The Slayer (Untamed Hearts #2)(160)

“What?” Tino frowned and glanced back. “Alaine. No, she’s my friend. She just got married. I haven’t been involved with anyone. Not like that.”

“Wish I could say the same,” she said as she held up her hands. “It all happened so fast and—”

“Figlio di puttana,” Tino said with a growl. “Is this the first time he hurt you?”

“I didn’t know David was working for your grandfather,” she whispered rather than answer his real question. “I think your grandfather’s been setting us up all along. I’m not Italian and—”

“Yeah, that’s the reason,” Tino said sarcastically. “We have to go. Right now.”

“Tino—” Alaine cut in. “Where are you going?”

“I have to take care of something,” Tino said as he helped the woman out of the car.

“What something?” Alaine barked at him. “Don’t you think you should tell Nova what’s going on?”

“Is Nova here?” the redhead asked as she put a large purse on her shoulder. She turned back to Tino’s sister. “You didn’t tell me he was here.”

“I didn’t know.” Tino’s sister glared at him. “You are not leaving me here with Nova.”

“No, no, I’m not,” Tino said quickly. “I’m leaving you with Romeo.”

“No friggin’ way,” his sister snapped. “Your brother hates me.”

“No, he doesn’t. He has no reason to hate you,” Tino said soothingly. “I have to go, Carina. No one wants to hurt you. Everyone loves you. Stay here. Watch my nephews until I get back. We both know the old man won’t bother you. Staying here is insurance for them. Please do this for me.”

“I can’t believe my nonno did this,” Carina whispered miserably. “And now I’m stuck with Nova.”

“Sweetheart, your nonno is an *, but I can’t help you deal with that.” Tino pushed his sister toward Alaine. “This is my friend Alaine. Talk to her about it. I have to go. Stay with Romeo.”

“I don’t even know this woman. I can’t talk to her about everything,” Carina said as she gestured to Alaine. “I should come.”

“No, that’s bad. You need to stay here. I can’t move fast with both of you.”

“You’re leaving me with Nova. Forget Nonno; Nova is the original *,” Carina argued. “Is this woman gonna help me deal with that?”

“Yes, she will.” Tino seemed confident about it as he looked to Alaine. “Help her deal with Nova.”

“Isn’t he her brother too?” Alaine asked, but Tino was already pulling the other woman toward his CL, digging his keys out of his pocket as he went. “Tino, you can’t leave. Where are you going?” Alaine ran after him, trying and failing to hold him back when he opened the car door and crawled in. “Don’t do this. Please don’t do this. They will all freak out. This will kill them.”

The woman halted, pulling away from the car, but Tino growled at her, “Get in the car, Bri!”

She shook her head, looking back and forth between Alaine and Tino. “I can’t ruin your life. I can’t do this. I won’t. I won’t make you suffer for my bad decisions.”

“My life sucks!” Tino shouted at her. “There’s nothing left to ruin. I lost the only good thing a long time ago. I’m not gonna lose it again, not for that *. I’m officially done hurting for him.”

The woman put a hand to her chest and took a long, shuddering breath as her eyes glimmered bright green under the sunshine.

“Get in the car, Brianna,” Tino said as he reached over and opened the passenger-side door.

Brianna stood there for a long moment; then she turned back to Tino’s sister and called out, “I love you. I’ll call you.”

“I love you,” Carina said as she stood there crying. “Tino, you better keep her safe.”

“You brought her to me ’cause you know I will.” Tino smiled at his sister as Brianna got into his CL. “Tell me you love me, Carina.”

“I don’t love you.” Carina huffed. “You won’t take me with you, and you’re leaving me with Nova.”

Tino waved her off as if he didn’t believe it; then he turned to Alaine. “Tell Chu to protect my sister.”

“Is Brianna the dancer?” Alaine asked him.

Tino nodded. “She’s the dancer.”

“You talked about me?” Brianna whispered next to him.

“Yeah, I talked about you,” he said and then held out his hand. “Give me your cell phone.”

Brianna reached into her purse as he fished his phone out of his pocket too.

“Where are you going? At least tell me where you’re going,” Alaine said quickly. “I have to tell them something.”

Tino gave her a dazzling smile, big and wide and devious as he said, “To get Patrón. Tell Nova I’ll call him.”

“No.” Alaine shook her head frantically. “No, you’re not allowed to get Patrón, because—”

Tino dropped the phones on the ground and shut the door before she could finish.