Sal was right. Reno was on pins and needles.
They all piled into the same SUV, with Reno riding up front with his security/driver, and Sal and Gemma in the back. “I thought you’d be over at the PaLargio with the children,” Reno said to Gemma.
“Until I’m certain they’re not targeting her too,” Sal responded, “she stays with me.”
“We thought about getting the kids and bringing them to the hospital with us,” Gemma said.
But Reno was already shaking his head. “They’re safer right where they are. I have them in a safe room that can’t be penetrated, and Trina’s parents were just a couple hours away at a church convention in Barstow, so they were able to get here in no time. They’re with them now.”
Gemma nodded. “That’s what Jimmy told us,” she said. “I wasn’t sure what you wanted to do.”
“They’re safe. Tree’s parents are old, but they’ll give their lives for their grandkids. And, on top of that, they’re all in the safe room.”
“I didn’t know you had a safe room like that, Reno,” Sal said.
“Lots of things you don’t know,” Reno responded.
Sal shook his head. “I forgot. It’s you. I lost my mind for a second and almost thought I liked you.”
Reno smiled, but it was an ephemeral moment. Because the pain was still there. Because all he could think about was Trina, and Val, and Grace. And, again, Trina. He exhaled. “Where’s Tommy?” he asked. “He should have made it by now.”
“He’s here,” Sal said. “He’s at the hospital. He’s been there for about half an hour.”
Reno looked back. “How’s he taking it?”
“How he takes everything,” Sal said. “Hard.”
“But Grace is okay, right?”
“Grace is fine. But he knows it was only a miracle that she is.”
Reno nodded and turned back around. Reno thought about Tommy, a man who had seen so much tragedy in his life, and he knew exactly how Tommy felt. Trina was in surgery fighting for her life, those bastards who did it were running for theirs, and all Reno could do was wait. And stay calm. And collect all the intel he could before he exacted his revenge. Because he was going to avenge this. He was not going to rest until every one of those fuckers was sleeping in their grave.
The baby was asleep in Tommy’s arms. Grace wasn’t in and out anymore, but was now fast asleep . Buddy Wellstone was back in the room with Jimmy and Val, but Sal told him what Buddy had done. How he sat with Grace. Now it was just Tommy and baby Destiny sitting there. Their beautiful baby girl. She had her mother’s sparkling brown skin tone and gleaming eyes like her father. And Tommy was grateful. The fact that his wife was resting peacefully was a great thing. Tommy could not express the joy he felt when he got the news that she had not been shot.
But there was also the dread in knowing what she had gone through, and how close she had come. And as he held his sleeping daughter and continued to look at his sleeping wife, he knew he couldn’t allow it. She wanted to leave before, but he begged her to stay. And then she ended up in a battle with one of his ex-lovers, and with blood on her sweet, innocent hands. All because of her association with him. She was going to make it through this close call, thank God, but what about the next close call? How many more close calls would she have? How many more could she make it through? Would the law of averages eventually catch up with them?
And what about their precious daughter? Would this be her end too? Tommy thought about Jimmy. Would Destiny’s husband be sitting at her bedside praying for her recovery too, the way Jimmy undoubtedly had prayed for Val’s? What about Buddy Wellstone, Val’s father? Would Tommy be that same devastated father when it was Destiny’s time to be at this place in her life? He closed his eyes. He couldn’t allow it. No matter how much it hurt, he couldn’t allow it. He had to give his daughter, and his wife, a fighting chance.
The hospital doors flew open and Reno was in the house. It was as if electricity itself entered the building when Reno walked through those doors. Everything became charged. Everybody became hyper-alert, as if they were well aware that somebody special was definitely in their midst, or Reno Gabrini wouldn’t be there.
The security that surrounded him, Sal, and Gemma took a backseat to no one, and even the cops that were still at the hospital, waiting to see if they would ever get a statement from Trina Gabrini herself, knew it too. Reno was one of the premier businessmen in Vegas, that was true. But they knew he was the undisputed head of the Gabrini family also. And they weren’t getting tangled up with that. They gave his security detail free reign for now.
