The Enforcer (Untamed Hearts Book 3)(60)

“You’ve had a bad month.” Brianna didn’t know why she did it, but she reached out and grabbed his hand, intertwining her fingers with his. “Maybe next month will be better.”

She’d been hoping the same for herself, because having her father basically dump her for life had left her crying into her pillow more than a few nights since she got back from the Hamptons.

Life was very mean.

“If yous guys got married, we’d be sisters. Real sisters.” Carina blew a bubble, making it pop loudly. “That’d be cool.”

“Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.” Brianna had to let go of Tino’s hand to cup her cheeks this time, because they were on fire. “Carina.”

Tino laughed at her, but it was such a nice sound, like something he needed to do, and Brianna figured her embarrassment was worth the sacrifice.

“You’re cute, Brianna,” he finally said, which made her cheeks burn worse. “Very cute.” His voice got distant. “Wish I met you when I lived in East Harlem.”

She frowned. “Why?”

“East Harlem Tino was cool. Everyone liked that Tino. I had lotsa friends.” He shrugged. “Maybe you would’ve liked him too.”

“You don’t like Tino in Brooklyn?” Brianna asked.

“No.” He said it without hesitating. “I don’t.”

“Well,” she whispered as she considered that. She looked at him for a long time and then admitted, “I like Brooklyn Tino.”

“Me too.” Carina smiled. “Brooklyn Tino’s way cooler than East Harlem Tino. Brooklyn Tino’s got a kick-ass sister.”

Tino laughed again and asked, “Do you kick ass?”

“I do.” Carina popped her gum again.

“Yeah, okay.” Tino rolled his eyes. “You know, me and Nova are gonna find a dojo once my leg heals. You could come with me. Both of you should come.”

“We should,” Carina agreed. “Then maybe I wouldn’t have to ditch the bodyguards all the time.”

Tino leaned past Brianna and looked at his sister. “Bodyguards?”

“Yeah, that’s why I spent the night at Brianna’s last night. You think Nonno would let me ride the train to Bed-Stuy?” She laughed in disbelief. “They think we’re hanging at Brianna’s all day.”

Tino’s face physically paled, the horror was so blatant. “What the f*ck, Carina?”

“It’s fine,” Carina assured him. “We do it all the time.”

“Guess who’s gonna pay for it if we get caught?” Tino barked at her. “You just threw me under the bus.”

“I’ll tell them you didn’t know.” Carina popped her gum again. “I promise.”

“Which isn’t a lie.” Brianna looked to Tino in concern. “I thought you knew.”

Tino dropped his head back against the seat. “Cazzo.”

“I had to cheer for Brianna,” Carina went on, though she sounded a little frantic. “What kind of friend would I be if I didn’t come?”

“Carina.” Tino sighed in annoyance. “If we get caught, I’m f*cked on so many levels.”

Carina was quiet for a long time before she said, “I’m sorry.”

Tino closed his eyes. “Just don’t do it again.”

“Am I an *?” Carina asked in the same way Tino had, looking to Brianna for confirmation.

“Yeah.” Brianna winced. “Pretty much.”

“Does that mean you don’t love me anymore?” Carina asked like a girl who needed someone to love her more than anything. It was a rare show of vulnerability from her. “That you don’t wanna be my brother?”

Tino snorted and looked back to her. “If I stopped loving someone for being an *, I would’ve dumped Nova ages ago. Brothers love you even when you f*ck up. That’s sorta how it works.”



Tino’s excitement for anything in general had waned since the night before.

The Bed-Stuy trip went from being the one thing he was excited about to just one more thing to do because he was f*cking obligated. It was hot, the walk was long on crutches, and now, on top of everything else, he had to worry about getting caught with Carina.

He was still fighting that void that wanted to sneak up and wipe out any semblance of who he was before he’d been forced to move to Dyker Heights.

And what the f*ck was he fighting it for?

He wanted to be numb.

He wanted to stop thinking about what happened the day before.

He wanted to be pissed off at Carina for being built like her mother in a twelve-year-old sort of way. It was really f*cking him up, on every single level. He could see what she was going to turn into, and it was making him feel like he was going to lose his lunch again.

He was irrationally furious at his ma. Which he hated, because she was gone, and he didn’t want the nice things about her to be ruined.

He was sort of pissed off at Romeo too.

For being in jail.

It was just all mixed up in his mind, the fear for Romeo and the fear of Mary.

And he still had a whole f*ckload of issues where Nova was concerned.

Tino wasn’t naturally an angry person.

And Carina was a brand-new sister.