Sal Gabrini: Love And War

by Mallory Monroe

  “He could have been bluffing,” Tommy said as they made their way to Robby’s condo.

  Reno nodded. “Maybe,” he said.

  “Or it could have been the truth,” Tommy also acknowledged.

  Reno nodded on that one too. “That’s what I’m afraid of. And I don’t care how much Sal hates that we’re checking it out, we have an obligation to him. He’s got a big heart. Too big, if you ask me. Sometimes we have to protect him from himself.”

  Tommy agreed, as he knocked on Robby’s door.

  Robby answered quickly, which they liked, and did not hesitate in letting them in. His heart was pounding when he closed the door and was now face to face with two of the most powerful men he’d ever known. Both were dressed in their designer suits. Both looked like Fortune 500 titans of industry. And both, he knew, were ruthless sons-of-bitches who had thug deep inside of them. And they both were very protective of Sal. They would have no problem whatsoever shedding that businessman image, Robby knew, if they believed he was in any way out of line. “Everything okay with Fast Eddie?” he asked them.

  “They’re still interrogating,” Tommy said. “No breakthroughs yet.”

  “Oh, okay,” Robby replied. “Then what can I help you gentlemen with?”

  Reno got to the point. “Why did Fast claim you were his inside man?” he asked him.

  Robby relaxed. He could handle those kinds of questions all day long. “Because he’s an asshole trying to pit Sal against me.”

  “Yeah, but why?” Reno asked.

  Robby shook his head. “I don’t know, Mr. G. You’ll have to ask him that.”

  “Gemma said you were getting a lot of texts while you guys were down in that safe room. Who from?” Reno asked.

  Robby stared at Reno. “I don’t know what you’re implying,” he said.

  “You don’t, do you?” Reno asked as he began moving around. Robby’s heart was hammering, as his eyes followed Reno’s every move.

  And then Reno did what Robby suspected he was going to do and grabbed Robby from behind.

  “What are you doing?” Robby asked nervously as Reno pulled his arms back and held him defensively in front of Tommy. Reno then removed Robby’s cell phone from his hand and tossed it to Tommy. “Check that bitch out,” he said. “See just what texts he was getting yesterday when he was in that safe room.”

  Tommy took the cell phone and began thumbing through the text messages.

  “You may have snowed Sal,” Reno said to Robby, “but we don’t know you like that.”

  Robby’s heart was breaking. “I thought you did know me, Mr. Gabrini. I thought we were cool.”

  “We are cool,” Reno said. “But this is business. Nobody’s getting over on my cousin, you understand? Not even you. Sal may love you like a brother, and may very well have reason to, but I’m not Sal. I don’t know you like that. Nothing personal, but when you work for one of us we’re gonna hold your feet to the fire. Nobody’s getting over on any of us.”

  Robby knew this was the end of the road for him. Tommy had found the messages, all of which were from Curtis having a hissy fit about their relationship issues, and his goose was about to be cooked. He could even see Tommy’s eyebrows lift, as he read those texts.

  Robby had never seen a more beautiful man than Tommy Gabrini, and of all the Gabrinis he seemed to be the nicest. But even he was just as ruthless a bastard as the rest of them were. They called him Dapper Tom, and he lived up to that name. But they called him Backdoor Tommy, too. And, Robby felt, he lived up to that name even more.

  But then Tommy tossed the phone onto the sofa. Reno watched him toss the phone, then looked at him. “What did it say?” Reno asked him.

  “Nothing. Release him,” Tommy ordered.

  Reno released his grip on Robby, but continued to look at Tommy. Robby was looking at Tommy too. “What do you mean nothing?” Reno asked. “Gemma said he was getting texts like a motherfuck.”

  “He was getting texts, alright, but it was all personal shit. He wasn’t getting any texts from anybody related to anything we need to know about.” And then Tommy began leaving. “Let’s go,” he said.

  Reno was a little surprised. He was halfway expecting a smoking gun. He looked at Robby. “We would say we’re sorry for suspecting you, but we aren’t. We expect you, as Sal’s number two, to stay on your toes at all times. If you have a suspicion, you check it out. I don’t care whose feathers you ruffle. Understand me?”

