Page 70 of The Enforcer’s Revenge (Untamed Hearts #4)
Maria let him go, and the two of them looked toward the open bedroom door to find Nova standing there, dressed summer casual in beige dress pants, matching belt and shoes, and a tight black t-shirt that was tucked in, making him look very high-class Italiano, especially with the way he held up his hands at the two of them.
“Hi, Zu.” Maria’s voice was warm despite the interruption. “You’re looking nice today. I like this style. It’s very Brando of you.”
Tino just glared at his brother and asked, “What are you doing here?”
“Me?” Nova gestured to himself. “What are you doing here?” Then he stopped, narrowed his eyes at Maria, and repeated with insult, “Brando?”
“Streetcar Named Desire Brando. Young Brando,” Maria clarified. “Not Godfather Brando. Although you do seem extra Zu-like today. I bet you had a hookup before you got here.”
Nova scowled at that, looking like he wasn’t sure what to say.
“How’d you find me?” Tino asked him before Nova had to respond to Maria. “I turned my phone off.”
Nova arched an eyebrow. “I noticed.”
“Then, how the fuck?—”
“I didn’t know you were here. I came to talk to Tony, and he told me.” Nova gestured to Tony. “Finding you was unexpected.”
“He asked me if I’d heard from you.” Tony winced at Tino behind Nova’s back. “I didn’t think it was a big deal. Is it?”
“It’s something.” Nova looked from Tony standing there in a towel back to Tino and Maria. The question was written all over his face as he glared at Tino. “Can I talk to you? Alone.”
Tino gave him a pointed look. “I’m kinda busy.”
“Jesus Christ.” Nova took a long, shuddering breath of defeat, reached into his front pocket, and pulled out a pack of cigarettes rather than say anything more.
“Don’t you smoke that in here.” Tino got up before Nova could do it, forcing Maria to stand, too.
He knew Tony and Maria would gladly let the Zu smoke whatever the hell he wanted, and he got the impression Nova was reaching for it as a last resort against losing his shit rather than just being a dick like usual.
“Just give me a fucking second. You cannot make this beautiful apartment smell like those things.”
“It’s not a big deal,” Tony argued, which was exactly what Tino thought he would say about it.
“Yeah, let the Zu smoke,” Maria agreed as she worked on tying her robe that had been hanging open while she was lying against him. “He’s Tony’s boss now. That means he gets to do whatever he wants.”
“I know you two don’t care, but it bothers me.” Tino set his coffee on the television stand and tied his towel tighter. “And he doesn’t get to do whatever he wants just ’cause he’s Zu.”
Nova had glanced away, giving Maria privacy she hadn’t asked for. He was saved from having to say something by the news report that caught everyone’s interest.
“ After this morning’s murder of fifty-eight-year-old Enzo Brambino, who was gunned down on the sidewalk outside his Dyker Heights home, authorities now consider Carlo Moretti the primary suspect in three separate brutal attacks over the past week that have left residents in Brooklynn on high alert.
NYPD Chief of Police Theo Mencali says they are now investigating a total of eight murders possibly linked to Carlo Moretti.
In a news conference at the top of the hour, Chief Mencali said there is a motive and strong evidence linking him to the crime scenes in question.
All the victims were members of or connected to the Brambino crime family.
That is significant, as Carlo Moretti is the youngest son of Aldo Moretti, the suspected head of the Moretti crime family.
The FBI’s Organized Crime Unit is investigating the possibility of the murders being linked to organized crime.
If you see the suspect or have any information on his whereabouts, they advise members of the community to consider him armed and extremely dangerous.
Call the number on the screen. Do not attempt to make contact with him. ”
“You’ve heard.” Nova refused to look at the screen. “That was one of the things I needed to talk to you about.”
“Yeah.” Tino glanced away from it, too. “Can we at least give them a better picture of him?”
“They don’t want a better one. They want that one.” Nova looked back to Tony. “Is there a place we can talk?”
“Use the roof. Maria’s dad owns the building. I check it all the time in case he stops by. And I just scanned it this morning since Tino’s with us. There are no bugs. I promise it’s good.”
“That’s great.” Nova let out a broken laugh that sounded almost manic, making Tino realize he really was fighting off the urge to completely break down in front of all of them. “Let’s bring the Savios into our shit. Why not?”
Tino started walking to the door leading to the roof, knowing his brother was on the edge of falling apart, and Nova didn’t have a blow habit to help like Tino did. “Come on, Casanova.”
