Page 139 of The Enforcer's Revenge
Brianna looked at her. “What?”
“Nothing.” Carina just shook her head and sighed. “Maybe we do need a new social circle. This is all so fucked, Bri, in a very real way.”
“He’s gonna get over his shit.” Brianna felt confident about it the longer she thought about it. “Lola dying scared him, but?—”
“This isn’t about Lola dying. This has been going on a lot longer than that. Tino has some massive issues that you can’t fix no matter how badly you want to,” Carina said softly. “You’ll just drown with him if it goes on any longer.”
“That’s not true. You don’t understand how it is with us. I do help him.”
“It’s hurting him, too.” Carina’s voice cracked as she said it. “He doesn’t want you to see him like this. He doesn’t want this life to burn you this badly. I don’t either. It’s all just… awful.”
“He’s gonna get over his shit,” Brianna decided for both of them. “And things can go back to the way they were, and we’ll just figure it out together, like we always do.”
The nurse came back in before Brianna could argue more. She watched the nurse put whatever medicine Dr. Acciai thought she needed into the IV.
Brianna looked to Carina. “Maybe you can call Nova while I take a nap.”
“There you go, sweetie.” The nurse patted her shoulder. “A nap’s a good idea. Stop worrying over things and try to rest.”
“Thank you.” Brianna turned back to Carina as the nurse walked out of the room. “Nova needs to know Tino’s having such a hard time.” She dropped her voice and whispered, “He’s been through too much. He could overdose on accident.”
“Tino is an addict, Bri, and behind you, Nova is Tino’s number two enabler. He knows he’s having issues,” Carina reminded her in a harsh whisper. “Besides, Nova hates me, remember? He blames me for Carlo.”
“Don’t say that about Tino,” Brianna snapped. “And Carlo was my fault. Maybe that’s why he left me here.”
She swallowed hard.
It felt like it did when her father left, only a thousand times more painful. All of a sudden, she couldn’t hide how badly it hurt that he walked out. “I didn’t want him to leave me here when I’m sick.” More tears rolled down her cheeks. “I wouldn’t do that to him.”
“Jesus Christ.” Carina picked up the chair she had knocked over. She sat down heavily and buried her face in her hands. “I hope I never find a dick that makes me this stupid.”
“Fuck you.” Brianna tried to sound fierce when she said it, but her words were noticeably slurred. She opened her eyes, shocked when she realized how fucked up she was. “Oh, holy shit.”
“Yeah,” Carina just agreed, giving her a dark look. “Good ol Dr. Acciai.”
That was the last thing Brianna remembered.
She passed out cold.
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
Tino realized once they got back to Tony’s car that he had nowhere to go.
He couldn’t go home to Romeo’s place. Not in the state he was in right now. He couldn’t even remotely tap into the brother Romeo knew after the night he’d had. That Tino was buried so deep it felt like he’d never dig him out again.
Usually, when enforcer work had him this out of touch with reality, Tino would go to Carina’s place, and he’d hide with Brianna until he was normal again.
Now that wasn’t an option.
He could stay in Nova’s apartment. He had a second bedroom there. That was probably his best choice, so he asked, “You think Nova’s fucking Carmen?”
“I mean…” Tony tilted his head and winced. “I hope not, but probably.”
“I’m kinda pissed about that,” Tino mumbled, feeling embarrassed. “I feel like I’m failing Lola by letting her sister get tangled up with Nova, but he fucks in our circle all the time. He’ll keep it casual and get her enrolled in college after they’re done. All his hookups end up in college. It’s weird. What do all these chicks talk about in Casanova’s bedroom? Math?”
“He does love talking about math.” Tony laughed. “But I’m more worried about him than her if we’re being honest.”
“Is it something I need to know?” Tino remembered that Tony was harboring a secret about Carmen. He knew she talked to Nova about it, but still. “She was in Tampa, stripping. We did kill her bouncers. No doubt it’s a shitshow, and it is my job to protect him.”