  Robby nodded. He was so relieved he wanted to dance. “Yes, sir,” he said. But then he realized a Gabrini knew his secret, and his heart grew faint again. “You think Boss needs me over at one of the safe houses?” he asked Tommy specifically.

  Tommy looked at him. He looked him up and down the way he usually did. “Get your rest. He’ll call you if he needs you.”

  “Yes, sir,” he said, and Tommy and Reno left.

  Robby expected Tommy to glance back at him, to show his disgust, but he didn’t. He just walked out the door. Robby didn’t know if it was a reprieve, which meant Tommy would run and tell Sal and the ending would still come, but it would just come later, or full vindication. Either way, it was a bullet dodged and Robby, mob muscle from way back, knew it. He collapsed on the couch and then took his phone and threw it across the room. He had been careless. It could have been his boss reading those sexy, personal, nasty texts.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  Cab Coleman came outside of the safe house when the SUV drove up. He walked over to the front passenger side and the window was pressed down. Sal was on the front passenger seat, with Reno and Tommy seated behind him. Cab spoke to them all.

  “What’s the read for today?” Sal asked him.

  “We did it all, Boss,” Cab said, “but he still won’t talk.”

  “Nothing at all?”

  “He says he wants to see his kids. He says he wants to see Yvonne. He’s saying a lot of things, just nothing we wanna hear.”

  “Did he say he would talk if he saw Yvonne?” Sal asked.

  “It was bullshit in the end,” Cab said. “I had our guys bring Yvonne up from the basement and show his ass. He saw that she was okay, and she told him their kids were okay.”

  “And?” Sal asked.

  “He still didn’t talk. I sent her back downstairs to the basement, we tortured his ass even more, and he still wouldn’t talk.”

  “Is he at least still claiming Easy Max was behind those hits?” Reno asked.

  Cab shook his head. “He’s not claiming anything anymore. He’s completely shut down.”

  Sal knew there was no other way. He got out of the SUV, and Reno and Tommy got out, too. Sal looked at Cab. “Bring it to me,” he said, as he buttoned his suit coat.

  Cab nodded and headed for another SUV parked in the driveway of the isolated house in the woods. The Gabrinis walked into the house.

  Fast Eddie Bronson was seated in a chair in the unfurnished home. It was used primarily as Sal’s torture chamber whenever he had a particularly difficult prisoner, but even Fast seemed to have surpassed all others. Most men would have given in by now.

  But Fast wasn’t most men. He had been badly tortured. His face, his naked body, his terrified eyes showed the torture. But he still wouldn’t give up that final piece of the puzzle. The where. Where was Easy Max Capone?

  It could be that Fast turned out to be the who, but Sal doubted it. Fast would not have said another man did it, if the credit belonged to him. Especially since he was smart enough to know that he was doomed either way.

  Sal pulled up a chair and sat in front of Fast. Fast was so badly beaten, and was in so much pain, that his eyes looked glazed over. Reno and Tommy stood behind Sal’s chair, as further reminder to Fast of just how numbered his moments on earth really were.

  “Where’s Capone?” Sal asked him.

  Fast said nothing. He just stared at him.

  Sal decided against asking him again. He was certain he’d been asked a thousand times by Cab and hi
s crew. His actions would have to speak for him.

  And when Cab came back into the house with what Fast recognized as a branding iron from the farm he lived on, Sal could see a slight animation in his eyes. But nothing to signify a change in perspective.

  The branding iron was hot and ready by the time Cab handed it to Sal. Sal stood up. Fast expected Sal to ask if he was sure he still had nothing to say, or something along those lines. But Sal didn’t ask him anything. Sal, instead, took that fire-hot, iron rod and placed it onto Fast’s bare stomach, branding him the way cattle was branded. Fast screamed in unbearable agony as the heat seared his skin.

  “Where’s Capone?” Sal asked him.

  But Fast was still screaming in pain.

  Sal took that same branding iron and this time placed it over Fast’s right eye. Even Reno and Tommy had to turn their heads as Fast screamed with such a scream that he looked as if he was levitating out of his seat. Cab slammed him back down in his seat.

  “I’ll tell you,” Fast said. “I’ll tell you!”

