Page 63 of The Enforcer’s Revenge (Untamed Hearts #4)

Tino looked around, his heart suddenly pumping violently in his chest with panic and paranoia. To swear that kind of loyalty to Nova in the Don’s house, when the Don was still there, was insane. Tino noticed Carmen looked around, too.

The way Tony was selling it, Tino almost expected the ring to materialize on Nova’s hand.

And the thing was, Nova didn’t push him away.

He let Tony sit there, hold his hand, and pledge his loyalty. It was the least he could do. Tony deserved it. A moment to believe he had a cause worth killing and dying for after all the shit this life had put him through.

“Okay.” Nova touched his head and clasped Tony’s hand in his. “I’m going to try really hard to earn it, paisan.”

Tony kissed his hand again. “You already have.”

Nova kissed his cheek rather than say anything.

“If he’s really down there waiting, we got to go.” Tino stood because they were still making him nervous as hell. If anyone else saw that, Nova’s finger would never have a ring on it. They were all dead. “It’s been too long.”

Nova made a move to get up and go with them, but Tony stopped him. “I got this. Stay here. Rest.”

“He’s right. Rest. Let us do our job, Zu.

” Tino leaned over and grabbed Nova’s hand, kissing it like Tony had.

Nova was his brother; he was allowed to be loyal to him, ring or no ring, but for the first time, he let himself really appreciate it in a way he never had before.

He stared at Nova’s hand, seeing Brianna’s blood still under his fingernails, and whispered, “Grazie for saving her.”

Nova kissed his forehead like a brother instead of a gangster. “You need rest too.” He touched Tino’s temple, which was still throbbing from where Nova coldcocked him. “Promise,” he pleaded. “Take care of yourself.”

“I got him, boss,” Tony pledged with the same level of reverence. “You have my word.”

Nova placed a hand over his heart, looking so very grateful. “Grazie.”

“Come on.” Tino grabbed Tony before he could change his mind because they had left the Don waiting way too long. “Let’s go earn your bones.”

Before they went around the corner, Tino looked back, seeing that Nova had rested back against the stairs again and closed his eyes.

Carmen’s hand was on his chest like it had become a habit after holding him together all this time.

The two of them looked very cozy, which should’ve really concerned him.

There was a part of Tino that felt very protective of Carmen because of Lola, and Nova was a dangerous man for her to grow attached to.

Just like Carlo had been a dangerous man for Lola, but Tino hadn’t stopped it.

He didn’t want to rob Carlo and Lola of happiness.

Of love.

Of joy.

Laughing together.

Dancing together.

How stupid they all were.

Now he knew that needing something—desperately—didn’t mean it was safe to have it. They weren’t protected just because they were in love. It was the exact opposite. It made them vulnerable, and Tino no longer believed the high he got from being with Brianna was worth it.

Not at the risk of losing her.

There was a lot going on with life besides being in love. Brianna had a lot of things to do that had nothing to do with Tino.

A lot of shows to star in.

A lot of things to see and do.

Carmen, he hoped, was the same. She, more than anyone, deserved a chance to live her life like Lola would’ve wanted for her. Getting tangled up with Nova would make it all so much more difficult. Tino had already failed Lola; he didn’t want the same thing to happen with her sister.

Still, Tino reminded himself it was Nova.

He avoided attachments like the plague. He was the one who always handled his shit. He hooked up with Lost Girls on a regular basis, and he stayed friends with all of them without complications. It never turned into a thing. If anyone was good at keeping things casual, it was Nova.

So, he forgot about it.

Tino was more pressed with the issue of the Don waiting in the basement with a dead Brambino and an extra henchman Nova was nice enough to keep alive so Tony could make his bones.

That was a huge shitshow, and since that fell clearly under Tino’s job description, it was a sure bet he was going to hear it. Not a great scenario when he was still trying to talk himself out of using his last bullet to end Nova’s real problem for him.

“Listen.” Tino decided if Tony wanted this job so fucking bad, he might as well make him good at it.

“Center mass, slightly to the left.” He leaned over as the two of them walked and touched the place on Tony’s chest where his heart was.

“Right here. It’ll be over, and then we can deal with the real problem. ”

Tony snorted. “Which is?”

“Getting rid of all these fucking bodies.” Tino sighed with exhaustion.

“It’s the worst part of the job, and this is a fucking mess.

” He stopped and covered his face with his hands when he thought about everything that had to be done.

