The Enforcer (Untamed Hearts Book 3)(36)

“Should we run away?”

“Yeah.” Nova nodded. “I think we’re gonna have to disappear, but I have to get everything with Romeo handled. I have to think. I have to figure it out. I need time. I can’t just leave him after he got stuck in jail trying to protect me from these motherf*ckers.”

“We should take Carina,” Tino suggested and pointed in the direction of the house. “She’s our sister, and her life sucks.”

“Don’t get attached to her. She’s not your sister.”

“Yes, she is,” Tino snapped at Nova and reminded him, “she’s yours too.”





Chapter Twelve


“So my ma’s making me try out for cheerleading this year. Friggin’ cheerleading. Do I look like a cheerleader?”

Tino lifted the manga book he was reading and studied Carina, who was decorating the bottom of his cast simply because Nova told her she was out of space. His foot rested in her lap as she colored with her metallic pens. Nova sat next to her, working on something involving Romeo and doing his level best to ignore her.

“Yeah,” Tino decided and went back to reading his book. “You look exactly like a cheerleader. One of those little ones they’re always tossing around.”

“Fuck you,” she snapped. “I’m no cheerleader. I’m not gonna go stand on the sidelines and wave my pom-poms for a group of sweaty, disgusting boys. No, thank you. That’s sexist. Don’t you think that’s sexist?”

“Not really.” Tino turned the page. “I don’t see what’s wrong with it, and it’s not just about cheering on the sidelines. It’s about competitions. The cheerleaders in East Harlem kick ass. We have a few girls in our building who cheer. They’re awesome, but the teams probably suck here. I doubt Dyker Heights girls know how to move.”

“My BFF forever. She rocks it out. You should see her dance, and she’s not a cheerleader.”

Nova lifted his head from the paperwork he was working on and frowned. “BFF forever? But—”

“I’m worth something more than just cheering for a boy. I have a talent, you know? A real talent.”

Nova gave Tino a look of pleading. “Where is the Off switch?”

“I taught myself,” Carina told Tino, because she was doing a very good job of pretending Nova wasn’t there. “I’ll show you sometime. My ma won’t pay for lessons, but I’m working on my nonno. I told him I’ll die if I don’t get lessons. Like actually die, ’cause I need them that bad.”

“Must be so hard to be you.” Nova’s voice was biting and sarcastic. “That’s a real-life issue, princess.”

“It is a life issue.” She apparently noticed Nova with that one. “I’m worth more than just cheering. I have a talent.”

“Oh, we’ve noticed. If there’s a record for talking incessantly, you’ll own it,” Nova offered as he went back to working on his paperwork. Tino kicked him with his good foot, making Nova’s pen skip across the page. “Damn it, Valentino, you kick me again, and I’m gonna shove my talent up your ass.”

Tino dropped the book on his chest and flipped both hands under his chin with extra flair, mouthing vaffanculo and then giving Nova the double middle finger. He knew why Carina was so determined, considering Frankie’s great career plans for his only daughter.

Father of the friggin’ year.

“Hey, chief.”

All three of them stiffened. Tino looked over to see Nova mouthing chief in disbelief. Carina scowled too, as if it sounded foreign to her. She turned around on the couch and said, “Hi, Daddy.”

“What the f*ck, Carina?” Frankie sighed. “Your ma is gonna beat your ass if she finds you up here, and I don’t feel like hearing it.”

“You told me to stay busy.” Carina made no move to get up. “And they got no television in here and—”

“Out!”

“Fine.” Carina threw her pens in her box on the ground, and Tino lifted his foot so she could stand up. Then she seemed to think better of it and dropped back down on the couch between Tino and Nova. “But I’m bored.”

“Call your little friend.”

“She’s at her father’s house in the Hamptons. All summer. I have no one else to play with, and you—”

“Fuck,” Frankie groaned. “Just don’t let your mother catch you.” He snapped his fingers and pointed to the door. “Come on, pal.”

Nova gave him a look of annoyance. “Are you talking to me?”

“Yeah. Let’s take a ride.”

“I’m gonna pass on that.” Nova turned back to the paperwork on the table in front of him.

“Look, smart-ass, I’m being real nice right now.” Frankie’s voice was low in warning. “I signed your papers. Twice. Now you do me a favor. The boys are downstairs and—”

“No,” Nova said simply. “Whatever it is, f*ck, no.”

Carina screamed with how fast Frankie moved, but Tino’s voice was trapped in his chest when he saw the way Frankie fisted Nova’s hair and jerked his head back over the edge of the couch.

“I’m not used to people arguing with me when I ask for something,” Frankie growled, getting in Nova’s face. “Capisce?”