  Reno and Tommy relaxed. Sal, too, began to relax the branding iron and remove it away from Fast’s face. But as soon as Sal relaxed the iron, Fast, to their shock, grabbed the iron and quickly tried to turn it onto Sal’s face. “I’m no fucking snitch!” Fast cried.

  Cab, Reno, and Tommy pulled out their guns, but they all knew to wait. No boss wanted help if he didn’t need it. They all knew Sal, and knew he didn’t need it.

  But it was a close call. Fast turned that iron within an inch of Sal’s face, nearly branding him. But Sal’s herculean strength was too much, and he turned it back onto Fast’s face. And Sal’s anger was unleashed now. This fucker had the nerve to pull this shit? Sal branded Fast’s face with a brand that he would not release. Fast lost his grip as the pain, and his screams, and his bubbling, peeling skin overwhelmed him. Fast lost his grip as the skin of his entire face began to peel from the heat. But Sal would not relent. He held that iron onto Fast Eddie’s face until it was over. Until Fast Eddie Bronson was dead.

  Sal stood erect, and angrily tossed the branding iron aside. Because he knew a profound truth that wasn’t a help to them at all. Because he knew, like Reno and Tommy and Cab Coleman knew, too, that wherever Easy Max Capone could be found, Fast decided to take that knowledge to his grave.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  The drive back to Sal’s estate was a quiet one. There were no words that could be said. It was a failed mission, as far as Sal was concerned. He had no choice but to take out their only lead, but now they had nothing. Just a name. He had every man available, and Reno and Tommy had their men on it too, but nobody had anything to report. They all felt as if they were pissing in a river.

  It wasn’t until they were entering the gates of Sal’s estate and their SUV was heading toward the front entrance, did anybody speak at all. It was Sal. But oddly enough, it wasn’t about Fast Eddie.

  “You visited Robby today,” Sal said.

  There was first a hesitation, then Reno spoke up. “That’s right,” he said.

  “Why?”

  “You know why. And I’m sure he told you.”

  “What are you talking?” Sal asked. “Of course he told me. He also told me you found nothing on him.” Sal hesitated. “That true?” he asked.

  Reno looked at Tommy. He still believed Tommy wasn’t telling the whole story of those texts he read.

  “It’s true,” Tommy said.

  Sal nodded, and, as the SUV came to a halt, began getting out. “I could have told you that myself,” he said.

  They all piled out and went into the house. “Daddy!” Lucky said as he broke away from his nanny and went running up to Sal.

  Sal lifted him up and into his arms. “There’s my baby,” Sal said and kissed him. Reno and Tommy spoke and tickled Lucky, too.

  “Where’s Mommy?” Sal asked Lucky.

  “In there,” Lucky said, pointing at a wall. Sal looked at Nanny.

  “She’s in her office, sir,” the nanny said.

  Sal sat Lucky down. He began to cry and reach for Sal. But Sal bent down to him. “What did I tell you about that noise? You’re a big boy, you don’t need people picking you up all the time. You can walk.”

  “I’m a big boy,” Lucky said between his tears.

  Sal smiled a sad smile. He hated with a passionate hate that his son had to endure the Gabrini life. But because of that very fact, he knew he had to toughen him up early. Real early. “Yes,” he said. “You’re a big boy. You have no time for tears.” Then he ruffled his curly hair, and stood up.

  “Come on, Luciano,” his nanny said. “Let’s go get you something to eat.”

  Lucky went reluctantly with his nanny, but kept looking back at his dad. Sal wanted to run to him, and hold him, but he didn’t. Luck was in that whiny state, a state that was perfectly normal for babies. But Lucky Luciano Gabrini was not going to be a normal person. He was a Gabrini. He had to start acting like it even now.

  “What a sweet kid,” Tommy said.

  “Too sweet,” Sal said. “I’ve got my work cut out for me.”

  “I’ll trade you Dommi for him,” Reno said, and all three men managed to laugh.

  Gemma and Tyler, her campaign manager, entered the foyer just as the laughter began to ebb. “What’s so funny?” she asked them.

  Sal was happy to see her pretty face again, and wanted to go to her and show his affection, but this wasn’t the time. They both knew that. “Some joke Reno told,” he said, instead.

  “Well, anyway,” Tyler said, “I’d better get going, Gem. But please remember what I said. We need to set that launch date.”

  “I know,” Gemma said. “And we will.”

