The Slayer (Untamed Hearts #2)(59)

“It’s fine.” Tino moved his bad arm and then winced. “Nothing whiskey and Vicodin won’t fix.”

“Tino—” Wyatt started out warningly.

“I’m kidding, Sheriff.” Tino rolled his eyes, though he probably wasn’t kidding. “I’m an upstanding member of the community. I’ll just drink milk and take an aspirin.”

“Jesus, have fun with your third child,” Wyatt said to Jules. “I’m releasing him to your custody.”

“Yeah, thanks.” Jules sounded thrilled.

“Are you dropping Chuito off? Or does he need a ride?” Wyatt asked. “I’m not technically on shift. I can take him home.”

Chuito turned to Wyatt. “What about my car, man?”

“You got a concussion. Your car can stay at the Cellar until you’re feeling better.”

“We got it,” Jules said before Chuito could argue with Wyatt.

“But I thought Romeo and the kids were in the van?”

“I got it.” Jules gave her brother a dark, cryptic look. “Don’t you have to go wash your eyes with bleach?”

“Sure enough,” Wyatt agreed. “Some days I think I don’t get paid enough.”

“Motherf*cker, your wife makes more money than God.” Tino was already walking out the door, but then he turned around and wagged his eyebrows at Wyatt. “Say hi to Tabitha for me.”

“Get out, Tino,” Wyatt growled. “I’ve had enough of you for today.”

When Tino walked out the door, Chuito hung back for a little bit and waited while Jules and Wyatt talked.

When Wyatt finally looked at him curiously, Chuito asked, “Are you gonna get in trouble for not booking us?”

Wyatt shook his head. “You’re not the first two fellas I’ve locked up for fighting and then released before booking. It’s fine.”

That worked for Chuito, and he followed Jules when she headed for the door.

“But really, don’t let it happen again,” Wyatt called after him. “Get your shit together. You need to sign that f*cking contract. Your agent’s started calling me.”

“I got it,” Chuito promised him.

He just hoped he was telling the truth.





Chapter Twenty-One


“Are you okay, Alaine? I know this has gotta be stressful for you too.”

Alaine looked up at Romeo Wellings, who was leaning against the door of his van, big arms folded over his chest as he stared at the sheriff’s office. It was obvious he was tense. Alaine knew he used the excuse of staying with his and Jules’s toddler twin sons rather than go in to get Tino. Alaine could have stayed with them. She watched the babies all the time at the office.

It was odd to see the apprehension in him, because at six feet six and two hundred sixty pounds, Romeo was easily the biggest guy in Garnet, and that was saying something. Still, the former Heavyweight UFC fighter and ex-con was a nice guy. That was one of the reasons Jules married him.

“I’m good,” Alaine lied as she picked up a stuffed dragon Jules’s son Charlie dropped, and handed it to him. “I’m a big girl.”

Charlie took the toy and announced. “Zio Tin!”

“Yeah, I’m gonna kick Zio Tin’s ass,” Romeo mumbled under his breath.

Charlie’s twin, Freddy, chimed in, “Zio Tin!”

They seemed to agree with each other. The twins began chanting Zio Tin with enthusiasm. It was cute that they called Tino zio, which was uncle in Italian, but they called Wyatt uncle in English.

Romeo and Tino worked hard to teach them both languages.

Zio Tino had likely been a topic of conversation on the ride over, and the twins were expecting him. They weren’t even two yet, but they knew what they wanted.

Alaine sat on the floorboard of the van, her feet hanging out of the open door as she talked to the twins, who were beautiful boys, with light eyes and inky-black hair like Romeo. It was almost too long, curling over their ears and at the backs of their necks.

Jules had been procrastinating on their first haircuts. She said it was because she feared putting the poor hairdresser through that.

Alaine thought Jules wasn’t ready to let go of all those pretty black curls.

Tino burst out the doors, looking like he didn’t have a care in the world. Alaine breathed a sigh of relief. If Tino was that upbeat, it meant Wyatt hadn’t charged them.

Jules had assured her he wouldn’t, but Alaine hadn’t been so sure.

Romeo cursed in Italian and then stomped across the parking lot, but Tino must have sensed what was coming. Tino took off running, as if playing a game of chase. He feinted left, and when Romeo followed after him, Tino went right and ran so fast Alaine thought he would have been an amazing football player.

“Move!” Tino shouted as he came barreling at her.

Alaine realized the van was home base for him, and she jumped out of the way just as Tino leaped into the van with an agility Romeo would never have.

“TIN!” the twins shouted in unison.

“I miei bambini.” Tino draped himself over both car seats. Freddy instantly fisted his hair, but that seemed to be the lesser evil as Tino begged, “Save your zio!”

Romeo reached into the van and grabbed Tino’s shirt, tugging so hard Alaine heard something rip. “Motherf*cker—”