The security expert in charge of the hospital detail met Reno and his entourage as soon as they made their way toward the elevators. He seemed happy, which pleased Reno. None of his security chiefs were frivolous men.
“She’s out of surgery, boss,” he said.
“You spoke with the doctor?”
“He wouldn’t talk to me. But he gave me a thumbs up.”
“Where is he?” Reno asked as they got on the elevator.
His security expert remained on the first floor. “I don’t know,” he said.
“Find him,” Reno ordered, and the elevator doors closed. He looked at Sal and shook his head. “Fucking thumbs up. No details, just a thumbs up. That could mean anything.”
“Like she ain’t dead yet,” Sal said, “but stay tuned?”
“Yeah,” Reno agreed. “Fucking doctors!”
“She’s out of surgery,” Gemma said. “That’s the important thing.”
Reno looked at her. “What’s so important about it?” he snapped.
“Hey!” Sal snapped back. “Now I know you’re worried sick about your lady. But you’re not going to disrespect mine.”
Reno immediately realized his slight. He nodded his head. “Sorry about that, Gem,” he said. “I apologize.”
But Gemma fully understood his anxiety. “Sure, Reno. No problem at all.”
Reno nodded. He knew she’d understand.
But when the doors to that elevator opened again, only Trina occupied his mind. He couldn’t wait to get to her.
“Dad?” Jimmy said as he hurried up the hall.
“Hey,” Reno responded and then embraced his son heartily when he arrived by his side.
“Val’s okay?” Reno asked when they stopped embracing.
“She’s fine, Dad. Aunt Grace is too.”
“I’m glad to hear it, son.”
“I guess you know Ma’s out of surgery.”
Before Reno could respond to that, a tall man in surgical scrubs was coming out of the Recovery room. The room Reno was heading into.
“Mr. Gabrini I presume?” he asked.
“Yes,” Reno responded. “You’re my wife’s doctor?”
“I’m your wife’s surgeon, yes.”
“She’s going to make it, right?”
“She was wounded. Severely. But fortunately none of the bullets penetrated vital organs, and none of them remained lodged within her. So yes, she should have a full recovery.”
Reno exhaled, as did everybody else. “Thank God!” he said. “May I see her?” he asked.
“Only you, and only for a few minutes. She really needs to rest.”
Reno extended his hand. “Thank-you, Doctor,” he said as they shook.
When the doctor left, Reno entered the room. But he hesitated at the door when he saw her lying there. Tubes everywhere. And to think, just hours ago, she was happy and healthy and looking forward to a girls night out. Now her life was in the balance. All because of some fools who didn’t realize whom they were messing with. At least that was Reno’s early conclusion. Because if they had known it was his wife they were gunning down, he thought, as he slowly made his way into the room, they would have turned themselves in right there and then. They would have given up while they still stood a chance.
He nodded to the Nurse who was working on a computer in the room when he entered. He stood by Trina’s bedside as some su
ction cup opened and closed, opened and closed, as if her life depended on that suction, and on all of those other machines. He looked at her eyes. Although they were closed, he could feel her presence. He could feel her pain. He could see the agony she had to have seen when she realized they were gunning for her. And Reno Gabrini, the man who wouldn’t know weakness if it bit him in the face, broke down. And fell to his knees.
Jim, Sal, and Gemma stood outside of Recovery and looked through the two-way glass as Reno dropped to his knees. Sal swallowed hard, seeing Reno like that, and Jimmy had tears in his eyes. Gem, too, was taken by Reno’s brokenness, and placed her hand on her chest. It was a remarkable sight to see. She always looked up to Reno and Trina. It was their unwavering love, and their devotion to one another, that made her want that kind of love and devotion too. She didn’t want to settle. She didn’t want to get what she could get just in case there was nothing left to have. She was willing to take the risk and wait. Because of Reno and Tree. The wait turned out to be worth it.
Tommy came up too, and Gemma immediately took the baby out of his hands. “How’s Grace?” she asked him.
“She’s still asleep. The doctor is pleased with her progress.”
Sal nodded. “Good.”