  “And you need to work on your speech. Polls show that the public doesn’t think the D.A.’s office is in disrepair. That’s a problem for us.”

  Gemma agreed. “A big problem.”

  “You cannot seem out of touch. We can’t let the voters think you’re the only person who sees the problems coming out of that D.A.’s office or they’ll smell a rat and declare you’re up to something. You can’t be the only one who sees the problems. You just can’t.”

  “Stop worrying, Ty,” Gemma urged him. “I’ll work on my speech. I’ll set the launch date. I’ll work it out.”

  Tyler exhaled. Then smiled. “Alrighty then,” he said. Said goodbye to the assembled men. And then left the home.

  “What a nervous nelly,” Reno said.

  “But a smart, strategic nervous nelly,” Gemma said with a smile, prompting Sal to smile too. He placed her hand on his bended arm and they walked further into the home. Gemma and Reno were bantering about, and Tommy was grinning at their banter, but then Sal suddenly stopped in his tracks. Reno bumped into him.

  “What’s your problem, boy?” Reno asked irritably.

  But Sal was in another place. Tommy and Gemma saw it right away. “What is it, Sal?” Tommy asked him.

  “He was the only one,” Sal said, a faraway look in his eyes.

  Reno frowned. “Who was the only one?”

  Sal looked at Reno. “You never heard of him and your old man was a mob boss.”

  “So?” Reno asked. “What are you talking about?”

  Sal looked at Tommy. “You never heard of him, either, and you’re well-connected, too.”

  “Never heard of whom?” Tommy asked.

  “I never heard of him,” Sal continued, “and I know every fucking body!”

  “Sal!” Reno yelled. “Who are you talking about?”

  “Capone,” Sal said. “Easy Max Capone. It came to me when Tyler said Gem can’t be the only one who believes there are problems in the D.A.’s office, or whatever he was talking about. But he said she can’t be the only one.”

  “What are you saying, Sal?” Gemma asked him.

  “He was the only one,” Sal said.

  “Easy Max Capone?” Tommy asked.

  “My underboss. He was the only one.”

  “So, you�
��re admitting you actually have an underboss?” Reno asked. “I’m shocked!”

  “Which one?” Tommy asked. “Frank?”

  “Vinnie Vazzano,” Sal said.

  “Machine Gun?” Reno asked. “I know Machine Gun Vazzano. He works for you? Motherfuck!”

  “I even called Uncle Mick,” Sal said. “I even asked him if he’d ever heard of Easy Max Capone. And even Mick the Tick Sinatra had never heard of him. But Vinnie was the only one who’d ever heard of Easy Max,” Sal said. “Baltimore knew him, but Baltimore’s dead now. But I’m willing to bet . . .” Sal’s eyebrows lifted, as if he’d discovered the missing piece of that puzzle. He looked at Gemma. “I’ve got to make a run,” he said.

  Gemma nodded. Her face was a mask of concern. But she knew, if they ever were going to be able to return to their normal life, he had to resolve this crisis. “Okay,” she said.

  Sal looked at Tommy. “I need you to stay with my family. I don’t know how deep this shit runs.”

  “I got them,” Tommy said, certain that Sal was this close to resolution. “Go!”

  And Sal and Reno took off. It wasn’t lost on Gemma nor Tommy that Sal didn’t even have to ask Reno to go with him, or explain where he was going. Reno just went.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  The elevator took too long, and Robby was too anxious. Sal at his complex, all of a sudden? His boss there to see him? What was that about? Had Dapper Tom told on him? Robby was so anxious to find out, he took the stairs.

  When he made it downstairs, through the lobby, and out of the front double-doors, he saw the Bugatti. This was the moment of truth, he felt, as he slowly made his way across the parking lot to the car illegal parked across two spaces. He was tough. If Sal wanted to give him grief, or even fire him, he could take it. That wasn’t what was driving him nuts. It was the shame of it all, the fact that his fellow wise guys would find out and take him for some patsy, that worried him the most.

  The passenger side window pressed down when he made it up to the car. To his surprise, Sal was seated in the passenger seat, and Reno Gabrini was driving. Of all the Gabrinis Reno, Robby felt, was the meanest. Of all the Gabrinis, Reno was his least favorite.