Page 110 of The Enforcer's Revenge
Nova got up by himself, forcing Dr. Acciai to follow him with the bag of IV fluids held high. Carina, Brianna, and Carmen let them go and stayed in the bathroom.
“I’m sorry, but you don’t know him like I do.” Carina didn’t look at Carmen as she said it. “He’d hurt me worse if I let him.”
“I get it.” Carmen sounded honest as she stood. Then, she leaned in and whispered in her ear, “It is extra tight, by the way.”
She winked at Brianna as she stepped past her.
Brianna turned and watched Carmen follow Nova. Even after she disappeared into the bedroom with the television, Brianna avoided looking at Carina.
She bit her lip to hide her smile.
Carina saw it anyway and hit Brianna’s shoulder.
Brianna held up her hands in defeat. “You were being so cunty to her, and she gave zero fucks. That’s impressive and a little funny.”
“You’re calling me a cunt?” Carina sounded genuinely insulted. “You’re saying that merda to my face?”
Brianna gave her a pointed look. “Did you not know that?”
Carina opened her mouth like she wanted to argue. Instead, she huffed in defeat and took a long puff of the forgotten joint in her hand. Then she sat down on the carpet in front of the sink and grabbed the ashtray Nova had abandoned.
Brianna left her to it.
In the bedroom, Nova sat on the edge of the bed, the shadows of the news reflecting off his face in the dark room. The doctor stood over him, still holding up the IV bag, and Carmen was leaning against the dresser, her arms folded, her features masked while they reported on the death of her father.
Then Nova leaned his elbows against his knees and dropped his head into his hands. He pushed his fingers into his hair,forcing it off his sweaty forehead, and kept them there as he turned his head to look at Carmen.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered into the near darkness, with the images from the television casting a haunting glow over her face. “Even dead, he’s ruining lives.”
“I know, bella. This isn’t your fault.” Nova looked back to the news. He watched it quietly for a few minutes before he glanced at Brianna in acknowledgment. “Tino’s probably right. A raid could happen.” He blanched like he was going to be sick again and ended up resting his forehead on his knees, looking like it was taking all his strength not to completely fall apart. “Just to be safe, we need to get rid of everything. All drugs. All weapons. All paperwork needs to be in small drawers.”
“I think Monte’s already doing that upstairs,” Brianna assured him. “We told him the Feds were following Tino.”
“It’s not the Feds. It can’t be, not for this. The murders weren’t over state lines. Lola and the Brambino compound burning down both happened in Brooklyn. It’ll be NYPD, but that’s what I don’t get. We have family there who would’ve told me if Tino was suspect enough to have a warrant issued for him. Not that I’ve been looking at my phone, but he would’ve called Tino.” Nova still sounded like he was fighting for clarity as he repeated, “Something’s missing.”
“You sure there weren’t murders over state lines?” Carmen asked cryptically. “Maybe the Feds know something you don’t.”
Nova was quiet for another long moment before he sighed. “How’d Tino call you?”
“He said he was using a friend’s burner.”
“Did he say what friend?”
Brianna shook her head. “No.”
“Cazzo, then we can’t risk calling him.” Nova looked back to the news and swallowed hard. “I guess we have to plan on a raid. Carmen, you need to call the medical examiner. You camehere to make final arrangements. We need you to be doing that to protect yourself from our merda. Your father’s dead. No one’s going to fight you for Lola.”
Carmen flinched and looked away, like she’d rather be dealing with a raid.
“I’m sorry too,” Nova whispered. “Truly.”
Dr. Acciai cleared his throat.
“You have to leave,” Nova agreed before the doctor had to ask. “We need to pack as much of the major medical equipment in his car as possible, and he needs to go. Do it. Right now. Get him out of here.”
Dr. Acciai didn’t need to be told twice.
He quickly removed the second IV from Nova’s arm, and Carina helped him pack his car in the garage with everything downstairs that made the basement look like a hospital. Brianna honestly couldn’t believe they fit as much as they did.
