Page 50 of The Enforcer’s Revenge (Untamed Hearts #4)

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

T ino didn’t flush the blow.

He snorted it instead.

This was way too intense to be sober for, and he ended up sitting on the soft white bath mat in front of the shower and burying his face against his knees. His head was still throbbing, and that wasn’t helping the problem.

It was difficult for him to be around Maria and Tony. They were among the few people he truly trusted in this world, but that didn’t change the fact that some of his darkest memories had them in it.

Tino knew if it weren’t for Carlo being so deeply involved with Lola, he would’ve stepped away from her too, but he hadn’t, and look at where she was now. In the morgue.

It wasn’t really about the bad memories anymore.

It was deeper than that.

Tony and Maria had already sacrificed too much for him, and being here now felt like the deadliest of sins.

The blow was throwing him in the past, replaying in his mind over and over again the hundreds of debts Tino owed both of them.

Tino was high enough to physically feel the poison in him bleeding out all over their beautiful apartment like it was a real thing.

It wasn’t just Nova who was toxic, with his memory and knack for power.

It was all of them.

Tino looked at the door when a knock sounded, hard and impatient.

“I don’t hear a shower running or a toilet flushing,” Tony called out. “Tino.” He knocked again, this time harder. “You are not allowed to off yourself in our bathroom.”

“I’m not gonna off myself,” Tino mumbled when he heard the panic in Tony’s voice, though he was starting to be kind of pissed off he hadn’t gone with Nova’s Plan A in Tampa. “I don’t think.”

“Open the fucking door,” Tony growled from the other side. “Right now. I’m not playing.”

Tino crawled over, unlocked the door, and pushed it open.

Tony stood over him, dark and ominous. “I forgot you have weapons on you. The Lola thing threw me off.”

“Yeah, threw me off, too.” Tino crawled back over to his spot on the mat and sat back against the tub.

Tony actually got down on the floor with him and sat with his back against the wall. “Tino, you’re a good team player. It wasn’t your fault. It probably didn’t have anything to do with you.”

“They slit her throat.” Tino choked on the words. “Left her on the doorstep naked. I took the duct tape off, but?—”

“You think it was the Brambinos?” Tony cut him off, his voice tight.

“I think so.” Tino nodded. “She was an open target. They’re allowed to kill their own, and they got to fuck us in the process.

Jesus, Tony, you have no idea. I don’t know if Nova can get us outta this one.

Carmine’s dead. Your shit’s settled. I can’t bring you guys into it.

Just give me five minutes to regroup, and I’ll get out. Make her shelf the hat.”

“Yeah, sure, that’ll work out.” Tony snorted. “She’s been bored. Probably good for her to get out and play a little before losing Lola starts to become real. That’ll be the end of her cleanse.”

Tino was quiet for a moment before he confessed his real fear, “I have a girl.” He was still being selfish and greedy. A Moretti all the way, but he couldn’t stop himself from wanting to hide all this from Brianna. “The same girl I used to tell you about. My girl .”

“I know.” Tony gave him a look. “We heard things.”

Tino wasn’t surprised. He hadn’t exactly been great at hiding his relationship with Brianna. Even if enforcers weren’t allowed to have girlfriends, the Morettis were sorta known for fucking off with the rules—especially when it came to women.

“It’s just we don’t share,” Tino explained hesitantly. “She was a virgin the first time. She gave that to me, you know? So”

“Sounds like a lot of fun,” Tony said in that same dry, even-toned voice that made him so hard to read. “I’m not gonna talk to your little girlfriend, Tino.”

“You’re not the one I was worried about.

” Tino winced. “You have to get me out of here without Maria. I can’t handle explaining her to my girl or my family.

My brother Romeo could show up. He doesn’t know anything, and I can’t fucking deal with being outed right now.

I love you guys. You know I’d take it for either of you, but?—”

Tino stopped talking when he heard Maria’s shoes against the wood floors.

They both looked up when Maria appeared at the entrance to the bathroom, this time wearing a sleeveless, white romper with a wide belt.

Her long, honey-brown hair was still loose, but now she was sporting a fedora hat with a single feather decorating the side.

She leaned against the doorway, showing off long, tanned legs and wedged shoes. “How do I look?”

“Sexy,” Tino assured her, and it wasn’t a lie. “That part hasn’t changed.”

“Oh, sweetheart.” Maria came and sat with them on the floor. She settled with facing Tino, her open legs resting on either side of his. She reached forward and brushed the sweaty hair off his forehead. “We really should do a spa day before we leave. Clean you up a bit. The Feds can wait.”

“I’m not feeling very nineties De Niro today even for you.”

“Honestly, right now, I’d say you’re closer to seventies De Niro. Less Godfather , more Taxi Driver . Dirty and crazy, but still kind of sweet.”

Ouch.

“Merda.” Tino closed his eyes and ran a hand through his hair, finding it sticky with sweat. “I usually take care of my shit. Bad week.”

“I know.” Maria ran a hand up his leg, caressing his thigh through his jeans. “A shower would probably help.”

“There’s nothing wrong with Taxi Driver De Niro. Some of us like it dirty. Maybe you’re just not his style this week.” Tony looked at Tino with a smile rather than meeting Maria’s gaze. “We did have to put on a performance outside. Too bad you missed it.”

Maria slowly turned her attention from Tino to Tony as she gave him a harsh look. “Bullshit.”

“Oh, it’s not bullshit.” Tony’s smile grew wide and devious. “And we made it extra hot for the Feds.”