“I’ll go and sit with her some,” Gemma said, and Tommy nodded his okay. Then he snapped his fingers and pointed at one, and then another guard. They immediately followed Gemma and the baby into Grace’s room.
Then Tommy looked at Reno and Tree. And he exhaled.
Jimmy looked at him. Tommy had always been his father’s go-to guy. Whenever Reno needed advice, he’d turn to Tommy. Whenever Reno needed muscle, he turned to Sal. But Tommy was his adviser. “What do we do next, Uncle Tommy?” Jimmy asked him.
“We wait,” Tommy responded.
“But they could be getting away, right?”
Tommy shook his head. “They aren’t going anywhere.”
“But look at Dad,” Jimmy said, looking again at his father, who remained on his knees. “He’s in no shape to do anything. Me, you and Uncle Sal are going to have to take charge of this. I know my dad. When it comes to Ma he can’t be reasoned with.”
“Then don’t try to reason with him,” Sal said. “Who gives a shit about reason right now? We’ll get those bastards, don’t you worry about that. Reno will get them.”
“But when? He should be out there now. The doctor said Ma was going to be okay.”
“Not until Reno sees Trina eyeball to eyeball,” Tommy said, “he’s not going anywhere. He’s not doing anything.”
“But I feel we should be doing something now,” Jimmy responded.
“We are doing something,” Tommy said.
Jimmy was doubtful. “Yeah? Like what?”
“We’re thinking,” Sal said. “We’ll thinking what asshole out there is bat-shit crazy enough to gun down Reno Gabrini’s wife.”
“And when you figure it out?” Jimmy asked.
“We’ll be gunning down them,” Tommy responded. And then he headed back down the hall, to check on his wife.
Jimmy nodded his head. “That’s the Uncle Tommy I know,” he said proudly. “I felt like he dropped the ball when Aunt Grace was forced to defend herself against his ex-girlfriend. Didn’t you feel that way?”
“Hell yeah I felt that way,” Sal responded. “He should have protected Grace more. He should have seen that coming. But that incident changed Tommy. Now he knows treating Grace like some fucking baby isn’t going to work. She’s in this just like the rest of us, and he knows it now.”
“Yeah. Like Aunt Gemma and Val too.”
It was a sad fact for Sal. But a fact. “Yeah. Like them.”
“But will they be able to handle this, Unc?”
“Gemma’s already able.”
“And Val?”
“Not by a longshot. But she’s young. She’s going to make a lot of stupid mistakes. You’ve got to give her time.”
Then Jimmy’s eyes flew wider. “She opened her eyes!” he yelled. “Ma’s opening her eyes!”
He flew into the room, despite the doctor’s orders, with Sal behind him.
Reno was standing back up when he, too, saw movement from Trina.
“Tree?” he asked.
She attempted to smile. The Nurse in the room quickly gave her water. Then she looked at Reno. “I’ll give you some privacy. But only a few minutes.”
“Thank-you,” Reno said.
When the Nurse was gone, Trina began talking, albeit hoarsely. “You okay?” she asked Reno.
“Me?” Reno asked with a smile of relief. “What about you, sweetheart? Are you okay?”
“I’m always okay.”
Reno laughed. “So you think you’re tough?”
“What about Val and Grace, Reno?”
“They’re both fine. Neither one of them were hit.”
“Praise God,” Trina said. “And what about Dom and Sophie? Who’s with Dom and Sophie?”
“Your mother and father came up from Barstow. They’re with them now.”
“Oh, good. That’s real good. What about Fran?”
“Who gives a shit?”
Trina managed to smile. “And Jimmy? How’s he?”
“He’s right here,” Reno said. “Ask him yourself.”
Jimmy moved in front of his father. He smiled. “Hey Ma.”
Trina touched his face. “Hey boy. I hear Val’s going to be okay.”
“She’s great. Don’t worry about her. Aunt Grace is fine too. We just want you to be better. The doctor said you will be.”
“Be patient with Val, Jimmy,” Trina urged.
“I will. She and I made up. She’s agreed to go back to counseling.”
“And you go with her.”
