Page 8 of Sal Gabrini: Man on Fire

And then, as if it was as natural as air to them, he entered her wet and ready place and they made achingly slow, sweet love as if they were in the comfort of their own home.

Gemma was slouched down and leaned back, with her legs wrapped around Sal completely and her arms wrapped around Sal’s neck. He was pumping so hard into her that she nearly came within minutes. But Sal had a way that prolonged those minutes into nearly half an hour. He was just that masterful.

And when they came it was thunderous. Sal could barely contain his joy as he poured into the woman he loved. As he branded her again just in case she, like seemingly every other member of his organization, even thought about turning on him too.

After it was all over, and they cleaned up and rearranged their clothing, Sal gave Gemma a long, passionate kiss. So long and so passionate that they both considered going another round. But they both knew that was impractical.

“Gonna miss you,” he said to Gemma, their foreheads touching.

“I’ll miss you too,” Gemma said. Then she ordered him to be careful.

“Only way I know how to be,” Sal said with a smile that caused Gemma to smile too. And to kiss him again.

Then he got out of her car and watched her leave, with her security detail in the vehicle right behind her. He could see smiles on the faces of his bodyguards who stood nearby, as if they were certain they knew what he and Gemma had to have been up to for that long in that car, but he didn’t give a fuck. Gemma was in his corner. That was all that mattered to him.

But it was only a momentary triumph. Because as soon as he made it to the airport and had gotten on his private plane for the three-hour trip to Chicago, that sense of dread, that something bad was on the horizon, washed over Sal once again.

CHAPTER THREE

Mason “Kidd” Curry admired her from afar when he first walked into the lobby of the PaLargio Hotel and Casino on the Vegas Strip. He liked leggy ladies who weren’t just tall sticks but had all the right curves, too, and she had both for days. And her skin tone, that deep, dark, velvety-chocolate skin tone, turned him on too. While Elsie Reynolds, his assistant, hurried over to the concierge desk for them to notify Reno Gabrini that Kidd Curry had arrived, he stood off to the side staring at the woman who got away. He had just flown in to Vegas after a wasted trip to France and could hardly function he was so tired. But once he finally broke down and hired a P.I. to trace her activities, he wasn’t going to waste another second.

He ordered one of his more loyal clients, who happened to have a weeklong gig at the PaLargio, to make ridiculous demands not in her contract on the day the PI told him Gemma had a scheduled meeting with Gabrini. He then scheduled an emergency meeting with Gabrini himself to discuss his client’s manufactured demands. Which, he felt, was perfect timing. It would all look like a wonderful coincidence if he was able to get in then. Just two old friends running into each other after all these years. That was why he hopped his plane and flew over. It would give him the perfect cover he needed.

And he needed all the cover he could get because in that moment, seeing her, had him aching for her again.

Because there she was. Standing there talking to a tall black guy who was listening attentively to her, his arms folded, as if he could be her employee. But could it beher? After all these years, could it really beher?

It was her. He’d know that face anywhere. And that body, as she stood there in her short skirt suit looking all professional with her briefcase by her side. She had more curves now than she ever had in her college days, and a little more meat on her bones, too, but that only made her more attractive in his eyes. But he couldn’t let his emotions get the best of him. He had to control himself. He knew Gemma. She used to have a bullshit meter that impressed even him. He had to get this right.

He began walking toward her and then stopped in his tracks as if he was shocked she was there. “Gemma Jones?” he asked with skepticism in his voice, as if he wasn’t at all sure.

Gemma turned when she heard her name. And it was when she turned that Mason’s heart soared. It was her. It was her! And his emotions took over.

But so did Gemma’s! She was floored when she turned around and saw him standing there. And she, too, behaved as if she was seeing a mirage. “Mason? Mason Curry, is thatyou?”

“It’s me!” he said happily and Gemma, happy to see him, too, flew into his arms. They hugged each other vigorously.

Jimmy Gabrini, who had been standing there talking with Gemma, thought their little reunion was cute. Looked like two old friends to him. But when Mason got so carried away that he kissed Gemma on the lips with a big, fat, sloppy kiss, Jimmy was shocked.Did that man realize whose woman he was kissing? he wondered.Did that man realize what Uncle Sal would do to him if he saw him planting a kiss on his wife like that?

Gemma was surprised by the kiss, too, but not nearly as alarmed as Jimmy was. Mason was a good guy. Always was emotional. He was just caught up in his emotions, she assumed. But Gemma pulled back from him just in case.

But when Gemma pulled back and they stopped embracing, Jim noticed something odd. And he was floored! “I know you,” he said to Mason.

Gemma looked at him. “You know Mason?”

But Jimmy was shaking his head. “His name’s not Mason. That’s Kidd Curry!”

Mason laughed. “What would a young blood like you know about some old talent agent like me?”

“Old talent agent? I remember when you was the front man forthe Broomsrock band. You guys were dope! I saw you in concert so many times it’s not even funny.”

Gemma smiled. “Mason in a rock group? Really?”

“I plead the fifth,” Mason said with his hands held up. They all laughed.

While Gemma stared at Mason, unable to take her eyes off of him, he reached out his hand to the young man. “I’m Mason Curry at your service. Or Kidd if you prefer.”

“I prefer,” Jimmy said as they shook hands. “I’m Jimmy. Nice to meet you.” Then he looked at Gemma. “I didn’t know you knew Kidd Curry, Auntie.”

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