“I’m not fucking with you. I was just kidding, Reno, goodness. Can’t you enjoy a good laugh? It bought me more time. But for real. Your son is in the green Malibu. I promise.”
Reno and his men hurried to the green Malibu. “If you’re kidding this time, Palameri, your wife is dead. You hear me?”
“I’m not kidding, Reno. He’s in the green one.”
Reno and his men cautiously approached the green car. But when they peeped inside, they saw what appeared to be a partial shoe beneath a blanket on the backseat. Somebody was indeed in the car.
“It could be a trap, boss,” Debrosiac said.
“You think I don’t know that?” Reno responded with irritation in his voice. “What you want me to do? Get some bomb-sniffing dogs out here first?” Then Reno ordered his men to stay back.
Jannick and Debrosiac did hang back while Reno braced himself and then quickly opened the backseat door. Reno then threw himself away from the car in case of an explosion, but no explosion occurred. No bomb went off this time.
Reno and his men pulled out their weapons and hurried to the car’s backseat and threw off the blanket. But they didn’t find Dommi in that backseat, but a full-grown man, bound and gagged. Reno couldn’t believe it. He flung the tape from the man’s mouth. He looked like some homeless bum. “Where’s my son?” he asked him.
“Who are you?” the man asked.
“Who the hell are you?” Reno asked.
“I’m the delivery man.”
Reno frowned. “The what?”
“The drop man. I dropped off the cargo.”
“What cargo?”
The man hesitated. Reno grabbed him and slung him out of the car. His feet and hands were bound, so he fell. “What cargo?” Reno asked again.
“Some boy,” the man cried. “I don’t know who. A little black looking mix looking boy. I was just doing what I was told. I made the delivery.”
“To who? Who accepted the delivery?”
“I don’t know who! I didn’t see anybody’s face! I just dropped the boy off.”
“Where did you drop him off?” Reno asked.
“Here,” the man said. “I was told to bring him here and put him in this car and leave.”
“This car?” Reno asked, pointing at the green Malibu.
“Yes, sir. I put him in there and got back in my van and left. Another car was driving up when I was driving off.”
“Did you see who was in that car?”
“No, sir. I drove off and went back to the office.”
“What office?” Debrosiac asked.
“Palameri Signs,” the man said. “I work there.”
Debrosiac looked at Reno.
“You work there?” Reno asked. “You work for Palameri?”
“Yes, sir. He’s the one who told me to bring the boy here. But mostly I just deliver signs. But a couple hours ago, I was told to come here, and make the drop. He told me I was a middle man. I was the drop off man. Then, after I got back to the office, the next thing I know they were tying me up, putting me in my delivery van, and they brought me back here. They put me in this car. I don’t know what’s going on. I declare I don’t!”
“Describe the car that drove up after you dropped the boy off,” Reno asked. “What kind of car was it?”
“It was a limousine,” the man said. “A black limousine.”
“How long ago did you drop my boy off?”
“A couple hours ago. Like I said. But I didn’t know he was yours.”
Jannick looked at Reno. “Palameri must have got him to bring Dommi here as soon as we left his office.”
“Where was the boy?” Reno asked. “Where did you pick him up from?”
“He was at the office,” the man said. “At Palameri Signs. Down in the basement.”
Reno couldn’t believe it. He spoke into his cell phone. “Palameri!” he yelled. No response. “Palameri!”
“Yes, Reno? I heard the conversation. Fascinating stuff.”
“What the fuck are you doing? Where’s my son?”
“Long gone by now, Reno. Just as I’m long gone by now.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I sold him, Reno. To the highest bidder. I got paid by them, I got paid by you. I got paid coming and going.”
Reno was livid. “You’re dead, Palameri! Your family is dead!”
“You’re have to catch me to kill me,” Palameri said. “And you aren’t catching me. As for my wife? I was going to leave that bitch behind anyway. You can have her.” He laughed. “I got you good, Reno. I wasn’t good enough for you, now I’m better than you. I sold your son, I took your money, and you have a woman I wanted dead years ago. I got you good!”
