Reno Gabrini- the Man in the Mirror

by Mallory Monroe

  Then knocks were heard on the driver’s car window. Both men jumped and were about to reach for their guns. “Shit!” Vat said as they saw two women, one on either side of the car, standing at the driver and passenger side windows. “How the hell you let somebody get this close to us?”

  “Me?” Eddie asked. “What about your ass?”

  “What do you want?” Vat asked with the window still up.

  The woman said something, but he couldn’t make out what she said. Both females looked like over-the-hill prostitutes.

  “What?” Vat asked again.

  She said something again. Again, he couldn’t make it out.

  Eddie pulled out his pistol and held it at his side. “Open it slightly,” he said.

  Vat opened the passenger window slightly. “Yeah, what?” he asked.

  “I said I’ll be damned,” the woman said.

  “You’ll be damned about what?” Vat asked.

  “No, you’ll be damned,” the woman said and lifted a pistol, with a silencer attacked, and fired into the car. She aimed for Eddie first, because she saw when he grabbed his pistol, and killed him. Then, as Vat reached for his pistol, she killed him.

  A second car filled with two more of Reno’s men suddenly left their spot across the street, where they were backup to Vat and Eddie, and drove with maniac speed to where the shooting occurred. The women raced behind the parked car for cover as Reno’s men drove to a screeching halt, jumped out and began firing their weapons.

  But a third car drove up, behind the car containing Reno’s additional security detail, and fired on the two men from behind as they were firing on the two women. Reno’s men were shot and killed before they realized they had been ambushed.

  And there was no hesitation. As the two women headed into the just-opened for the day Champagne’s as if they were regular shoppers, the two gunmen gathered up the dead bodies to get them out of sight.

  And Reno’s wife and two young children, who were merrily going about their business in the store, had no clue what was about to befall them.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  “You won’t believe who just drove up.”

  Megan blew on her just polished nails and did not bother to look up at her assistant. “Who?” she asked.

  Nelta Allen, her personal assistant, smiled. “Reno Gabrini,” she said.

  Megan looked up. She hadn’t heard that name in years! “Quit lying,” she said.

  “I’m not lying! He just drove up. He’s probably here to see Sam.”

  Megan jumped up from her lounged position on her big bed. “For real?”

  “For real!”

  “Is he still gorgeous?”

  “I would say so,” Nelta said. “He’s the same gorgie man you used to go all weak-kneed about whenever he came around. If anything, he looks even better!”

  Megan got off of the bed. “I need you to move fast as you can and stop Briggs from opening the door. You open the door and take Reno to the library. Tell him Mr. Roustinconti will be with him shortly.”

  “And then?” Nelta asked.

  “And then you get lost! I’ll take it from there.”

  “But why the library?” Nelta asked as she hurried for the bedroom door.

  “Because there’s a back entrance, stupid. Now do as I said!”

  And Megan’s assistant did as she was told, and hurried out of the bedroom.

  Megan smiled greatly. She was almost thirty years Sam’s junior, and had nothing but loathing and contempt for the man she saw as fat and disgusting. But she agreed to move in with him anyway. His money and power were beautiful in her eyes.

  But Reno Gabrini had great looks, great power, and far more money than Sam would ever have. And he was still a young man compared to Sam. She ran into her room-sized closet, to get herself together.

  Reno entered the library of the Roustinconti estate and watched as Nelta, who had bought him there, closed the door behind him. It wasn’t exactly the room he would have expected to be escorted to; but maybe something had changed. It had been a long time since the last time he was in that house. Maybe Rouse wanted him to know he was a vociferous reader now. Although, Reno thought again as he walked around the expansive room, pigs would fly before he believed Rouse was some great reader now.

  But before he could see just what subject matters all of those books entailed, he heard the sound of footsteps on the back stairs inside the library, and turned to the sound. Coming down those stairs was a familiar face, although he couldn’t place her. But she seemed familiar. So much so that she entered the library wearing nothing but a silk robe. And he knew she wore nothing underneath because the robe was completely see-through.