“What the fuck was I thinking blowing that motherfucker’s brains out like that?

I’m the one who's going to be cleaning up his closet. I’ll never get to the hospital to see Brianna. ”

“Hey.” Tony reached over and grabbed his shoulder. “Look at me.”

Tino dropped his hands, feeling like the world was crashing down around him. The blow had long since worn off, and that was his biggest problem.

Reality .

It was too much, and Tino blinked at Tony, barely seeing him.

“How do we get through this?” Tony asked him like they were in the past, and Tino was young and melting down for a completely different reason.

Tino took a deep breath, and then, feeling like he was fifteen again, he whispered on autopilot, “One step at a time.”

“It’s just one step at a time, right?” Tony agreed with him. “And then it’ll be over.”

Tino nodded. “Okay, yeah, we’ll just get it over with. We gotta drive to Jersey to grab the chemicals, and uh?—”

“We gotta kinda worry about the Feds a little,” Tony reminded him.

“I think they’re personally after you. They do not want you part of this war, and I just promised your brother I’d make sure you’re safe.

I can’t let you drive around with body-eating chemicals in your car.

That’s not an option for you. Is there anyone else?

Maybe they can grab the shit and bring it back here. ”

Tino shook his head, thinking of Carlo. “No, it’s just me. Carlo and I are the only two enforcers for the Borgata. We don’t like the others to know our shit.”

“Jesus, Tino,” Tony whispered. “What would’ve happened if you didn’t call me?”

Tino considered that for a second and looked at the gun still in his hand, thinking of his headache.

“Okay, come on.” Tony shoved at his back before Tino could answer him. “Let’s just do this.”

Tony walked into the basement with purpose. The Don had been leaning against the bedroom door, watching the television with a gun in his hand, doing a lazy job of guarding the last Brambino. He glanced up at the sound of Tony’s stomping De Luca-sized steps down the stairs.

Tony turned around when he got to the bottom of the stairs and forcibly took the gun out of Tino’s hand, even though he clearly had two weapons on him.

He didn’t wait for the Don to acknowledge him.

Tony just walked up to the Brambino sitting there, shaking, and said very simply, “Sorry, pal.”

Tony did it just like Tino told him, center mass, slightly to the left, and the guy slumped over. Tino’s last bullet solved all that Brambino’s problems.

Tino stood on the bottom step, feeling robbed.

The Don was silent too, studying Tony with an unreadable look on his face.

Tony just looked from Tino to the Don and asked, “Are we good?”

Tino shrugged. “I guess.”

“You weren’t my choice.” The Don still hadn’t put his gun back in the shoulder holster he was wearing. “If it had been my choice, something very different would’ve gone down.”

“Makes sense.” Tony nodded. “I probably wouldn’t choose me either if I were you. I mean, why would you?”

“You’re not doing a whole lot to change my mind.” The Don’s voice was sharp.

“I want this Borgata to be strong. I want you to win against the Brambinos, and I want you to keep winning after this war is over. I want you to be stronger than my father. All I care about is making the Morettis the strongest fucking Borgata in the country. That is my singular life goal.” Tony sounded completely genuine, and he probably was.

Tino wasn’t the only one from their old crew who knew the best lies were the ones closest to the truth.

“I want it more than any of those soldiers you have up there. I understand we’re not blood.

I get it, but I promise, I’m very dedicated.

I’ll prove it to you if you give me a chance. ”

The Don stared at him for another long moment before his shoulders relaxed just a little. He looked to Tino. “You trust him? You’ll use your name for him? This is enforcer bullshit. It’s you who’ll be on the line—not Nova. You.”

“Yes, absolutely,” Tino said without hesitating.

“I’m the one who called him. I’ve known Tony a long time, and he’s always had my back.

I’d be in lock-up right now if it wasn’t for him saving my ass today, and everyone here would probably be dead—including Carina and Nova.

I wouldn’t have accomplished any of this without him.

I’m half dead with exhaustion. I’m really fucking tired, Don. ”

The Don sighed and closed his eyes. “That doesn’t make you special, Tino. We’re all tired.”

“I know, but honestly, I need the help,” Tino admitted, and it was probably the most honest thing he’d ever said.

“I got the fucking Feds on my ass. Nova says the Brambinos must have dirty ones on the pad who are trying to eliminate me. They’re trying to make sure I’m not around to protect the family.

I can’t risk getting busted with chemicals in my car, and I can’t use the boat because the Mills Basin house is still a crime scene. ”