The Slayer (Untamed Hearts #2)(60)

“Language,” Tino corrected, still fighting to stay in the van. “You can’t hit me in front of the twins!”

“The day you get arrested, I can beat you unconscious in front of the twins!”

“Ow, my shoulder!” Tino shouted when Romeo got a good hold of him. “Really, it hurts! You’re doing permanent damage and—” He ended up on the pavement and groaned. “Madonn’.”

The twins were squealing in excitement, but Alaine winced when Romeo dragged Tino to his feet and shoved him against the driver’s-side door. “Valentino, I swear. You ever end up in jail again, and I’ll bury you myself.”

“Okay.” Tino’s voice became low and grumbly in a way Alaine only ever heard when he was around Romeo. “I’m sorry, Rome. I wasn’t friggin’ kidding about the shoulder. I’m suffering for it. I promise.”

“It was probably more Chuito’s fault,” Alaine pointed out, knowing she wasn’t revealing a big secret. Half of Garnet was talking about their fight in front of the Cellar. “He was having a bad day.”

“Yeah, no kidding.” Tino broke out of Romeo’s hold and glanced to the front door of the sheriff’s office when Chuito and Jules came out; then he dropped his voice and turned to her. “You gotta help him out with the anger issues. He’s thinking of moving back to Miami.”

Alaine glanced at Chuito walking toward them and then whispered in fear, “He said that?”

“Yeah.” Tino was whispering too as he stepped into her personal space, the carefree, easygoing air about him suddenly gone. “You gotta make sure that doesn’t happen, Alaine. Give him a reason to stay. It’s important. Life-and-death important.”

“Tino!” Chuito called, though Alaine knew he couldn’t hear their conversation.

“Make sure he takes care of you,” Tino said, this time loud enough so everyone could hear. Then he smacked Alaine’s ass, making her squeak and jump. She looked at Tino with wide eyes, but Tino didn’t seem apologetic as he warned, “If not, you know where I live.”

Chuito dashed across the parking lot, but Tino jumped past Alaine and crawled back into the van, using the twins as human protection again.

“Do you have a death wish?” Romeo looked at his brother just as Chuito got to the van.

“Touch her again, hijo de la gran puta,” Chuito started, his voice low and dangerous as he leaned into the van and glared at his best friend. “And I’ll do more than dislocate your arm.”

“We’re outside a sheriff’s office,” Romeo reminded the two of them. “You think Wyatt’s gonna let you off a second time?” He shook his head in disbelief as he looked to Jules. “Oobatz.”

“We clearly need to separate them,” Jules said as she came up to her husband and patted his chest. “I told you it’s fine.”

“It’s not fine,” Romeo barked back and then glared at Chuito. “I’m not too pleased with you either.”

“We’re leaving now,” Jules said before Chuito had to answer for his crimes. “Alaine, take him home. Chuito probably has a concussion. Stay up with him.”

“Good idea!” Tino chimed in from the van.

“Ay Dios mio,” Chuito mumbled. “I’m gonna kill him.”

“Remember what I said,” Tino called out as if immune to the threat. “It’s important.”

Chuito turned back to the van, but Romeo stepped in front of the open door, huge and intimidating. “Go home, Chuito.”

“What’re you gonna do if I don’t?” Chuito challenged.

“You can’t take all of us,” Romeo warned. “You dislocated my brother’s arm. Be glad I know how annoying his mouth can be, or I might be really ticked off about it.”

“Chuito’s got a concussion,” Jules reminded him as she grabbed Romeo’s wrist and tugged. “Tino can take care of himself. We’ll call it a draw and go get pizza.”

“Pizza!” The twins obviously recognized that one.

Then Charlie added, “Zio Tin!”

“I think they like him better than us.” Romeo sighed as he gave up the fight and opened the driver’s-side door.

“They definitely like him more,” Jules agreed. “But he does give them ice cream and chocolate whenever we’re not home.”

“I know how to buy affection,” Tino assured them.

“Night, darlin’.” Jules leaned over and kissed Alaine’s cheek, because the Italians had rubbed off on her over the past few years. “Call me if you need anything.”

Alaine nodded as Jules walked around to the passenger side of the van. Tino pulled the door closed and then crawled into the back.

Chuito and Alaine stood there in silence as they watched the Wellings drive off with Tino in tow.

Then Alaine fished into her purse for keys without saying anything.

“What’d he say to you?” Chuito barked as if she owed him an explanation. “Tell me.”

“Are you really in a position to be giving orders?” Alaine arched an eyebrow at him. “Don’t you think you’ve caused enough trouble for one day?”

“Do you want to f*ck him?” Chuito asked rather than back down, making it obvious he needed someone to attack.