Page 71 of Star Crossed
“No, I don’t wanna fucking drink it!”
“I told you”—Tino sat next to Nova and then turned to arch a knowing eyebrow at Romeo—“something’s wrong. Wait for it, ’cause the shit’s about to get deep.”
Romeo agreed with Tino’s assessment, Nova showing up in the middle of the night with a strong determination to keep a clear head. Red flags were going up everywhere.
Romeo put a plate in front of Nova and then sat on his other side. “Spill it, Casanova.”
“Can I eat?” Nova asked, not bothering to deny their assumptions.
Romeo leaned his elbow on the table and leveled an expectant look at Nova. “You can talk and eat.”
Nova appeared unnerved by the combined attention as he dug into the baked ziti, taking a few bites before he said, “This is good. Can’t hardly tell it’s from a jar.”
“Of course it’s good.I made it,” Romeo said slowly. “Are you gonna tell us what’s going on? Unless, of course, it’s business and you’d like me to leave ’cause I have no problem—”
“No, don’t leave,” Nova cut him off, his gaze darting to Romeo for one brief moment. The guilt showed in his dark eyes before the mask fell again, making him appear cool under pressure. “You need to stay.”
“Fuck.” Romeo groaned and rubbed a hand over his face, already knowing it was something he didn’t want to deal with.
Nova took another bite and then, with his attention focused on the plate, said, “You know shit’s been tense with Frankie since I took his place.”
“I’m sure,” Romeo said with an incredulous laugh. “His illegitimate son replacing him as capo bastone. That must’ve pissed him off. I’m almost sorry I missed it.”
“It’s not like I wanted the fucking job. I was perfectly happy beingconsigliere,” Nova said with a glare at Romeo. “You think I love the Feds up my ass and dealing with all the bullshit?”
“Then why do it?”
“’Cause Aldo told me to do it, and you do what the boss tells you. Frankie’s unstable. Everyone knows that. Having him second in command was making people nervous. He’s never been all there. Trust me on this. He’s not okay and it’s been noticeable for a long time.”
“What does that say about us?” Tino asked, reminding everyone at the table that Frankie was their father. “What the hell sorta DNA do we have? I hope I don’t fucking lose my marbles when I turn fifty.”
“Frankie’s problem is that he’s selfish. He’s always been self-serving. He doesn’t have any sorta loyalty, and he’s always making dumb mistakes. That’s a weakness we can’t afford from someone in the administration.” Nova laughed bitterly. “Omertà, fuck, you know he’d sell us out the second the Feds said twenty-five to thirty. He’s not going to prison for anyone, and Aldo knows that.”
“And you are?” Romeo couldn’t help but ask. “Prison fucking sucks, Nova. The loyalty to Aldo’s not worth it, I promise you.”
“I’m not going to prison,” Nova said simply. “I’m smarter than Frankie.”
“You’re cockier than him too.” Romeo arched an eyebrow. “And that’s saying something.”
“Frankie doesn’t get that Aldo did him a favor by demoting him. He ended a problem before it started, but Frankie doesn’t see it that way. Now he’s mad at me. He’s mad at Aldo. He’s mad at the whole fucking organization, and he’s a liability.”
“Aldo could have him whacked,” Tino suggested. “He should’ve solved that problem a long time ago.”
Romeo turned to stare at Tino in horror, because the lack of compassion was startling. There was no love lost between Romeo and Frankie, but the fact that Tino could talk about offing his own father so dispassionately was disheartening to say the least.
“What?” Tino raised his hands, giving Romeo a look. “I’m just saying that’s an option. The greater good and all that shit.”
“He’s still Aldo’s only son.” Nova shrugged, making it sound like it’d been discussed. “And our father. Technically. Can’t really clip him for being a moron. So we’re trying to pacify him instead. Toeing the line until he calms down.”
Romeo and Tino exchanged anxious glances before Tino asked, “What does he want?”
Nova pushed at his food, looking like he’d lost his appetite. “He’s trying to get back at me. It’s his way of being clever. Making me vulnerable, but he doesn’t know we’re stronger than him. We’re smarter than we were last time. Every time we’ve let him come between us, nasty shit happens. That’s why you went to prison, Rome, ’cause you let him get to you, and it drove a four year wedge between us.”
“Jesus.” Romeo’s stomach was knotting with anxiety. “What is it, Casanova?”
Nova swallowed hard and lifted dark, haunted eyes to Romeo. “He wants you to throw the Lipton fight.”
Romeo temporarily lost his voice and just stared at Nova in horror.
