Page 96 of The Enforcer's Revenge

Now, there were three of them sitting there playing seven-card stud, letting Nova collect thousands just for the fun of it.

Tony could’ve asked him for anything.

Nova looked over at Tony while Carlo finished dealing. “Go for it.”

Tony shrugged before he confessed, “It’s actually not a favor, more like an offer.”

“Even better.” Nova left a few of the bills out but put the rest in his money clip, which was even thicker than usual. He placed a ten in the ante pile. “Let’s hear it.”

“I want in,” Tony said simply and threw in his ten dollars.

“In on what?” Nova glanced at his cards, still appearing very content and casual.

Tony looked at the two cards Carlo dealt him face down and then, like he was discussing the weather, said, “When you open the books, I want a spot.”

That stopped the game cold in its tracks.

And Tino mentally corrected himself.

Tony could’ve asked Nova for anythingexcept that.

The Morettis didn’t need new blood. They had plenty of their own, and because of that, their books were rarely open.Tino wasn’t usually in on that side of the business, so he wasn’t positive when the last ceremony was, but he was fairly sure the last two members of their Borgata to get made were him and Nova. There were members of their own family bugging Nova for that honor. For an outsider to sit down and ask… was unheard of.

Nova lifted his head and stared at Tony like he was nuts, which was probably exactly how Tino looked, but it was Carlo who said something.

“Check your driver’s license.” Carlo snorted as he turned to Tony. “You’re sitting at the wrong table, playing cards with the wrong fucking family. You want to get made? Go talk to your father.”

Nova glanced to the side, looking suddenly paranoid and a lot less pleased about his big winning streak. Then he leaned forward and growled, “Did you talk to your old man? Did you make him that offer?”

“You think I’d go to the mattresses for my father? I wouldn’t piss on him if he was on fire,” Tony growled like he meant it. “I’ve been working for the Savios since you got us out. They offered me a spot, but once I commit, there’s no going back. So I have to try. You’re the one I wanna work for, Zu.”

“I want to know which Savio offered you a spot.” Nova leaned in closer, sounding really dangerous all of a sudden. “’Cause that’s like pissing on my fucking shoes. That motherfucker just said ‘fuck you’ to the agreement I made when I got you out.”

“What am I supposed to do? I got nothing now. I got no purpose. I need something to do before I turn into Bobby.”

“Why is this an issue with all of you? Why can’t you just find a fucking hobby?”

“Vengeance is my hobby,” Tony said darkly.

Carlo laughed. “Not so sweet now, is he?”

“You want to know what my hobby was? Protecting my family. My real family. The ones who didn’t have anyone else to protect them.” Tony ran a hand through his hair, pushing it away from his face, and the look in his dark gaze made him seem almost exposed, which was unusual for him. “Then you stepped in and made sure they didn’t need to be protected anymore. I’m grateful. We’re all grateful. Don’t think we’re not, but I can’t live like this. I’d be a good soldier for you, Zu, you know I would.”

Nova leaned back in his chair, and he considered Tony for a long time before he shook his head. “Even if I wanted to, I can’t, Tony. The Savios are fucking insane to make you that offer. You must be doing some amazing work for them because if your family finds out?—”

“They’renotmy family,” Tony grated out through clenched teeth. “Fuck the De Lucas. They never helped me, and they never helped my friends. The Morettis did.”

“They didn’t know.” Nova held up his hand. “Or maybe they would have stepped in.”

“You think in all those years that I didn’t go through something with the Brambinos that made begging my father for help the better option?” Tony asked in a low, vicious voice. “He knew, Zu. He knew for a long time before you showed up.”

The raw honesty in his words was blatant, and they all flinched, because that was harsh—even for Cosa Nostra.

Luckily, Tino never had the balls to go to Frankie or the Don. He would never know how fucking pissed off he would’ve been if he asked them for help and the motherfuckers denied him.

“Dante didn’t know,” Nova said after a long moment. “I know he didn’t. I’m not making excuses for the De Lucas. That’s between them and God, but I do know your brother had no idea you existed until I told him.”

“So, you won’t help me? That’s what you’re saying? ’Cause of some fucking political loyalty to Dante?”