Page 106 of The Enforcer's Revenge
The line went dead, and she just stared at the flip phone in her hand for one long second. Then, she turned to look at Carina, who was standing in the doorway.
“Tino thinks we’re about to get raided. He says he’s being followed,” she whispered into the silence. “We need to get Nova up to help handle it.”
“I don’t think you explained to Tino exactly how fucked up Nova is right now.” Carina held up her hands to her sleeping brother in the other room. “Dr. Acciai knocked him out. He can’t talk to anyone like that.”
“It was a couple of hours ago. It’s probably worn off a little. All we can do is try.” Carmen stood and pulled her hair out of its bun, letting her curls fall around her face. “I’ll wake him. You go find him a suit. Something sharp that’ll intimidate the investigators.” She must’ve sensed something in Brianna’s look as she started crunching her curls between her fingers. “What?”
Brianna opened her mouth but couldn’t find the right words. Truth was, she had no earthly idea how to pick out a man’s suit specifically to intimidate investigators. She’d never had to dress Tino before. He was always perfectly capable of dressing himself.
“Monte is still upstairs. He’s next in charge while Nova’s out. I’ll tell him Tino thinks a raid is coming and grab some of Nova’s clothes,” Carina said quickly, like she sensed Brianna needed the rescue.
Carina dashed out of the room. A few seconds later, the sound of shoes pounding against the stairs echoed across the basement as she headed to the first floor of the mansion.
“You matter, pretty girl.” Carmen pulled on a strand of Brianna’s hair. “Sorry I was snappy at you. I can tell you care—about all of them. Tino’s lucky to have you.Very lucky.”
Tears welled up in Brianna’s eyes and spilled down her cheeks without warning. Still, she shook her head. “You don’thave to try to make me feel better. I know this is so much harder for you.”
All Carmen said was, “Okay,” as she tucked a few more strands of Brianna’s hair behind her ears.
Brianna stayed there, unwilling to pull away, because Carmen was looking at her in a way that made Brianna feel like she still mattered. Being in this family without Tino around was a lot harder. It felt like everyone was mad at her. She loved all of them, but a part of her wondered if maybe she didn’t belong anymore. It was scary in a way it never had been before, but having Carmen there helped, and not just because she was another outsider.
Carmen had a unique presence that made Brianna feel both extremely insecure and very special anytime Carmen talked to her. She found herself worrying about saying the wrong thing, like she was thirteen, and trying to be cool for reasons she wasn’t really sure about.
She’d never been around a woman like that before.
Not wanting her to leave yet, Brianna confessed honestly, “I adored Lola. The whole room lit up when she was in it. I’m just so sorry.”
Carmen looked away at that. Her beautiful eyes shimmered, but she took a deep breath rather than giving in to it. “Thank you, but I can’t talk about that right now.” She kissed Brianna’s cheek, and rubbed her arm affectionately before she turned away. “Let’s just help them get through this.”
Brianna followed Carmen out of the basement bedroom, deciding to wake up Dr. Acciai from where he was resting on the couch in the corner by the medical supplies.
The doctor was a short, sixty-something Italian man with a full head of gray hair, a slim stature, and a very friendly, amiable face.
He looked different without his glasses, more vulnerable somehow, and he was sleeping so peacefully. His hands rested on his chest, and his feet were crossed on the arm of the couch.
She hated to wake him—again.
“Dr. Acciai.” She touched his shoulder gently. “I’m so sorry.”
He jerked instantly like he was used to waking up at the first sign of trouble. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing, just, um…” Brianna shrugged while the doctor sat up, grabbed his glasses off the side table, and put them on. “Tino called, and he thinks maybe there could be a raid coming.”
“Fuck.” The doctor groaned before Brianna could finish. He looked over to Nova. “Someone has to take him to a safer location.”
“Actually, Tino was sort of hoping we could get Nova… working again.” Brianna knew that wasn’t the best way to put it, but the exhaustion and nerves made it hard to elaborate. “He wants him to wake up.”
“Well, I don’t give a shit what Tino wants.” Dr. Acciai laughed bitterly like the idea was ridiculous. “You have the Don tell me that, and I might consider it.”
Brianna stared at him, hoping to God this man didn’t expect her to call the Don for permission. “Carina’s upstairs looking for Nova’s clothes. Maybe when she gets back?—”
Dr. Acciai’s phone started ringing. He reached into his pocket, looked at the screen, and quickly answered it. “Hey, boss.”
Brianna knew it was the Don. The doctor was smart enough not to call him that on the phone, and she could hear the Don’s barking voice from where she stood. She just couldn’t make out what he was saying. For his part, Dr. Acciai simply listened, his scowl deepening with concern.
Then he shook his head and said, “Do you understand what he has been through over the past forty-eight hours?”
The Don started barking again, and Dr. Acciai went back to listening. Finally, he sighed, looking thoroughly disgusted with all of them. “I’ll give it my best shot. I can’t promise anything.”