“I will. I promise you I will.” Jimmy became tearful. “And we’re going to get who did this to you, Ma. Dad’s gonna take care of it.”
Trina looked at Reno. “Who did it?” she asked.
“We don’t know yet. But we will.”
“Then why are you here? Why aren’t you finding out who did this?”
“When I get you out of this hospital, and safely back at our PaLargio, then I’ll find them.”
“It was two men, Reno. Both white.”
“Yeah, that’s what I’ve been told.”
“They started an argument, but it was game. It was all in the game.”
“Planned?”
Trina managed to nod her head. “Oh, yeah. Down to the last bullet.”
Reno nodded his head. “Okay,” he said. “I’ll be sure to plan it too. Down to the last bullet.”
But he wouldn’t leave her side. He had his men on the case. Sal had his men on the case. Tommy had his men and his own Gabrini Corporation security apparatus on the case. But everybody was coming up empty. They needed Reno on the case. Everybody felt it, but nobody could get away with telling Reno it. Except Tommy.
They were in the living room of Reno and Trina’s penthouse. Jimmy, Sal, and Tommy. Grace and Val had been released and were at the Penthouse too, but they were hanging out on the back veranda along with Reno’s kids and Destiny. Trina’s parents were at the hospital with Reno. But everybody else was there. And it was all by design. None of the Gabrini men were allowing any of their women to go anywhere.
Even Gemma Jones-Gabrini, who nobody would accuse of bending to anybody’s will, had to request a continuance for her case after Sal absolutely forbade her from even thinking about trying a case right now. It was almost a knockdown drag-out between the two of them, but Sal prevailed. And due to family matters, and the fact that the defendant did not want any other attorney but Gemma, the continuance was granted. But she wasn’t on the veranda. She was in the living room with the men.
“You’re the only one Dad will listen to,” Jimmy said to Tommy. “This is Dad’s town. He’s got to get out there himself.”
“And he will,” Tommy said.
“Everybody’s drawing blanks,” Jimmy continued. “Nobody know
s a damn thing and nobody gives a shit. It’s as if they’re glad this happened. They didn’t have the balls to do it, but they’re glad somebody finally did.”
“What finally?” Sal asked. “They’ve been fucking with Reno and his family for years.” Then he exhaled, and looked at Tommy. “But the kid is right. Staying at Trina’s bedside is nice, but it won’t get us any closer to catching those assholes.”
“So what do you want me to do?” Tommy asked.
“Tell Pop we need him on the battlefield,” Jimmy said. “I want to know who tried to kill Ma, and who put my wife in danger. He needs to get out here and find out.”
“That’s easy for y’all to say,” Tommy said.
Sal and Jimmy looked at him. Gemma looked too. “What’s easy for us to say?” Sal asked.
“Trina nearly died,” Tommy said. “Yeah, Grace is okay, and Val is okay, but Trina nearly died.”
“Right,” Sal responded. “But now she’s going to be okay.”
“But she didn’t start at okay,” Tommy reminded his brother. “She started at near-death. You can’t expect Reno to recover just like that from something that terrifying. It’s going to take time. He almost lost his wife.” Tommy almost choked up. Then he looked at his brother. “You won’t let Gemma go to work, and she wasn’t even at that club that night. Imagine how Reno feels.”
Sal and Jimmy looked at each other. And they knew Tommy was right. Sal leaned back. “Fuck it. What was I thinking?”
“We’ve got to do more,” Tommy said. “Our men have got to redouble their efforts. And when Reno’s ready, he’ll get on that battlefield too.”
“Reno’s ready,” a voice said, and everybody turned to the sound. Reno was standing in the arch of the hallway.
Jimmy frowned. “Pop! How did you get in here?”
“That’s for me to know and you to never find out.”
Tommy smiled.
Reno pushed himself off of the wall and headed toward them.
“You look awful,” Jimmy honestly noted as Reno walked by him.
“Thanks for that observation,” Reno responded. He sat next to Tommy, and he sat so close that Tommy knew he was in need of the contact. Tommy placed his arm around him.
Mob Boss Eleven- The Wrong One (The Mob Boss Series Book 11) Page 11