  And when she hit the last stair, she ran to him with her arms outstretched. “Reno!” she said excitedly. “I can’t believe it! It’s so good to see you again!”

  She launched her body into his, and threw her arms around him. Although Reno was careful not to be impolite, he nonetheless pulled her slightly back by her arms until she was away from him. “Do we know each other?” he asked.

  “Oh, Reno!” she said with a grin. “Don’t you remember me? I’m Megan!”

  “Megan?” Reno didn’t remember any Megan.

  “Yes! You remember. I used to date Sam when you first met me. I was working at Hooters and he gave me that great job as his personal assistant. Then one thing led to another thing and he made me his wife. Well, sort of. I’m his number one lady, anyway. Surely you remember me!”

  But Reno didn’t. Rouse had so many young ladies hanging around that one began to look like the other one to Reno. They were all pretty. They were all skinny. They were all blonde.

  But if it would get rid of her, he played along anyway. “So you’re his number one now, whatever that means. How are you?”

  “I’m great!” she said. “I’m just so happy to see you again,” she added, and launched herself into his arms again. But this time, she released the sash that held her robe together as she launched, and it flapped open around her, revealing her naked body beneath.

  When Reno realized pure flesh was pushing against his own hard body, with not even that flimsy silk material that had once been the barrier, he pulled back. When he realized her robe was open in the front, he frowned. “What the fuck is wrong with you?” he asked her. “Cover yourself!”

  Reno had a threatening tone to his voice and Megan immediately took offense. No man had ever turned her down. Not ever!

  “You can have some if you want it,” she said, opening the robe wider, rather than closing it.

  “I’m not interested,” Reno said.

  “You aren’t interested?” This chick, Reno realized, was actually hurt by his rejection, and puzzled by it, too. “How can you not be interested? Look at all of this!”

  Reno looked alright, he was a man, after all. But he was wholly unimpressed. Her breasts? Smaller than Trina’s. Her ass? Flat. Her face? Beautiful. Maybe even more beautiful than Trina’s. But it lacked Trina’s style and grace and sophistication. She just looked like a beautiful bimbo to him. He was not interested.

  But before he could tell her, again, to stop making a fool of herself and cover herself, the door to the library opened.

  But just as it did, and just as both she and Reno realized Sam Roustinconti was walking in, Megan slapped Reno, hard, across his face. “What the fuck is wrong with you?” she asked him.

  But she didn’t understand who she was dealing with. Because Reno didn’t care who had walked in. He angrily slapped Megan back, knocking her down. “You’re what’s wrong with me,” he said. “You pull this stupid shit, and then wanna slap me? Fuck you!”

  Megan held her face and began to cry. She looked up at Sam. “You see what he did to me?” she cried.

  “Get lost,” Sam said to her.

  “But you saw what he did to me!”

  “You shouldn’t have tried to come onto him,” Sam responded. “Get lost!”

  Megan frowned, and then stood u
p and ran back up the backstairs, crying for Nelta.

  Sam smiled and shook his head. “The price I have to pay for fooling around with such young women. They think I actually believe they want me for my good looks and charisma, when I know I don’t have either. Ah, it’s a fool’s game.” Then he hurried over to Reno and extended his hand. A big smile plastered on his face. “How are you, son?”

  Reno and Sam did one of those handshake and bump shoulders embrace. Reno really loved the man, and closed his eyes tightly as they embraced. The idea that he could have been behind that school craziness was still painful. But when they stopped embracing, he knew it was his job to pay rapt attention, and to decide with his head, not with his heart.

  “How have you been, Dominic?” Sam asked again. “It’s been too long.”

  “I agree,” Reno said. “And I’ve been very well. How about you?”

  “Aches and pains, what can I say? Let’s sit down.” He placed his hand on Reno’s upper back and escorted him to one of the wingback chairs in the beautiful room. “And excuse Megan,” he added. “She’s always had a thing for you.”

