Page 14 of Sal Gabrini: Man on Fire

“And to answer your concern, no,” he said, “I do not consider you an option.”You’re the choice, not the option, he wanted to add. “I respect boundaries.”

Gemma smiled. “Good,” she said. “Just so we’re clear.”

But just in case he wasn’t, they both looked up and saw Sal Gabrini, the husband, walking their way. If he wasn’t clear then, thought Gemma, he was about to be clear now.

CHAPTER SIX

Mason could see that hard look in Gabrini’s big, steely-blue eyes and he wasn’t gonna lie: a part of him was scared. This was a bad dude coming his way, a man even his P.I. had warned him to stay clear of, and he looked every bit the mob boss despite his desire to be considered a regular businessman. Businessman his ass, thought Mason. But he’d been in Hollywood long enough to know exactly how and when to lay on the charm.

Mason smiled his best Hollywood smile. “Look who’s here,” he said.

Gemma was surprised, too, as Sal walked up to their booth. “You’re back?”

“No, I’m still in Chicago,” Sal responded in his deadpan way. “Whatta you asking me a question like that for? Move over.”

He was back and he was in a mood, Gemma realized, which was why she didn’t argue with him and began sliding over on her booth seat.

Mason was shocked by how gruff the man was, and how roughly he spoke to Gemma. But it pleased Mason. He might just have an easier opening than he thought he had. Because if this guy didn’t give a damn about Gemma, it would be smooth sailing on in. But obviously somebody had told him about their dinner date. If he didn’t give a damn, then why was he there?

Sal wrapped his arm around Gemma’s waist and looked at her. The way he looked at her made it clear to Mason that he gave more than a damn about Gemma. He was smitten too. “How was your day?” Sal asked her.

“It was good. How was yours?”

Sal’s eyebrows raised, which Gemma knew meant not good, and she didn’t pursue it. “When did you get back?”

“Just got back.” Then he looked at Mason. “Heard you were out to dinner, so I came on over.”

Jimmy must have told Sal about her reunion with Mason, Gemma thought. Those Gabrini men couldn’t hold water from each other! “I’m glad you came over,” Gemma said. “You can meet an old friend of mine. Mason “Kidd” Curry.”

Mason extended his hand. “Very nice to meet you, sir,” he said.

Sal didn’t shake the hand of a man who kissed his wife. He sensed what that bastard was up to as soon as he saw his picture on his phone, and his impression didn’t change meeting him in person. “How are you?” he asked him.

“I’m good,” Mason said as he withdrew his hand and looked at it. “I think.”

“So you just happen to run into my wife?”

Mason caught that tone. Gemma did too. “Not like you mean,” said Mason, “but yes.”

“We’re old friends, Sal. We went to college together.”

“College hun? So what was it about? He was your boyfriend?”

They started out as great friends, but became more than friends by the time Gemma jumped ship. By the time he cheated on her. “We tried the more than friends deal,” Gemma said. “But only for a minute. We were mostly just great friends.”

Gemma’s characterization of a love affair that was the best Mason ever had inwardly hurt him, but he didn’t show it.

But Sal saw the hurt. “I think he thought more highly of it than you did,” Sal said to Gemma. “Didn’t you, Kidd?”

“My name is Mason and she’s correct,” Mason said, refusing to give Sal an inch. “We were mainly just friends.”

“Why are you here?” Sal asked, not giving an inch either. “Didn’t your private investigator tell you all you needed to know?”

Gemma looked at Sal. So did Mason. How would he know anything about that?

“What private investigator?” Gemma asked.

“The one he hired to find you.”

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