Tino never bothered with pants. He ended up on the roof of the Savios’ beautiful Brooklyn brownstone in only a towel. He stretched out on one of the lounge chairs that Tony and Maria set up to get tan. Chances were the two of them were sunbathing naked since neither of them had tan lines.
Tino threw a hand over his eyes and felt the late afternoon sun on his bare skin.
He did an extra bump of coke when he refilled his coffee because why the fuck not?
The idea of rationing drugs seemed stupid now.
Lucky for him, he was a high-functioning addict, considering he’d been doing it since he was twelve.
There was a ringing in his ears that was annoying, but other than that, the majority of his problems felt far away, especially in the summer sunshine.
He heard the click of a lighter and lifted his hand to watch Nova shakily take a drag off his cigarette. Nova held it in a little longer, making it obvious he was trying desperately to absorb more than the nicotine.
“Why don’t you just carry regular weed on you?” Tino asked him. “It’s better for you than smoking it like that.”
“I can’t just smoke a joint whenever I’m having issues with my stomach,” Nova barked back at him. “No one says anything about cigarettes.”
“Not to your face.” Tino rolled his eyes. “It’s an ugly habit. I don’t like it.”
Nova let out a bitter laugh. “Sorry to offend you with my habits.”
“Is your stomach bothering you?” Tino asked in concern.
Nova nodded. “Yeah.”
He took another long drag of his cigarette, holding it in too long, and shakily blew out the smoke.
“I have this rule about Cosa Nostra. I made it the night Romeo got arrested, and it’s been pretty dependable,” Tino explained, and when Nova arched a curious eyebrow in response, he told him, “If Nova Moretti’s puking his guts up, everyone’s fucked.”
Nova snorted and took another puff. He blew it out and said, “There’s probably some merit to that rule.”
“Is everyone fucked?” Tino asked curiously.
Nova considered that and shook his head.
“No, not everyone. From a business perspective, the two of us are doing great. With Frankie in prison, I could easily ask for the Capo Bastone position after your little display yesterday. Who would fight me for it? You’re the lead enforcer now.
The Don’s got no one. Frankie’s down for another year, and Carlo’s—” Nova’s voice cracked.
He took another drag off his cigarette instead of finishing his thought.
“So, not everyone’s fucked,” Tino clarified after a long moment. “Just Carlo.”
Nova shrugged and put a hand over his eyes.
“Angelo says the NYPD has DNA evidence from two of the three crime scenes that link him to the murders. For all I know, they’ll find more from the one today.
It’s blood. He must’ve gotten injured. He probably got shot.
I can’t imagine why else he’d bleed at two separate crime scenes. ”
“When did you talk to Angelo?”
“The Feds came down on the Don after the shooting this morning. Hard. It’s a fucking miracle they haven’t questioned us yet, but they’re more focused on the Don.
They would love to put him in prison again.
I had Angelo meet me at Romeo’s place after I got off the phone with the old man.
I knew the evidence had to be something pretty solid if they were showing Carlo’s picture on the fucking news and listing him as the main suspect. ”
“I thought it was just Carmine’s place.” Tino scowled at him. “Then, he got Enzo this morning. What’s the third crime scene they keep talking about? Lola?”
“No, I think they know Lola’s murder was the motive.
They keep saying they have a motive, and his freak-out with the medical examiner is on video.
I’m sure they’ve watched that a million times over.
” Nova shook his head, looking genuinely sick.
He took another long drag of his cigarette and then explained, “The other crime scene is Alesso Brambino and one other guy whose name hasn’t been released yet, probably an enforcer.
Carlo got them last night while we were dealing with shit at the Don’s place.
That’s significant. Alesso was acting Consigliere for the Brambinos. ”
“Yeah, I know.” Tino gave him a dark look because just hearing that name made his stomach knot. “I remember Alesso.”
“Not surprised. Since he was Carmine and Mary’s brother…” Nova winced, “…I’m sure he was equally hideous.”
Rather than tell Nova just how true it was, Tino just shrugged. “I’m not sad he’s dead.”
Nova sighed, sounding bone tired. “I never met him. Enzo always represented them in the commission meetings, and now Enzo’s gone, too. Carlo really did it. He took out their whole fucking administration and all their top muscle. They have no power structure now. He basically annihilated them.”
“But he’s going down for it,” Tino whispered in understanding. “And there’s nothing we can do about it.”