And Palameri continued to laugh as he killed the call.
Reno just stood there, as one car burned and the other car sat idly by, the delivery man as confused and scared as Reno himself.
But he participated. He drove the truck. He took a child, regardless of whose that child was, and left him in this hellish place. Reno wasn’t that far gone. He pulled his weapon and put a bullet in the delivery man’s skull.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Jimmy and Buddy stood at the foot of Val’s bed and watched her sleep. The surgeon was pleased, and if she had no infections or other setbacks, he was hopeful of a full recovery. But it was still hard.
“She’s going to make it,” Buddy said. “No setbacks. We have to believe that.”
“I wish I knew who did this to her,” Jimmy said. “I’d love to get that asshole in a room.”
“Thank God she’s okay, Jimmy,” Buddy responded. “Leave that kind of thing to your father. That’s not for you.”
“That’s what you think,” Jimmy said boldly. “When I find him, and finish with him, he’s not going to think that way either.”
Buddy looked at Jimmy. He sounded serious. “I don’t like to hear you talking like that, Jimmy Mack.”
“They tried to kill, Val,” Jimmy said. “They tried to kill my wife.” He looked at Buddy. “How do you expect me to talk? I’m going to kill those motherfuckers when I find them. Bet that.”
Buddy stared at Jimmy as if he was looking at him for the first time. Then he exhaled. “I’m going to go home and shower and change. I’ll be back. See that you keep that gutter talk away from me and my daughter,” he added. Then he left.
A few moments later, the nurse came in and told Jimmy visiting was over.
Jimmy stared at Val a little longer, his heart still shattered by the pain she had to endure, and then he left.
Reno’s men surrounded him as he walked the hospital corridors that led back to the private waiting room where he and his family had been holed up since last night. Security was heavy surrounding that room, too, and Jimmy felt as if he shouldn’t be here; that he should be with Reno taking care of the bad guys. But Reno always muzzled him. Always made him stay back to watch the women and the children. He was getting tired of it.
“Any word from Dad?” he asked Trina as soon as he walked into the waiting room.
“Nothing,” Trina said. “Not one word.”
Sophie was asleep on the bench across the room. Jimmy went and sat beside Trina.
“Where’s Buddy?” Trina asked him.
“He’s going home to shower and change. He’ll be back.”
“Yeah, that’s where I’m headed too. You should come with me, Jimmy. The doctor said it could be hours and hours before Val wakes up.”
“I know, Mom. But I’m staying here.” Then he exhaled. “I don’t understand why Dad hasn’t called.”
But Trina understood it. “Because he’s handling his business. He doesn’t have time to be calling us.” Then Trina exhaled. “I can’t even think straight. I’m going home.”
Later that evening, Reno sat in the middle of his sofa at his Vegas estate and ran both of his hands down his long, weary face. Trina sat across from him, on a twin sofa, staring at him. It was late afternoon, and Reno had just
made it back. And they both were traumatized.
“What about the two men that had come to see you with Palameri?” Trina asked.
“I went to see them too. I hunted them down like dogs. Parks and Balentino both. But they didn’t know shit either. I tore up this town, Tree, looking for Dommi.”
“What about Provensano?”
“My men are searching for him now. He’s Mafia, so it’s not easy. But he knows I’m looking for him. He knows I’m ready to make a deal.”
The living room intercom buzzed. Reno leaned over and pressed the button. “What is it, Kyle?”
“A limousine is driving up, boss,” Kyle said.
Reno frowned. “I’m coming down,” he said, and stood up. “You wait here,” he said to Trina, as he hurried out of the front door.
The stretch limousine was parked outside of the estate, in front of the security gate. Reno kept the men on guard at the main house, to protect Trina and Sophia, and jogged all the way down his lawn to the gate. When the gate opened, Reno relaxed. Although his men at the gate had their weapons drawn on the visitor, Reno didn’t see the danger. It was Mick Sinatra, leaned against the limo, in his long white coat and black suit.