Maria pouted, appearing genuinely hurt. “Did you really kiss for the Feds? Without me?”

“We didn’t have a lot of planning time when it went down.” Tino almost felt bad about it. “Next time, we’ll call you first.”

“Boo. All this time, and you two finally do it for the Feds of all people. Now it’s gone forever. This day is officially dreadful.”

“Sorry, mama,” Tony said with a smile and leaned over to push her shoulder playfully. “If you were feeling ambitious, you could always try to get a look at the Feds’ wall. Go behind the lines for a little while. Find out what they know.”

Maria glanced up at that. “I don’t know any dirty Feds. Mike retired.”

“See, she doesn’t know any.” Tino hit Tony’s leg, catching on. “Come with us to the Moretti compound. Play it safe. You’re not missing much. It was one kiss.”

“With tongue,” Tony added.

“Well, yeah, with tongue.” Tino tilted his head at that and gave Tony a false look of annoyance. “You were kinda aggressive about it. I almost feel like you took advantage of the situation.”

“Tasted like dark roast,” Tony mused thoughtfully. “And chocolate.” He gave Tino his full attention and said with conviction, “You know, that’s exactly what I thought you’d taste like.”

“I know you’re both playing me.” Maria pointed a finger at Tony. “You’re not slick.”

Tony licked his lips, a smile still tugging at his lips, but he didn’t respond.

“He does taste like dark roast and chocolate,” Maria whispered, sounding thoughtful. “I guess that hasn’t changed.”

“Nope,” Tino assured her. “Still hot and sweet. Your favorite.”

“Well, I’d have to change again.” Maria looked down at her outfit.

“It’d help if I were more glitter right now.

Soft filter isn’t tragic enough if I’m playing a game with the Feds.

” She reached out, grabbing the edge of Tino’s jacket, her fingers slipping toward his inside pocket. “Is she really dead? It’s not a game?”

Tino knew what she was looking for because he spent three years putting pills in Maria’s open hand. Tino grabbed her wrist this time and kissed the inside of it with pure adoration.

“I would never play you like that, mama. You’re one of my favorite people in the world.” Tino said it like he meant it, because he did. “Stay soft filter for both of us. It looks good on you. I like it.”

“Yeah?” she asked him as tears rolled down her face.

“Lola would dig it. Kinda reminds me of her.”

“She was always very soft filter,” Maria said distantly. “She’s the one I learned it from. No matter what, she kept it beautiful.”

Tino swallowed hard, the knot in his throat making it impossible to say more.

“Did your zio make him suffer?” Maria asked, sounding heartbroken in a way that Tino knew wasn’t an act.

“I’m sure of it,” Tino promised. “He worshiped her.”

“Well, then fuck the Feds, keeping their wall all to themselves.” Maria got back to her feet.

“I do need to change, and I’ll have to call my father, and get some contact information.

” She pointed at Tino. “In the meantime, it doesn’t matter how dirty Tony likes it, a shower is a necessity for you. I wasn’t lying about that.”

“I’ll take a shower,” Tino promised as Maria walked out like a woman on a mission, and for the first time in a long time, Tino actually felt genuine pity for the Feds.

When she was out of earshot, Tony whispered, “Did that work?”

“That worked.” Tino breathed a sigh of relief. “Maybe she’ll get good intel. Something Nova could actually use.”

“Besides the pictures.” Tony smirked again. “How much do you think I could sell them to Bobby for?”

Tino flipped him off and then reached in his pocket for his phone. “You wanna see what my girl looks like? She’s got this new role at her school in A Chorus Line . She’s looking really good.”

“Yeah, sure.” Tony seemed to be pacifying Tino, playing his game, whatever it was.

The truth was, Tino’s hands were still shaking from nerves, and he needed to see Brianna himself. He ignored the huge list of notifications and texts on his phone and went to his photos.

He found a set of pictures he took of her at rehearsal, dancing, and picked his favorite. Tino zoomed in and handed his phone to Tony. “See, legs.”

Tony nodded, looking at the picture. “She’s tight.”

Tino reached over, sliding his finger up the screen to give Tony the full tour. “Ass.” He moved the picture higher. “Cute, right? Doesn’t even need a bra. They’re that fucking pert.” He zoomed into the top of the screen, feeling his chest almost hurt as he stared at Brianna. “Face.”

Tony looked to him with an arched eyebrow. “I thought she was a redhead.”

“Man, that’s a wig.” Tino took his phone back and paged through his photos again. “I’ll show you one with her hair down.”

Tino found a picture he took of Brianna on the beach in Seaside Heights. She was smiling, looking happy, with sunglasses pushed up on top of her head and the sun glinting in her hair. He handed his phone to Tony and just sat there, looking at her from a distance.

Tony was staring at Tino instead of Brianna. “Tino, you’re wired.”

Tino felt the back of his neck burn with embarrassment, but his hands were still shaking, and he couldn’t hide it. “I know.”

He pulled out the glass vial he got from Carlo’s Jersey Palisades house and handed it to Tony.

Then he took his phone back, staring at Brianna while Tony washed the blow down the sink drain, even though they both knew Maria wasn’t going to stay on her cleanse any more than Tino had stayed on his—not after this.

“I really do have to get out of here,” Tino confessed as he thought about everyone he cared about not nearly protected enough at the Don’s mansion, especially if their Borgata was being hounded by the Feds now. “But do you have a burner? I need to make a call first.”

Tony snorted, sounding almost insulted as he said, “Man, who’re you talking to? Of course, I have a burner.”