Page 79 of The Enforcer's Revenge

“No.” Brianna shook her head, knowing Carina assumed it was Tino because it wasalwaysTino. “It’s Nova. He’s been shot.”

Brianna never realized how invincible they all assumed Nova was until that exact moment. The Don grabbed the chair like his legs might give out. Brianna could physically see the color drain from his face, making it obvious he thought Nova was as bulletproof as the rest of them did.

“He’s alive,” she added, ’cause she was worried the Don might pass out. “Tino’s driving him home. He told me to make sure the doctors know Nova’s O positive. He’s lost a lot of blood.”

“Where are they?”

She winced, remembering that they weren’t supposed to tell the Don where Lola’s sister was, so she kept it general. “They’re still in Florida.”

“Florida! Tell Tino to take him to the hospital!” the Don barked at her. “You call him back right now and tell him to call 911!”

“Tino said they couldn’t. He said a lot of shit went down.”

“He’ll bleed to death before they get here.” Carina sounded as frantic as the Don. “Let them go down! It’s better than Nova dying!”

“They’re going to pack the wound.” Brianna grimaced just thinking about it. “Like a battlefield wound.”

“Oh my fucking God,” Carina whispered in horror. “They’re nuts.”

“Minchia,” the Don agreed in a distant voice. “Did it sound like he was…” He paused, like he couldn’t bear to finish the thought.

“All I know is that he was shot in the chest.” Brianna wished she had thought to ask for more information. “And he’s lost a lot of blood.”

The Don looked away, his dark eyes glassy.

Brianna could practically feel his fear, and she didn’t have much comfort to offer. “Tino said he’d take him to the hospital and risk going down before he’d let him die. He did say that, so I guess we just have to trust it.”

They were silent for a long moment before Carina turned to the Don. “Tino won’t let Nova die. I know he won’t. Tino’ll get him here, Nonno.”

The Don took a deep breath, looking for a moment like a part of him was shutting down with one son in prison, the other upstairs on suicide watch, and now his grandson being gravely injured without the luxury of a hospital.

The Don crossed himself with a quick prayer out loud in Italian, and then he said, “I’m going to make the calls.”

It became all business.

The fear was hidden behind the great curtain of Cosa Nostra.

Carina grabbed Brianna’s hand and tugged her toward the kitchen door. “We’ll go check on Carlo.”

That snapped Brianna out of her shock a little. Carlo had been alone way too long, and it started to feel like its own separate emergency. Together, the two of them ran back upstairs.

Brianna made it to the room first because her long legs served her well, and she didn’t feel bad leaving Carina behind in the name of urgency.

By the time Carina caught up to her, Brianna was just standing there, staring past the open window. The curtains fluttered in the hot July air as Brianna looked out in the darkness, knowing Carlo was long gone.

Carina let out a pained cry and leaned down past the open window like she was searching for something. She ran her hand against the side of the house. “There’s a small ledge here, just a few inches out from the house, and I see another one farther down. They’re painted over, but they’re here. They’ve been here for years. Just enough for him to step on. I bet they go all the way to the grass. Little steps for him to scale down the house if he had to.”

“Tino always stays in this room if Carlo isn’t here,” Brianna reminded her. “I’ve stayed with Tino here before. I thought Carlo was just being nice.”

Carina straightened back up and looked at Brianna in horror. “No, Carlo wanted him here because it has a place for him to get out in case the house was under attack, or?—”

“—he had to break out without anyone seeing him,” Brianna finished for her. “This is my fault. I knew not to leave him, but Tino usedaiutoon me. What was I supposed to do?”

“No, it’s my fault, Bri,” Carina said with certainty. “I shouldn’t have left. I had one job, and I fucked it up. We both know I could’ve had someone else bring him food.”

It was apparent Carlo was long gone.

Brianna knew instinctively that the sea of soldiers staying in the mansion wouldn’t be able to catch him. Maybe if Tino were here, they’d have a chance. He knew the same tricks Carlo did, but without him, it was hopeless.