“What are you doing here?” Reno asked him.
“I heard you were looking for somebody,” Mick said, opened his car door, and little Dommi stepped out.
Reno nearly died with joy. He couldn’t believe his eyes. He ran to his son, his son ran to him, and he lifted him off the ground and wrapped him in his arms. Even his men were in tears. Reno looked at Mick. “How did you?”
“Your friend Palameri sold him to Provensano’s people,” Mick said. “I got wind of it through my people, who also happens to be some of Provensano’s people, although, of course, Provensano doesn’t know that.”
“And Provensano sold him to you?” Reno asked.
“Sold my ass,” Mick said. “After being persuaded by the other families that a war with me and you was not the kind of battle they wished to engage in, and after some threats of my own, he gave the little kido to me.”
“Thank God,” Reno said, with tears in his eyes, still smothering his son with love. “Thank God!”
Then he thought about Trina. “Let him through,” Reno said to his men regarding Mick, as he turned to run back toward the main house, with Dommi in his arms.
Trina was still in the living room, looking out of the window, praying that there was news about Dommi and no more trouble. Because even though Reno felt they were too far away, she was going to call Tommy and Sal. They could at least deploy their men, and be on their way. Reno said this would end today. He was so certain he would find Dommi today. But they had no prospects. They were shooting in the dark. They needed help.
But when she saw Reno emerge from the other side of the gate, and saw that he was running with a child in his arms, their child, she ran too.
Trina ran out of her house so fast that she took the guards by surprise. And even they couldn’t keep up.
“Dommi,” she was saying as she ran. “Dommi!”
And when Dommi saw his mother running to him, and heard her voice, he pushed away from his father. “Let me down,” he said. “You’re too slow!”
Reno gladly stopped and sat his son down, because he was so drained he was probably running in slow motion. And Dommi took off. He was in Trina’s arms in no time flat. And Trina swooped him up and held him, and cried and thanked the Lord as she did.
Mick walked up behind Reno, and Reno turned to him and shook his hand. “I owe you everything, partner,” he said to Mick as they shook. “And I mean that. Whatever business venture you want me to venture into with you, count me in.”
Mick appreciated that. “I was hoping you’d say that,” he said with a smile. “But remember you saved my life that time. Most would say it’s not an even swap. My life isn’t worth it to most. But we’re even in my eyes. I’m happy too.”
Then Reno was about to hug him, he was so joyful, but Mick backed away. “I’m not that happy,” he said.
Reno laughed.
“I’ve got to run,” Mick said. “Oh,” he suddenly thought of something. “I had to make one concession in exchange for your boy.”
“I can’t go after Provensano?” Reno asked.
“That’s right,” Mick said firmly. “I gave my word on that. You go after him, I’ll have to go after you. The only reason he snatched your son was because Palameri told him you were about to go to war with him. Palameri lied on you. It’s his ass you need to find.”
Reno agreed. “Don’t worry,” he said. “I’ll find him. If it’s the last thing I do, I’ll find him. I took out his wife already. He claimed he didn’t give shit about her, as if that would stop me from handling my business. And no matter where he thinks he’s gone, I’m going to find him.”
“Who’s running those sorry-ass companies of his? That sign company and all of that shit?”
“I’ll find out. And if I find any of his men, their asses are mine too.”
Mick patted Reno on the back, which was his way of showing affection. “I’ve got places to be,” he said with a smile. “Goodbye, Reno.”
They shook hands. “Thanks again, Mick. You’re a good man.”
“No, I’m not,” Mick made clear. “And don’t delude yourself into thinking I am. I get your boy back, you go into business with me. It’s all about mutual benefit with me. It don’t have shit to do with being good.”
Reno smiled, and Mick headed back toward the gate, his long coat flowing around him as he walked.
Reno then made his way up to Dommi and Trina. He expected her to ask about Mick, and how it all went down, but she didn’t. She was too busy holding and loving Dommi. Reno placed his arms around them both.
