The Enforcer (Untamed Hearts Book 3)(116)

“Why do you get to be conservator on our kids’ accounts?” Marcell growled at him.

“’Cause I’m the bastardo who gives a shit,” Nova said as he held up his hands. “Some of them have drug problems. Some of them have mothers who gave birth to them as sex slaves and have absolutely no idea how to manage finances. Some of them have fathers who have a proven track record of using them for cash.” Nova glared at Enzo again. “If they’re competent and over eighteen, I’ll turn it over to them, but either way I will offer total transparency to the commission on everything. Ten million to each kid; everyone walks out feeling a little better about their absolute f*ckup as fathers and brothers, me included. I’m not taking any less blame than anyone else here.”

“You’re trying to bankrupt us,” Enzo growled at him.

“No, I was trying to disband you and wipe your disgusting Borgata from history. The restitution was De Luca’s idea, and trust me, it’s a painful compromise,” Nova assured him.

“I think it’s more than fair,” Dante agreed. “I obviously don’t have kids, legitimate or otherwise—” Dante glanced at Nova. “No offense.”

Nova shook his head. “None taken.”

“But if someone sold a De Luca for their last name…” Dante snorted and looked at the rest of the council members. “Yeah—” He shook his head. “I’m not sure if I’d settle for the cash, but lucky for you, I know how to keep my shit handled. I vote for the ten-million compensation for each victim. I’m fine with Moretti handling the accounts as long as we have transparency.”

“I agree.” Marcell nodded and turned to glare at Enzo sitting next to him. “And I want a ban on dealing flesh in Cosa Nostra. You’re putting a bad f*cking name on our organization. Let the yakuza and the cartel sell their souls for that shit.”

“You bankrupt us. Now you’re gonna f*cking take away our largest source of income?”

“No one’s comfortable with it,” Lombardis agreed. “I vote disbanding, but I’ll reluctantly accept the restitution. Moretti can handle it, but I want total f*cking transparency.” He looked at Nova from the other side of the table and pointed. “I’ll be watching, motherf*cker. I don’t trust you, and if you ever hack into my computer—”

Nova arched an eyebrow. “Don’t f*ck with my brother or my Borgata, and I won’t hack into your computer.”

“We don’t have that much.” Enzo threw up his hands again when he realized he was outvoted. “You’re taking about hundreds of millions of dollars.”

“Better start selling some shit, then,” Nova snapped at him. “If your Borgata banded together, you have enough assets to keep your spot on the commission.”

“And if we don’t?”

Nova shrugged. “We annihilate you.”

“And we’ll help,” Dante agreed.

Enzo didn’t say anything else; he couldn’t. They’d rendered him speechless, and Nova began picking up his pictures.

“We’re going to the house.” Enzo finally found his voice as Nova started putting everything back in his suitcase. “I don’t believe he’s gonna hold up his agreement. You’re all cretini to trust this kid.”

“I’ll hold it up,” Nova said, though he choked on the words. It was like being back in that basement. He wanted to scream and rail against the unfairness of it, but at this point it would just make everything worse. Maybe, with a huge amount of luck, Tino would make the right decision. “I don’t want to. Just like the Brambinos don’t wanna pay restitution, but I will because I respect this commission and what it stands for.”

“We’re all going,” Enzo warned him.

Nova nodded. “Fine.”

He packed up the rest of his stuff, and then Marcell said, “Moretti.”

“Yeah?” Nova asked as he stood.

“He’s not fine.” Marcell said it with a wince. “Your brother.”

Nova paused. His heart started beating faster, which was amazing when he was already strung tight with fear. “What’s wrong with him?”

“Lorenzo shot him.” When Nova sucked in a hard gasp, Marcell held up his hands. “In his thigh. It’s survivable, but—”

Nova turned and ran out the door, knowing Tino was probably bleeding in Lorenzo’s f*cking basement and wishing for death. He wasn’t going to let Carlo show up and give him that option.

Unfortunately Carlo had enforcer friends who caught Nova and tried to hold him back because he’d made the f*cking agreement. Nova slammed his palm into Sergio’s shoulder, knocking him off his feet. They obviously weren’t expecting that from someone on the commission, who had others to fight their battles for them.

Nova liked fighting his own battles.

He fought all the enforcers minus Carlo, who watched on the sidelines. Except he hadn’t had sleep in days, and there were too many of them. He put up a good fight, but eventually they pinned Nova in the hallway, all of them breathing hard.

“Jesus f*cking Christ, Carlo,” Sergio growled. “What the hell are the Morettis feeding your accountants?”

Nova screamed, because this was exactly like the f*cking basement, and he fought their hold again.