Page 132 of The Enforcer's Revenge
Tony just walked up to the Brambino sitting there, shaking, and said very simply, “Sorry, pal.”
Tony did it just like Tino told him, center mass, slightly to the left, and the guy slumped over. Tino’s last bullet solved all that Brambino’s problems.
Tino stood on the bottom step, feeling robbed.
The Don was silent too, studying Tony with an unreadable look on his face.
Tony just looked from Tino to the Don and asked, “Are we good?”
Tino shrugged. “I guess.”
“You weren’t my choice.” The Don still hadn’t put his gun back in the shoulder holster he was wearing. “If it had been my choice, something very different would’ve gone down.”
“Makes sense.” Tony nodded. “I probably wouldn’t choose me either if I were you. I mean, why would you?”
“You’re not doing a whole lot to change my mind.” The Don’s voice was sharp.
“I want this Borgata to be strong. I want you to win against the Brambinos, and I want you to keep winning after this war is over. I want you to be stronger than my father. All I care about is making the Morettis the strongest fucking Borgata in the country. That is my singular life goal.” Tony sounded completely genuine, and he probably was. Tino wasn’t the only one from their old crew who knew the best lies were the ones closest to the truth. “I want it more than any of those soldiers you have upthere. I understand we’re not blood. I get it, but I promise, I’mverydedicated. I’ll prove it to you if you give me a chance.”
The Don stared at him for another long moment before his shoulders relaxed just a little. He looked to Tino. “You trust him? You’ll use your name for him? This is enforcer bullshit. It’s you who’ll be on the line—not Nova. You.”
“Yes, absolutely,” Tino said without hesitating. “I’m the one who called him. I’ve known Tony a long time, and he’s always had my back. I’d be in lock-up right now if it wasn’t for him saving my ass today, and everyone here would probably be dead—including Carina and Nova. I wouldn’t have accomplished any of this without him. I’m half dead with exhaustion. I’m really fucking tired, Don.”
The Don sighed and closed his eyes. “That doesn’t make you special, Tino. We’re all tired.”
“I know, but honestly, I need the help,” Tino admitted, and it was probably the most honest thing he’d ever said. “I got the fucking Feds on my ass. Nova says the Brambinos must have dirty ones on the pad who are trying to eliminate me. They’re trying to make sure I’m not around to protect the family. I can’t risk getting busted with chemicals in my car, and I can’t use the boat because the Mills Basin house is still a crime scene.”
The Don still huffed. “Tino?—”
“If you can’t approve Tony, I get it, but we gotta have Gino or one of your guys drive out to the safe house in Jersey for me.” Tino just went on like he hadn’t heard him, letting all his exhaustion and defeat flow out. “They should probably change cars a few times, just to be safe. I’ll give you a list of the different garages and houses where we store our vehicles between here and there, but their last stop has to be a van because the barrels are big,very big, like big enough to fit bodies in without overflowing, plus all the chemicals that we store separately. I’ll really need two guys ’cause they’re heavy after the bodiesdissolve, and your guys don’t work out like Tony does. They’ll need to grab the protective gear too, and?—”
“Okay, okay!” The Don put his gun in his shoulder holster. “Just, whatever—you’re hired, De Luca. Help Tino. Fix my place. Make this shitshow go away, and we’re good.”
“Great.” Tony smiled, looking thrilled that he got to spend all night dissolving dead bodies. He walked up and held out his hand once more. This time, the Don took it, letting Tony shake his hand enthusiastically. “This is gonna work out.” He leaned down and used his hold on the Don’s hand to kiss his ring. “You’re looking at your new, best soldier, Don.”
The Don raised his eyebrows once Tony let him go. “We’ll see.”
He left Tony standing there and patted Tino’s shoulder as he stepped past him on the stairs. “I’m going upstairs to change, then I’m heading back to the other house. Let me know when it’s cleaned up.”
“Yeah, okay,” Tino said casually, but at the same time, he gave Tony a wide-eyed, nervous look, knowing that the Don couldn’t see his face as he started to walk up the stairs.
The two of them were deadly silent, standing there with the two dead Brambinos, until the door closed and the Don’s footsteps echoed all the way down the first-floor hallway.
“Well played.” Tony was the first to break the silence, his voice a low whisper. “I guess he doesn’t like details.”
“Yeah, they don’t like details. It’s ugly. Makes them uncomfortable.” Tino grinned at him. “And look at you, I thought you were gonna suck his dick for a second.”
“Bro wishes I would suck his dick.” Tony’s smile grew wide and mischievous. “He’ll never get that lucky.” He glanced up the stairs. “Whatta fucking sucker.”
Tino put his hands over his face and actually laughed, which was nothing short of amazing. Since raw honesty had gotten himthis far, Tino found himself admitting, “I’m in a weird place with you.”
Tony just looked around, arched an eyebrow, and agreed, “True story.”
“I just mean, it’s weird to be so fucking grateful that you’re here.” Tino had to say it out loud. “And feel so gutted and miserable at the same time. This is a horrible reality, Tony. It’s worse than the Brambinos. I wasn’t lying about that, and you don’t deserve this. You’re the last person who deserves it.”
“Look.” He walked up and grabbed Tino’s shoulder, forcing him to stare up into his dark gaze. “My reality has always sucked. It’s the only thing that was really dependable when I was young, knowing that it all fucking sucked, but I did alright. I met Maria. I made some friends, and I learned how to make the best of things.”
Tino took a deep breath. “Yeah, you did. I can’t imagine how any of us would’ve survived all the Brambinos bullshit without you.”