“Where’s my sister?” Dommi asked Reno. “Did they hurt, Sophie, Daddy?”
“No,” Reno said happily. “No, son. They didn’t hurt Sophie.”
“I want to see her,” Dommi said, trying to wiggle out of his mother’s arms. “I need to see her for myself!”
But Trina and Reno weren’t about to let Dommi go. They carried him into the house. But as soon as he got inside, and Trina sat him down, he took off running to find his sister.
He found her in the playroom with Miss Tucker, their nanny. And by the time Reno and Trina made it into the playroom, Dommi had his sister on the floor, hugging her and kissing her.
“Quit!” Sophia was saying as she tried her best to break free of her obnoxious brother. “Mommy, tell him to quit! Daddy, make him quit!” She was wiping his kisses from her cheek with the back of her hand. “He’s so bad!”
But Reno and Trina, and even Miss Tucker were too happy, too thrilled and grateful, to have their “bad” little boy back home. Because, right now, he wasn’t bad in the least to any of them.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Three Weeks Later
Buddy Wellstone flipped steaks on one grill, and ribs and chicken on the other grill as he and Reno drank beer and talked, and Dommi and Sophie ran around the small backyard as if they were having the time of their lives.
“I thought you were supposed to help,” Buddy said as he grilled.
“I am helping,” Reno said, as he stood beside Buddy on the patio of Jimmy and Val’s small Vegas home. “I’m watching the kids.”
Buddy laughed. “I mean help me cook, you know what I mean.”
“Cook? Me? You got the wrong one, Buddy.” Buddy laughed. “I haven’t cooked since 1989. And everybody who ate whatever it was I cooked were rushed to the hospital.”
Buddy laughed, took a swig of his can of beer that sat on the grill stand, and continued to tend to his meat.
“I’m just thrilled we’re going to get some real food,” Reno said. “Val and Jimmy eat like birds.”
“Especially Val,” Buddy said. “I specifically asked her what did she want for her return meal, thinking she was going to say, ‘oh, Daddy, you know what I like. Salad, salad, and more salad. But oh, no. Not my ba
by girl. She said she wanted ribs, and chicken, and steaks, and I’m like, damn! You’re talking my language now!”
“I know that’s right!” Reno said. “Salad. I don’t even like that sound of that name.”
“I’m glad you were able to come, Reno,” Buddy said.
“I don’t know how glad Val will be. She get so stiff every time I’m around.”
“Ah, she’s just afraid of you,” Buddy said as if it was no big deal.
“What is she scared of?” Reno asked. “I’m not going to harm her.”
“It’s not that. You’re just an in-your-face kind of guy, Reno. She’s not used to that. Don’t take it personally?”
“Well I can’t take it as a group. I have to take it personally.” Then Sophie cried out after falling on her butt again, and Reno moved from around the grill and pointed his finger at Dommi. “You pull that shit one more time boy and I’m going to kick your ass, you understand me?”
“What did I do?” Dommi played dumb.
But Sophia didn’t. “He pushed me,” she said.
“Push her down again,” Reno warned him.
But Dommi had his own take on events. “This backyard so tiny, Daddy,” he said, “it’s like running around in a room!”
“Push her down again,” Reno repeated, “and I’ll run you around a room alright. I’ll run you around real good. You want that?”
Dommi shook his head. “No, sir.” Then he helped his baby sister up. “I wish it was like before,” he said. “That’s what I want.”
Buddy looked at him. “You wish what was like before?”
“I wish it was like it was after I got back from the kidnapping place.”
Buddy began grinning.
“I got anything I wanted,” Dommi said. “I got away with anything I wanted.”
“So what are you saying, boy?” Reno asked. “You want to be kidnapped again? Because I can arrange it.”
Dommi smiled and began shaking his head. “Never, never, never ever again,” he said.
Buddy laughed. Reno smiled too. “That’s more like it. Now stop living in the past and treat your sister right.”
Reno and Trina: In the Shadows of Love, Book 12 Page 14