Page 150 of The Enforcer's Revenge
Tony laughed, and Tino laughed with him.
Nova had to sit back in his chair and put a hand to his chest because he was still coughing and wheezing.
“You’re funny, Zu.” Tony’s smile was endearing rather than condescending. “Like old fashion or something. Geez, I thought Tino was bad.”
“I guess so. You motherfuckers make me feel old as shit.” Nova kept a hand against his chest. “Cazzo.”
“It’s cute,” Maria teased him from the kitchen. “You know our naughty secrets. Now tell us about your hookup, Zu.”
“I never said I had a hookup.” Nova’s voice was still wheezy, and he took a sip of his coffee.
“You didn’t have to. I can tell when a boss got something good the night before.”
“She knows her business.” Tino stared at his brother pointedly.
Nova frowned at Tino and then looked over his shoulder at Tony, who was also waiting. “What?”
Tino held up his hands. “Where the fuck are the details?”
“I am not giving you details.” Nova laughed and went back to his food. “No fucking way. Kiss my ass.”
“But there are details,” Tino pressed with a look at Nova. “You… sealed the deal.”
Nova just arched an eyebrow instead of saying anything.
“Where’s she now?” Tino asked curiously. “Did you put her up in a hotel?”
“No, that wouldn’t be safe. We’re in the middle of a war,” Nova reminded him. “She’s at my place. You know I have the building protected.”
“Ah, okay, and she’s not pissed you’re hanging out with my hookup instead of her?”
“She knew I had to run some errands, and she hasn’t had much sleep?—”
Tino snorted. “I bet not.”
Nova groaned and dropped his fork. He put his head in his hands again. “I feel like I need another cigarette.”
“Okay, stop. He doesn’t have to share details. Zu doesn’t kiss and tell. I respect that.” Maria put a plate in front of the empty seat next to Tino. “Daddy, sit. You need to eat, too. If you’re gonna be dodging bullets doing enforcer work for the Morettis, you need to keep your strength.”
“God, don’t say that.” Nova winced and then turned in his chair to look at Maria. “Why do you call Tony daddy?”
“Don’t dig that up,” Tino warned him.
Nova arched an eyebrow at him. “And you call her mama, I’ve heard you.”
“Don’t ask questions you don’t want the answer to. There’s a whole mountain of shit they could andwouldtell you that you don’t want to know.” Tino took a bite of his cannoli and added, “Besides, everyone calls her mama. It’s not just us. We’re not that kinky.”
“Speak for yourself. I could be that kinky.” Tony sat down next to Tino and started twirling the spaghetti around his fork. “If that’s what does it for you.”
Tino snorted when Nova coughed again.
“Zu, you are too easy.” Tony shook his head with a smile and took a bite of his pasta. He took a sip of Tino’s coffee after he swallowed it and then looked seriously at Nova. “We call her mama ’cause she’s the closest thing a lot of us will ever have to a woman who cares enough to feed us good food, and help us when we’re sick or hurt, and fix our hair, and make sure we dress nice for special occasions.” He grinned at Maria, who was still working in the kitchen. In response, Maria placed a hand over her heart and smiled back at Tony as he went on, “It’s a lot, Zu. She does a lotta nice things for a lotta people. She deserves it, I promise.”
“I see,” Nova whispered and looked to Tony. “And you?—”
“Protected everyone—me included,” Tino answered before Tony had to. “He put all of us before himself. You seriously have no idea. The Morettis are really fucking lucky to have him as an enforcer, and I’m not just saying that.”
“Damn, son, you got me blushing over here.” Tony turned and gave Tino the same wide smile. “Stop embarrassing me in front of the Zu.”
