Page 40 of The Enforcer's Revenge

“Why are you being so nice?” Brianna asked suspiciously.

Carina frowned and looked back at her. “I’m always nice.”

Brianna took a bite of her eggs rather than say anything. They were cold and slightly burnt. The broccoli was limp and over-salted, but considering Brianna had never seen Carina cook in her life, it was a valiant effort.

“I don’t think anyone would listniceas one of your more sterling qualities,” Brianna said with a grin. “More like bad-ass bitch who’s loyal to a fault, but that’s what I love about you.”

“I’d help you hide a body in a fucking heartbeat.” Carina gave her a broad smile, obviously willing to take the compromise. “How’re the eggs?”

“Oh, good,” Brianna lied and took another bite to prove her point. They were edible enough. “Thank you. Did God change my birthday and forget to tell me?”

“Nah, I just…” Carina shrugged. “Felt like making it up to you.”

Brianna took another bite of cold eggs and looked at her curiously. “Make what up to me?”

“I know my family’s fucked up.” Carina glanced away as she said it. “And I know I pulled you down with me.”

“I love Tino,” Brianna reminded her. “I love you too. I don’t hate my life.”

“Not yet, but I’ve never met any old and happy mob wives,” Carina whispered. “Don’t get me wrong, I don’t blame him for the blow. I know why he snorts it. I’d snort it, too, if I were Tino. I just wish I could make it all stop. What if we all ran away? You ever think about that?”

Brianna stared at her plate for a while because shehadthought about it. She was certain they all did. Sometimes, she and Tino would talk about running away like a far-off fantasy, but the reality seemed impossible.

“You know it wouldn’t work out. Tino has a job because people think they can get away.”

And cuts the bullets out of their dead bodies after.

Brianna didn’t say the last part, but she couldn’t stop thinking it.

“You love him enough to be an old, miserable mob wife one day?” Carina asked as if she couldn’t believe it. “What happens when he goes to prison? What’re you gonna do then?”

“Just ’cause your dad’s away right now doesn’t mean anything, and that washisfault. He went outside the network,”Brianna argued and left it unsaid she’d take prison over a coffin any day when it came to Tino.

Frankie made too many stupid mistakes running a Ponzi scheme behind the Borgata’s back. Nova couldn’t save him when they found out after the Feds showed up and arrested him last year.

“They all go away eventually. All of them.” Carina sighed. “Even Nonno served over ten years before I was born.”

“Your father’s in Federal for two years.” Brianna held up her hand. “That’s nothing. Tino could do that if he had to. If Frankie can do it, Tino can. There are no conjugal visits in Federal, but he could still do it.”

“Do you hear yourself?” Carina held up her hands. “Do you honestly think the other girls at your school know the difference between Federal and State?”

“I’m pretty sureeveryoneknows the difference between Federal and State,” Brianna argued.

Carina shook her head. “I don’t think so.”

“And how would you know?” Brianna laughed. “What makes you an expert on the outside?”

“I listen to people.” Carina looked a little lost. “Most of them don’t know, Bri. It’s not on their radar because they don’t have to worry about it. You were supposed to live your whole life and never know this shit because it shouldn’t be something you have to fear.”

“She’s right, you know?”

Brianna turned to see Tino walk into the kitchen. Bare-chested and barefoot, he wore only jeans. His dark hair was disheveled, but he ran a hand through it, trying to push it back into place.

“I know she’s right,” Brianna said softly because she wasn’t going to insult Tino by denying it. “I still have no regrets.”

“But you should.” Tino eyed the plate in Brianna’s hand. “What’re you eating?”

“Oh, Carina made breakfast.” Brianna held up the plate. “Want some?”