Page 87 of The Enforcer's Revenge

More importantly, Tino reached out to Brianna, desperate for news.

Tino: How’s Nova?

Brianna: Where are you???

Tino: Please tell me how my brother is!

Brianna: He’s okay. Moretti magic strikes again. Help here can’t believe it.

Tino let out a shuddering sigh of relief, knowing thehelpshe was talking about were the doctors because Brianna knew how to text in code better than anyone. If Dr. Acciai told them Nova was going to be okay, Tino believed it. He said a quick, genuine prayer, thanking whoever it was in the universe watching out for his brother, even if Nova was more pirate than Lost Boy these days. Then Tino said another one for his zio, hoping to God the Moretti magic didn’t choose now to run out.

He was still praying when his phone went off again.

Brianna: He’s very relaxed. We’re keeping him chill so he doesn’t freak when he finds out his crew went partying without him! Where are you?

Tino: Where’s Carmen?

Brianna: With Nova. He asks less questions when she’s around. Not going to last forever.

Tino: Keep him off my back as long as you can. Love ya, baby. I’ll check in again soon.

Tino turned off his phone and put it in his pocket before he could see her response, knowing he would probably change his mind if he did.

He snorted more blow, letting the full effect hit him because he’d lost a day he couldn’t afford. He shoved the last of the cocaine in his pocket next to his phone rather than leave it and was out the door and on his Ducati in less than a minute.

He didn’t see the next series of texts from Brianna for a long time, but he spent a lot of time later wishing he had.

Brianna: Have you been watching the news?

Brianna: Do you even know why we have to keep him drunk?

Brianna: Tino!!!

Brianna: Hello??

“Shit!”Brianna cursed and tossed her phone on the bed. “He’s gone.”

“Did you tell him to watch the news?” Carina’s voice sounded broken and distant, like a shell of who she was before Lola died.

“Yeah.” Brianna looked back to the twenty-four-hour news channel casting shadows over the darkened room in the basement. “I’m worried he won’t check back now that he knows Nova’s okay.”

“Okayisn’t the word I’d pick.” Carina glanced away from the television to look past the partially open door since they could see Nova’s bed and hear the steady beeping from the machines connected to him.

Nova was sleeping bare-chested. An IV was connected to his left arm, and a large, white square of gauze was taped to his chest to hide the hole they stitched up after pulling the bullet out of him. Carmen sat next to Nova, reading a book quietly to herself.She wore a pair of the Don’s reading glasses, which he loaned her, saying twenty-one was too young to be far-sighted, but how could he say no? The poor woman hadn’t slept since she got there. It was apparent she was in shock and exhausted. Even Dr. Acciai offered her something, but she refused and didn’t once complain about sitting there as a distraction for Nova.

Brianna knew Carina was right, so she started watching the weather report on the twenty-four-hour local news station instead of thinking about it. They were repeating the same stories, and she wasn’t sure why the two of them kept staring at it—but they did.

From the other room, she heard a groggy, “Ciao,” from Nova.

“Hi,” Carmen answered, and Brianna looked to see Carmen smile at Nova and close her book. “How are you?”

“Sto bene.” Nova reached up as though he wanted to scratch his bare chest, but Carmen caught his hand. He frowned and lifted his head, staring at the white gauze taped to his smooth, tanned skin, and then glanced around the room. “Where are my brothers?” His scowl deepened, like he was trying to put the pieces together. “Where’s Carlo?”

It was usually the first thing Nova asked when he noticed the injury. If it was the gunshot itself that reminded Nova of them or if he just assumed his brothers and zio would be there if he were hurt, Brianna wasn’t sure—but he did it every time.

Carmen kept ahold of his hand as she set her book aside. Then she leaned over to brush the dark, sweaty hair off his forehead. Nova’s gaze dropped to the low-cut V neck of the t-shirt Carmen borrowed because, like Carina, she was built to fill it out very well.

“Bella,” he mumbled and then glanced back up to her face. A deep frown creased his forehead. “Gli occhiali?”