Page 48 of Sal Gabrini: Man on Fire

“That’s just us. But the truth is we’re very devoted to each other.”

Robby stared at Sal. It was an admission he never thought he’d ever hear. He expected Sal to say something like,his ass went because he has a crush on my wife, or something like that given Reno’s reputation with the ladies. And he could understand Sal being devoted to Reno. Sal was devoted to everybody he loved. Robby even knew the crap he had to take to keep him on as his underboss. He was even devoted to Robby! But to hear him admit something personal about Reno out loud like that was a first for Robby. He appreciated it.

“There it is,” Sal said as he looked into the sky and leaned up from his car.

“Damn, Boss,” said Robby. “That’s a big-ass plane!”

Mick Sinatra’s Boeing 747-8i private jet began descending on the runway. When it taxied to a stop and the air steps dropped down, Sal and Robby made their way onto the plane. The crew chief met them at the door.

“Good afternoon, Mr. Gabrini. Mr. Yale.”

“How are ya?” Sal asked.

“I’m well, sir, thank you. If you will wait here, please, Mr. Sinatra will be with you momentarily.”

They were in a holding pattern at the front of the plane. Sal and Robby could see Mick, near the mid-point of the massive plane, holding a conversation with a beautiful black lady. Both were leaned toward each other and were shoulder to shoulder. It was such an intense conversation that Robby looked at Sal. “Is that Bella Caine?” he asked.

Sal looked at Robby as if he was insane. Robby was one of those white guys who thought all black people looked alike, or at least looked like a black person they knew, although he was in a long-term relationship with Curtis, a black man. But even he had his prejudices.

“No, that’s not Bella Caine, what’s wrong with you? Blind all of a sudden?”

“Then who is it?” Robby asked.

“What are you asking me something like that for? Why should I know who she is?” Then Sal looked at the woman again. He’d rarely seen anyone so perfect-looking. “I’ve never seen her before in my life.”

Robby looked at Sal as if they were witnessing something they shouldn’t be witnessing. But Sal just stared at his handsome uncle. Was he just like the bosses with their mistresses too? Was he just like them?

Although the woman was still talking to him, Mick looked up and saw Sal and Robby waiting. He said something to the talkative lady, which caused her to look over at Sal and Robby too. Then she stood up, glancing at them again as she made her way toward the back of the huge aircraft.

“He can see you now, sirs,” the crew chief said, effectively allowing them freedom to roam the cabin. They made their way straight to Mick and sat down across from him.

“How ya doing, Uncle Mick?” Sal said with a smile on his face. “Who was that, one of your stewardesses?”

“It’s called Flight Attendant now, Boss,” said Robby.

“Oh right. Was that who that was?” Sal asked Mick.

“No,” Mick said.

Sal and Robby waited for him to say who the gorgeous lady was, but Mick apparently had nothing more to say about it. Sal wanted to say,Roz is gonna kick your ass, but he knew better than to go there too. “I appreciate you taking the time to stop here in Vegas to meet with me,” he said instead. “Thank you.”

Mick tossed a file folder onto Sal’s lap.

“What’s this?” Sal asked as he opened it. The first thing he saw was a photograph.

Robby, who was leaned against Sal looking, too, was shocked. “That’s the guy!” he proclaimed. “Boss, that’s the same guy in that photo Pauley took.”

Sal realized it too and looked at Mick. “Who is he?”

“Duncan Joventanno,” said Mick. “They call him Jovie.”

“He’s mob?”

“Yep. But not here.”

“Then where? Sicily?”

“Croatia.”

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