can afford it?”

“Sure.” Nova nodded, his eyes on the road. “Buy something that makes you happy. Why do you think I invest your money? So you can enjoy it. Life’s too fucking short, Rome.”

Romeo was quiet for a moment, like it hit him all of a sudden what Nova did for him on a daily basis, without complaint. Romeo made good money fighting, but he was rich because of Nova—insanely rich.

“I don’t thank you,” Romeo said softly. “I should thank you for investing my money like you do.”

“Please don’t.” Nova sounded uncomfortable.

Romeo huffed. “Yeah, but?—”

“You don’t have to thank family,” Nova cut him off. “It’s a given.”

Tino leaned forward, resting his hand on Romeo’s seat. “Hey, what’re you gonna get?”

Romeo glanced at him, his green gaze haunted like he didn’t know what to do with the gratitude he felt for Nova, mixed with the resentment over knowing what Nova did for a living. Tino and Nova never told Romeo why they got sucked into Cosa Nostra. As angry as their older brother was, the truth would hurt him a thousand times more. So, Tino distracted him rather than letting Nova be uncomfortable.

Nova’s life was hard enough.

“The car,” Tino went on, holding up his hand expectantly. “What are you thinking about buying?”

“Since we have Nova’s car to take if we’re all going somewhere, I was considering a sports car.” Romeo shrugged. “I don’t know. I’ll think about it. Just an idea.”

“You gotta do more than think about it,” Tino said enthusiastically. “You need something just flat out, balls to the wall, bad-ass awesome, like a Lamborghini.”

“I don’t like the Lamborghini doors,” Romeo argued. “I was actually thinking about a Ferrari.”

“Yes.” Tino gave him a wide, excited smile and added in Italian, “Sì. You need a Ferrari. More importantly, you need to let me borrow your Ferrari.”

“If I buy a Ferrari, you’re not getting anywhere near it.” Romeo sent him a glare. “I’ve seen you drive.”

“I’m a defensive driver, that’s not a bad thing,” Tino argued. “And I kick ass behind the wheel, in case you’re interested.”