Page 64 of Sal Gabrini: Man on Fire

“His ass gonna be here too,” Mick said.

Tommy looked at Grace and smiled. She smiled back. They knew that life too well. They already knew they were staying put.

“But, Sal, I’ve got to get to the PaLargio to see Mason,” said Gemma. “I’ve got to escort him to the police station. That’s not something I can put on hold.”

“And what about those three bosses?” asked Tommy. “What are we going to do about them?”

“Where are they anyway?” asked Dommi.

“They’re being transported to the same safe house Jovie’s being transported to,” said Sal.

“But they were on our side, Uncle Sal,” said Dommi. “They were shooting the bad guys too.”

But Sal was shaking his head. “I don’t care what they were doing. That ambush happened just when they showed up. We don’t know if they were a part of that shit or not. But we’re going to find out.”

“Damn right,” said Mick.

“Then this is what we’ll do,” said Reno. “I’ll escort Gemma to my hotel to handle that Mason bullcrap, then I’ll get her back here.”

“What all you have to do for him?” Sal asked Gemma.

“Just escort him to the police station. But not here in Vegas. They’ll remember him from the last time he was arrested.”

“Then where are you taking him?” asked Sal.

“To the Spring Valley PD. They don’t know him. They won’t try that dumb stuff. “It shouldn’t take an hour,” said Gemma. “I’m under contract. I can be sanctioned by the Bar if I don’t fulfill my obligations.”

But Sal still looked uneasy. He looked at Mick.

“We have Jovie. That should account for something.”

“I’ll be right there with her, Sal,” said Reno. “I know how slick these Hollywood agents are. I deal with them every day of the week. They’re always trying to add some advantage for their clients under contract at the PaLargio. And I know Kidd Curry’s ass from way back. He just wants to fuck Gemma, that’s all.”

“Damn, Reno,” said Trina. “Could you please be more explicit?”

“Whatta you talking? I’m just keeping it real,” said Reno. “What I mean is I’ll be there. That’ll never happen on my watch. What more could Sal want?”

“And I mean that, Reno,” said Sal, giving in. “Don’t leave her alone with that joker not even for two seconds.”

“Stop worrying for crying out loud. I’ll be like white-on-rice with her. I’ll blanket her ass,” said Reno.

But Sal gave Reno adon’t even try itlook. “Just stay with her,” he said. “That’ll be enough.”

And as Mick and Sal left with a convoy on their way to the safe house, Reno and Gemma took off, with an even larger contingent of security, to the PaLargio.

They all finally felt as if their groping in the dark was about to be over.

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

What shocked Sal was that Duncan Joventanno looked nothing like he had imagined. He didn’t look like some mob mastermind at all! He looked like a lowly accountant, or some other nerd. He even pushed his glasses up on his face when Sal and Mick walked into the basement where he was being housed. The three mob bosses were upstairs along with Pauley. Waiting their turn.

But it was Jovie Mick and Sal wanted.

Robby Yale and two of Mick’s capos were in the basement with Mick and Sal, all three heavily armed with assault rifles. Two more of Mick’s capos were upstairs, on guard duty with the three mob bosses and Pauley. They weren’t taking any chances either.

Mick and Sal sat in chairs in front of Jovie. Mick stared hard at the man he respected from afar. Jovie Joventanno was what they called him, as if Duncan was too mild a name for a man with his reputation. Mick saw right through that nerd façade easily. Sal did too, but he also had a sense that something was off.

Jovie’s legs were crossed, and his perfectly manicured hands laid in a crisscross over his lap. Although his suit looked cheap, it also looked new, as if he was dressed for the occasion. And it made Mick wonder if he knew he would be picked up. If he was looking forward to it.

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