“No, it couldn’t,” Reno agreed. “And whether you agree with it or not, it couldn’t be you. It couldn’t. You’ve got to raise our son.”
Trina nodded. She understood better now.
“And I finally realized after I took care of Tufarna,” Reno said, “that it couldn’t be me, either.”
Trina looked at him. “It couldn’t?”
“No, Tree, it couldn’t. I’ve got to protect you and Jimmy and Dominic, and I can’t trust anybody to do that. Nobody’s going to protect my family the way I will. Nobody.”
Trina’s heart wanted to soar.
“So I put away all thoughts of suicide and drove myself back here, to Seattle. To my family.” He looked at Trina. “And we’re going to make it, Tree. We’re going to raise our children and we’re going to make it.”
“And the PaLargio? Will we rebuild, Reno?”
Reno looked at her. He needed to hear what she had to say more than he needed to let her know how he felt about it. He needed to know if she would understand. “What do you think?” he asked her.
Trina thought about this. “I think it’s our home,” she finally said. “And we’d be some sorry-ass parents if we’re too scared to raise our children in their own home.”
Reno stared at her. Then he smiled and pulled her in his arms. “That’s why I love you so much, Trina,” he said. “You think like I think.”
She looked up at him. “So we will rebuild?”
“Damn straight,” he said. “Jimmy told me today that our enemies would win if we didn’t. And you know me, Tree. I hate to lose.”
Trina hit him playfully. Then she turned serious again. “It’s amazing nobody lost their lives from that explosion. Many people were hurt, but I’m so grateful nobody died. So I absolutely want to go back. It’s still our home.”
“Yes,” Reno agreed. “It’ll always be ours.”
They stood there longer, talking small talk, thanking God that Jimmy was progressing so well. Then they made their way out back, to Tommy and Grace. Reno smiled at Dominic and hoisted him into his arms.
Tommy looked at them. “It’s over?” he asked them.
“The nightmare, yes,” Trina said with a nod. “It has to be. But the dream is just beginning.”
Tommy understood without hesitation. “That’s wonderful to hear,” he said. “Now maybe Grace and I can get on with our wedding plans.”
Trina looked at Grace. “Yes?” she asked hopefully.
Grace nodded her head. “Oh, yes,” she said, and Trina hurried to her and hugged her in a tight bear hug.
Reno and Tommy stared at each other as their ladies embraced. Because they both knew Trina was right. The nightmare, for all of them, was over. But the dream was just beginning.
It had to be.
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MOB BOSS 6: THE HEART OF RENO GABRINI (Mob Boss Series) Page 17