Page 162 of The Enforcer's Revenge
“I didn’t think to tell you. It’s not really a weird thing, women being miserable with their husbands,” Tony reminded him. “I think that’s how all marriages end up. Most of the women we hooked up with in Nashville were married and just getting away from the misery of their lives for a weekend. That’s why they like us so much. We have the same scars.”
“No,” Tino argued. “I know lotsa happy married people. They still like each other. Just because the ones we hooked up with were unhappy doesn’t mean everyone is.”
“Name one couple.”
Tino shrugged. “Chu and Alaine.”
“Doesn’t count. It’s been less than a month, and Garcia is secretly in love with you.”
“Motherfucker.” Tino sighed tiredly. “I’m already over this shit. It’snotcute.”
“You’re just sad ‘cause I’m right,” Tony countered. “About all of it.”
“No, you’re not. Romeo and Jules. They’re still happy. Wyatt, the Sheriff who helped Nova get outta lockup when he killed Gino, he’s crazy about his wife. Sometimes, he sits there and looks at Tabitha across the room like he can’t believe she’s real. I’ve seen him do it. Clay Powers and his wife like each other. Hey, you know, Chu’s cousin in Miami. He’s been married for a little while, and you saw, they were all over each other at the wedding.”
“How the fuck would I know which one was his cousin?” Tony asked. “I deliberately did guard duty at the wedding to save myself. That marriage shit is such a fucking con, especially normie marriage. I don’t get it at all.”
“I get it. I’ve always gotten it. People can be happy together. Brianna just got married for the wrong reasons.” Tino shook his head, hating himself on every level. “It kept her safe. I knew that was part of why she did it, but I always thought she liked him. I thought they were at least friends. Carina told me she was happy, but I don’t think she ever was. She is a circle girl, and it’s all my fault. I did it. I’m as bad as the Brambinos.”
“Look, Tino, whatever happened, it’s over. Sitting around slitting your wrists over it won’t change anything now. Just come home,” Tony pleaded. “Brianna needs you to come home. I’m worried about her. I’ve seen enough circle girls spiral to know she’s in trouble. You dragged Garcia all the way here to be your backup and help with this exact problem that you’re having now. Take him up on it. Stop hiding. Come home and let your family take care of you. No one cares if you fell off. We don’t judge each other. We take care of each other when we’re down, right? That’s how it works.”
“You’re acting like they’re part of the circle.”
“They are,” Tony said quickly. “I feel like they are, and Maria says?—”
“No, this is different,” Tino cut him off. “I don’t want to hurt one more person with this bullshit. And babysitting me is not Chu’s responsibility.”
“Here we go,” Tony said knowingly.
Tino didn’t fucking care.
He said it anyway, “You have to send him away. He doesn’t deserve this. Alaine doesn’t either. I’m not going to let them be criminals for the rest of their lives because I can’t handle my shit, Tony.”
“I think youaremaking out with him, ‘cause I heard all this the last time you were in love with a normie that you decided to break up with against their will,” Tony said sharply. “And look at how well it turned out. You pushed Brianna away to save her, and what happened? Now she’s got scars like the rest of us.”
“Ouch, motherfucker!” Tino grabbed his chest pointedly. “I mean, seriously, ouch!” He held onto his chest, still hating himself. “I should just eat a bullet.”
“Yeah, that’ll help everyone. We both know how well the Zu would handle that. We’ll lose him for sure, and fucking forget Brianna. It’ll be like Carlo and Lola all over again. She’s already not eating. You kill yourself, and she’s as good as dead. She’s been staying in my apartment. I know what I’m talking about. She is not doing well.At all. Maria says?—”
“I don’t care what Maria says,” Tino growled, because he couldn’t talk about it anymore. “I gotta get Chuito out of New York. We don’t need him to get this job done. I’m not adding one more stain on my soul.”
“We do need him!”
“I thought you were jealous!”
“That doesn’t change the fact that we need him!” Tony yelled back. “We have to bring him in before it gets worse for you. Brianna isn’t the only one not doing well. You’re doing worse than she is. Watching addiction from the outside is fucking awful. It’s a real illness. It just sneaks up, and it starts making the people you care about sicker and sicker until they can’t fight it anymore. I’ve been doing it my whole life. I can’t do it again, especially with you. You kill yourself with this bullshit, and I might not make it either.”
“You still have Maria,” Tino reminded him. “And you have?—”
“It’s not enough,” Tony cut him off before Tino could start listing all the reasons why Tony didn’t need him anymore. “Tino’s friend Tony does important shit. He’s my default Tony.He’s the guy who shows up every day to work for the Zu and fights for everyone in the circle. I’m proud of that guy, but what if there’s no Tino? Do I totally turn off? Do I follow Maria around like a zombie, carrying the shopping bags for her, with nothing to do and no problems to solve, like I was doing before you came back? I don’t know what happens, but I don’t want to find out.”
“I haven’t been here for over two years,” Tino reminded him. “And you’ve been fine. You just told me you’re an awesome enforcer without me, and I believe you.”
“Why’d we start meeting in Nashville, then? If I’m so fine?”
“For fun,” Tino lied. “Nashville’s a party.”
Tony glared at him. “I know she called you, Tino. She told me, so stop fucking lying. Just because you don’t need me anymore, doesn’t mean I stopped needing you.”
