The Enforcer (Untamed Hearts Book 3)(167)

After all of them learned firsthand what love could destroy.

The kingdoms it could rip apart.

The lives it could ruin.

The hearts it could break.

Before the war that taught them there were no happy endings in Cosa Nostra, just the little collection of special memories they all had to learn how to survive with.

It had to be enough.

There was a knock on the door, and she nearly jumped out of her skin after being stuck in the room for so long. Then she sat there, staring at it, not moving, barely breathing before she heard, “It’s me.”

She still didn’t move, because that didn’t feel like enough.

“Brianna—” It was a bark of annoyance. “It’s fine.”

She very quietly got up, keeping her footsteps light as she reached for the gun on the nightstand. She turned toward the door and pointed it there. Even if she recognized Nova’s voice, they could have him hostage for all she knew.

If he were really okay, he’d know she’d need proof.

“Cazzo.” Nova groaned, sounding exhausted. “What the f*ck do you want? Proof? You want proof? Fine. Um. I used to call you the BFF until Tino lost his shit on me and knocked me out with the shower door ’cause I wasn’t reverent enough.”

She frowned, because she honestly didn’t know that.

“Jesus, you’re more paranoid than I am.” He huffed when she didn’t respond. “The train ride in Harlem after the rave. The coffeehouse in the village where we met Lola. I don’t know what you’re looking for. It’s me. No one’s holding me hostage. I got you double the scholarship money when you first started college, and you’re leaving me out here spouting off shit when I haven’t slept in two days.”

She undid the locks. “I didn’t know you did that.”

Nova snorted in disbelief. “You thought they just hand out that much scholarship money for no reason?”

“Carina told me she did it,” Brianna mumbled.

“Okay.” Nova let out a harsh, cynical laugh. “But you’re still a smart girl, Brianna. Still very smart. Anyone else would’ve just opened the door. What dumbass thought they could get that cretino you married to ice you?” Nova looked away, seeming lost in thought. “You’ve been through a f*cking war. The old man knows you’re smart. He knows you’re tough too.”

Brianna shrugged, because she didn’t have any more answers than Nova did.

“Anyway, let’s go get you something to eat. You gotta be friggin’ starving.” Nova walked into the room and picked up her bag that she’d already packed with the cash Tino left her, along with the other things she’d brought. “Is this it?”

She nodded as she slipped the gun into the back of her jeans and pulled down her shirt to cover it. “That’s it.”

“Okay, Chuito, this is Brianna. Make friends, because he’s the one going to the mattresses with you this time. He’s the only one.” Nova gestured to the huge Hispanic man standing at the door wearing a hoodie and jeans. Then Nova pointed to the slender, strawberry-blonde woman next to him. “You’ve met his wife, Alaine.”

“Yes, I have.” Brianna reached for the jacket she’d left on the desk. “Hello, Alaine.”

Alaine gave a little wave. “Hi.”

Nova walked past all of them with Brianna’s bag over his shoulder without another word, because when a Moretti moved, others followed, and he knew it. Brianna stood there staring at Chuito Garcia, who was very muscular and extremely intimidating. He wasn’t a bad choice for a war, but he wasn’t an army.

Tino wasn’t an army either.

They’d seen before it only took one man with a vendetta to tear apart a Borgata, but if this was it, then these were the people she could very possibly die with, so she asked, “Why are you here?”

Chuito considered her for a second before he said, “Because Tino’s my brother.”

Brianna nodded, feeling oddly at peace with that answer. “That works.” She smiled at him. “It’s nice to meet you, Chuito.”

Chuito smiled back, showing off deep dimples that made him look a little less intimidating, a little more approachable, but then his phone beeped in his pocket, and he reached for it.

He frowned at it for long enough that Alaine asked, “Who is it?”

“It’s just my mother.” He clicked the screen off and put the phone back in his pocket. “Bitching.”

“You should be kind to her,” Alaine said softly. “I’m sure she wasn’t bitching.”

“Okay,” Chuito said dismissively and gestured in front of him. “Dancers first.”

Brianna smiled again, knowing it didn’t meet her eyes as she slipped on the jacket and followed after Nova.



Tino sat in his car around the corner from the hotel, watching the feed of Brianna walking down the hallway on his burner phone. He rubbed his thumb over her image and then screenshot it, not knowing if it was the last time he’d be able to see her.

Then he clicked back to his texts, seeing a little bubble indicating that Chuito was responding to Tino’s plea of: Protect her. Protect my brother too. It’s the only way we can win. I’m not giving up, Chu. I’m just trying to get across the board. Ask Bri what it means. You of all people will understand.