Page 92 of The Enforcer
“What are we selling?” a low, snarky voice asked over the thump of music. “It’s like an international buffet. Mexican. Chinese. Or cheap Italian.”
Tino turned to see Dominic Brambino standing there in front of him, eyeing the three of them like they were for sale.
Which, really, they were.
Every fine hair on Tino’s body stood on end. Don Moretti, Nova, and Carlo didn’t know what the band on Tino’s wrist meant, but Dominic recognized it Tino’s first day at St. Francis.
It had made the past three and half years of school really wonderful.
“It’s not actually cheap Italian, is it?” Tino mused rather than take the bait. “More like one of those authentic places that’s hard to find. Something you hear about everywhere. Real Italian you wanna taste more than anything but can’t, because you don’t have the connections to get in.”
“I do have the connections, though,troia,” Dominic reminded him. “And I will get in. One of these days, I’m getting in.”
“I would eat a bullet before I let you taste my Italian, and I would take you with me,” Tino assured him, making his voice extra loud like Dominic had to be heard over the music, even though they were in the far corner. “What can I do for you?”
“I want what you’re selling.” He turned and let his gaze run over Meilei. “I like Chinese as much as the next guy.”
Tino couldn’t kick his ass, because Mary would definitely make Tino suffer for the fuckup in the most unpleasant ways possible. Tino knew it because he had tested it one too many times already.
So he lifted the bag of ecstasy on his chest.
“Do you want it or not?”
“Yeah, gimme three.” Dominic pulled out one twenty and held it out to Tino. “Family discount.”
“You’re not in my family, motherfucker.” Tino fished three out of the bag. “You’re not in my Borgata either, but I’ll float you the extra two if you get the fuck outta my face for the rest of my night and leave all the bands alone. Boys and girls.”
“Deal.” Dominic snatched the three small baggies out of Tino’s hand. “I already have company. I heard you’re supposed to be bringing your own pussy to these parties.”
“Pity the pussy, then.” Tino grabbed the twenty out of his hand and dropped his head back to Meilei’s thigh. He pointed out to the dance floor. “Now go where I can’t see you.”
“You have an attitude,” Dominic growled at him. “For an indebted whore who rents by the hour, you’ve got an attitude.”
“But that’s what they like about me. That’s what makes me so expensive,” Tino said as he turned on his side and glared at Dominic. “I know how to pull their hair, and they love it. Ask your mother about it sometime if you don’t believe me.”
Dominic’s jaw fell slack, as if he didn’t want to believe Tino, but he did.
He should.
Tino wasn’t bullshitting him about it. He left out that Dominic’s father always watched, which was very high on the list of things Tino could barely stomach about his life. There was no way Carmine was going to let someone fuck his wife unless he was watching. Then, for some reason, it was perfectly fine. The Brambinos were twisted.All of them.No wonder Dominic was so fucked-up.
“I floated you the pills,” Tino reminded him. “So unless you feel like coughing up another forty bucks, get outta my face.”
“You know, if I told my ma—”
“But you’re not going to, because if you did, you know I’d tell all of them you’ve been trying to taste my Italian ice for two years, and that doesn’t really fly in Cosa Nostra, does it? Especially since I’m pretty fucking sure the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, and you jerk off thinking about me fucking you from behind just like your mom does.”
“One day the Borgata’s gonna be mine,” Dominic reminded him. “I’m gonna own all of it.”
“One day you will,” Tino agreed. Dominic had all the perfect qualifications to take over the Brambino Borgata, including a complete lack of conscience. God help them all when that day came. Luckily, Tino had learned not to think too far ahead. “But right now you’re getting outta my face.”
He rolled on his side, dismissing Dominic before he kicked the shit out of him instead.
“You’re my favorite kind,” Meilei mused as she grabbed his hand and caressed his leather band.
“I hear that all the time,” Tino admitted and closed his eyes tiredly. “All the time.”
“You matter,” Carla said as she rubbed his thigh. “Did you know that?”