  Reno didn’t even remember her. And he certainly never remembered her having a thing for him. But why would he? She was Sam’s girl, although their age difference was super-wide. But he knew to stay clear.

  He and Sam sat down. “I don’t know why they didn’t just leave you in the living room,” he said. “I rarely come in this room.”

  “I had a feeling you didn’t,” Reno said with a smile.

  “But anyway,” Sam said, smiling too, “I digress. You didn’t come here to chitchat. I know my godson. I knew you when you were just a thought in your parents’ hearts. How can I help you?”

  Reno leaned forward, with his expensive shoes spread apart. “I’m here about the incident.”

  “You mean about that restaurant bombing? I heard your wife had been inside. It’s a miracle she made it out alive.”

  “Yes, it is. But I’m not talking about that incident.”

  Sam looked puzzled. “Then what are you talking about?”

  “Fella name Schizeki says you tried to set my son up.”

  Sam frowned. Reno stared at him hard. “He said that?” Sam asked.

  “You know him?”

  “No. But I don’t know your son, either, since you chose not to introduce me to him. Not to your daughter, either, nor your oldest boy Jimmy Mack. And I heard you and Katrina just had another baby. I’m your godfather. Am I not your godfather?”

  “You’re my godfather.”

  “Then what’s the problem, Dominic? Are your children too good for the mob life?”

  “Yes,” Reno said without hesitation, with an isn’t it obvious look on his face.

  Sam gave up. “Who is this Schizeki?” he asked.

  “He says he borrowed money from your organization.”

  “He may have. I have a huge organization. Not as far-reaching as yours, but I have reach, too.”

  That jealousy showing, Reno thought. “He also says you personally ordered him to set up my son.”

  “Set him up? Set him up how?”

  “By accusing him of terrorism.”

  “Now that is a lie,” Sam said. “Why would I do that to my godson’s son? That makes no sense, Dominic. And why would you even fix your mouth to accuse me of such a thing? It’s like when . . .”

  Reno stared at him. “When what, godfather? When my father died?”

  “Yes! If you have to go there, yes. There were accusations then, too. You were too honorable to even discuss it with me. That’s the kind of young man you were. But now that you’re a big wig, the most powerful man in Vegas, they claim, you come at me anyway you please. That is very disrespectful, Dom. I’m very disappointed in you.”

  Reno heard his words, but more importantly, he looked into his eyes and heard his heart. His gut was telling him that Sam was telling the truth. His gut was telling him that there was no guile in him. “But why would he say it was you?” Reno asked.

  “Because somebody is trying to create a wedge between you and me. They tried it when Paulo died. They’re trying it now.”

  And then it crystallized for Reno. And his heart began to pound. He was so thrown by Schizeki’s allegations that he didn’t think that it could all be a smokescreen. A set up. A classic misdirection.

  Reno jumped to his feet.

  “What is it?” Sam asked, rising too.

  Reno quickly pulled out his cellphone and called his wife. All he could think about was Trina and the kids. But he got no answer. He quickly called Champagne’s, where he knew she and kids should have been by now. But he got no answer there, either. Then he called Vat, the head of Trina’s security detail for today. When he got no answer then, his heart dropped.

  “What’s wrong, Reno?” Sam asked him.

  “I’ve got to get back to Vegas,” Reno said, as he began hurrying for the exit, making another phone call.

  “Do you need my plane?” Sam asked anxiously.

  “I have my own!” Reno replied, and ran out of the door.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  The two female shooters entered Champagne’s as, what Oprah thought, were the store’s first shoppers of the day. They looked around, to make sure of that fact, and then they went toward the counter. Oprah was still working behind the counter. Trina and her children were in the downstairs stock room.

  “Welcome to Champagne’s,” Oprah said jovially as the women walked up. But when they pulled out their guns, her heart dropped, and her smile disappeared.

  “Hands up,” the tallest female said, “and back the fuck up. Get away from the counter.” The woman knew that was where the panic button would be.

  Oprah quickly complied and stepped back from the counter with her hands in the air.

