It wasn't words of fondness and respect that Tony was using about Hesh after he and Bobby stopped by to pick Hesh up and Hesh declined because he was SCARED Tony was going to kill him. In fact, Hesh expressed his fear of Tony killing him to his son-in-law Eli.

So if Hesh himself believed Tony was very capable of having him killed, is it not possible that Tony did actually do the next closest thing and murder Hesh's girlfriend?