Page 10 of Sal Gabrini: Man on Fire

Gemma looked at him. “How did you know I was married?”

“A good woman like you don’t stay single long,” Mason said, and meant every word. Although his P.I. had given him the full scoop on everything about her. “And that big rock on your finger kind of gave away the game too.”

Gemma laughed.

But Jimmy looked sidelong at the man he knew was once a major league heartbreaker like all of those other rock stars.

But when Gemma continued to resist, Mason became desperate. He couldn’t blow this chance again. It took him years to finally admit he needed her, and when Elsie, whom he confided in about everything, encouraged him to go for it, he broke down and hired that P.I. to check her out. He couldn’t just let it go again. He had to have her this time. There was no stopping him this time.

“If it’ll make you more comfortable, you can bring your husband with you. I don’t mind.” That was a world class lie, but he knew her hubby was out of town.

“He’s out of town,” said Gemma, confirming it. Sal wasn’t expected back home until tomorrow. “But that’s not the issue,” Gemma added.

“Then what’s the issue? I really wanna hear your story, and boy do I have a story to tell.”

Gemma laughed at that too. Jimmy was no expert, but he could easily tell that she was really into this guy. As if they had either been great, great friends in college, or great lovers. She was definitely into Kidd Curry. And that was saying a lot for a woman like his aunt, who had never ever seemed to be into anybody but his Uncle Sal.

“Come on, Gem. Let’s do this. You have to eat,” Mason added.

“Mr. Gabrini’s waiting, Boss,” Elsie said again. “As much as I’m happy for this reunion with you and your friend, we really need to get up there.”

“Just give me a second for crying out loud,” Mason snapped at his assistant. Then he looked at Gemma. “Please. Let’s just have some laughs for old time’s sake. Why not?”

Jimmy could see his aunt weakening. “Okay,” said Gemma, giving in. “Why not?” she added, and Mason lit up. She used to adore Mason when they used to hang out. She liked him a lot. Loved him once.

“When and where,” she said, Mason gave her the particulars, and they said their goodbyes.

And when they hugged again, even Gemma felt the heat of his presence. She wouldn’t call him the love of her life or anything like that. Sal was the love of her life. But he was a close second. And that admission, deep within herself after all these years, startled her.

Jimmy was startled too, by how much affection she was showing for the guy. And when Mason left her side, Jimmy watched for the telltale sign. And he saw it on both ends. He saw Kidd turn around and look at Gemma again as he walked away, and he saw Gemma take a sly glance at him. This wasn’t good, Jimmy thought. This wasn’t good at all!

After Mason made his way onto the elevator, Gemma looked at her watch. It was almost five-thirty. “I’ve got to run, too,” she said, giving Jimmy a hug. “I’ve got a deposition at the DA’s office.”

“I thought you were going to go by Ma’s office and holler.”

“I was. But I can’t now. Tell Trina I said hey and I’ll talk to her later,” she added, as she hurried away.

But as soon as she left, Jimmy didn’t give it a second thought. He pulled out his cell phone to call Sal. To notify his no-nonsense uncle that trouble, in the form of a great-looking guy withlady’s manwritten all over him, was creeping at his door.

CHAPTER FOUR

It was the second time in as many months. Yet another one of his capos decided to try that same shit again his former colleague tried as if it was open season on Sal Gabrini and he, like everybody else, had better get his licks in too.

Sal stood up from the chair he had been sitting in. They were upstairs, in an empty warehouse Sal owned in Chicago, and the dust in the room was as thick as the fear. Because Big Graft Shaughnessy was scared. They had already tortured him until his face was nearly unrecognizable, trying to get as much intel from him as they possibly could. But he gave up nothing, declaring up and down that he didn’t give any real intel to anybody.

But Robby Yale knew the truth. Graft thought he could keep it undercover. He thought he could do his dirt and hide his hands. But it not only got back to Robby for Robby to handle, which would have been Graft’s preference if it had to be exposed at all, but word had gotten all the way up the chain to Sal. Which was not what Graft wanted. Which was the worst outcome Graft could have ever imagined.

“Boss, you know I meant no disrespect to you,” Graft pleaded as Sal slowly walked toward him. “I would never disrespect you. I didn’t give away any info, I promise you that. I would never do something that underhanded to you. I love working for you and being a part of the family. I would never do anything to compromise the integrity of your organization. You know I wouldn’t, Sal. You know me!”

The three capos in the room, along with Robby Yale, all could sense Sal’s rage. Here was a boss who treated his lieutenants as if they were his flesh and blood, giving them more than any other boss was willing to split with their capos. And what does he get in return? Two of his made men, in as many months, selling him out to the enemy. Treating him as if he’s some upstart just getting in the business when he’s one of the most powerful bosses in the world.

“Sal, you know me,” Graft said again. “I’m Big Graft. You know me! I wouldn’t do anything to hurt you. I would never hurt you. I love you, man!”

Sal stopped in his tracks. Robby could feel the room shift. Because those last words, Graft didn’t realize, would be hislast words on earth. Those last words sealed his fate. Because Robby knew, like the other capos in the room knew, that Sal Gabrini never took love for granted.

“Youloveme?” Sal asked in a tone of disbelief. “You love me yet you sell me out like I’m your trick and you’re my fucking pimp? You put me and my whole family at risk. That’s my wife and my kids you put at risk, motherfucker! But youloveme? If I hadn’t found out about yourlovefor me there could have been a war the likes of which I don’t even wanna think about! Is that the kind of love you’re talking about? Is that what you mean by love, Graft? Is that what you mean?!!”

Then Sal settled back down. “If that’s what you mean, then I got some love for your ass too,” he said as he pulled out his Glock and fired with a rage that seethed him to his soul. He didn’t stop firing until there were no bullets left in the chamber. He didn’t stop firing until he could hear the clicking himself.

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