  “Where is she?” the tallest female asked.

  “Where’s who?” Oprah asked nervously.

  “Don’t play with us!” the shorter female yelled. “Where’s Katrina Gabrini?”

  Oprah knew the children were with Trina. There was no way, she felt, she could tell on her. “I don’t know,” she said.

  The woman leaned over and pointed the gun directly at Oprah’s pretty face. “I’m going to ask you one more time. Where is Katrina Gabrini?”

  But Oprah would not relent. “I swear to you, I don’t know!”

  The taller woman motioned for the shorter one to go search upstairs. As the shorter woman headed upstairs, the taller woman went behind the counter, grabbed Oprah by her hair and held her in front of her like a human shield. Then she began searching downstairs. But she warned Oprah: “one word,” she said, “and you’re dead.”

  Oprah understood what the woman meant. The woman, after all, had a gun pressed against the side of Oprah’s cheek. She wasn’t about to say a word.

  But when the tall woman made her way toward the door that led to the downstairs stock room, Oprah’s heart dropped. All she could think about was Trina and those two defenseless children. And she couldn’t keep silent. She couldn’t allow this mad woman to open that door and gun them all down.

  “Run Trina!” she yelled from the top of her voice. “She has a gun! Run for your life!”

  The tall woman didn’t hesitate. As soon as Oprah warned Trina, she pulled the trigger of the gun that still contained a silencer, and fired. The bullet ripped through the side of Oprah’s face, shattering her cheekbone, and Oprah slumped, and then dropped to the floor.

  Inside the downstairs stock room, Trina and her children heard Oprah’s distressing cries for them to run. Dommi quickly ran and locked the door while his mother ran to a desk drawer in a corner, pressed the code, and opened the drawer. As soon she pulled out a loaded revolver, the door was kicked open and the tall woman appeared with her gun drawn, and positioned to fire.

  But Trina fired first. She leaned against the desk and shot the woman three times in her chest. Reno always taught her that when she shot a nemesis, she’d better shoot to kill, not to
wound. Trina shot to kill and the tall woman dropped dead.

  Dommi saw Miss Oprah lying just outside of the stock room door, in a pool of her own blood, and was about to scream. But then he saw the shorter woman running down the stairs and toward the stock room. And she had a gun in her hand, too. “There’s another one, Ma!” he yelled.

  “Back door,” Trina whispered nervously, and Dommi grabbed his sister by the hand and hurried toward the back exit.

  Trina wanted to close the stock room door, but the dead woman was blocking it, so she tried to make a run for it, too. But as soon as she was about to hurry toward the back exit, to follow her children, the second woman started firing into the stock room. Trina dropped down on her butt, for cover, and began firing back. The woman took cover and a gun battle ensued. But just as Trina’s gun was emptying, the woman pulled out a second gun, and her fire power became overwhelming. Reno also taught Trina to bail when she felt the odds were stacked against her. The goal was survival, not winning the gun fight.

  She bailed. She ran behind her children out of the back-side door as she could hear the running footsteps of the woman pursuing them.

  But as soon as Trina could catch up with her children, the shorter woman ran outside and ordered them to stop. “Stop or you’re dead!” she yelled. “Stop or you’re dead!”

  Trina and her children stopped in their tracks. Trina’s heart was hammering. It wasn’t just that her life was in danger, but that her children’s lives were as well. She knew she had to act. She knew she could not allow this mad woman, whoever she was, to harm her kids.

  “Turn around,” the woman ordered.

  Trina, Dommi, and Sophie all turned toward the female shooter. But Trina had another trick up her sleeve, because Reno had also taught her another lesson. “Before you make a run for it,” he told her, “make sure you keep one last bullet in that gun. Just in case.”

  Trina had that one last bullet in the chamber of her gun, just in case, and fired it as she turned around, and before the woman could order her to drop her weapon. And her shot was precise: it hit the woman in the chest. The woman fell straight back, and her guns fell further back behind her.