“How about a drink?” Benny asked Jim, and they both headed for the bar.
Fine ass too, Reno thought as Faye escorted him up the stairs. Not as fine as his wife Trina’s, he also thought, but she had some decent equipment on her. But when Reno made it up those stairs, and entered Alex’s bedroom, his entire focus shifted quickly from admiring Faye’s ass, to concern for Kari.
Kari was sitting up, with her back against the headboard, in Alex’s bed. Jordan was also in the room, sitting in a chair beside the bed. Like a fucking prison guard, Reno thought.
And when Reno saw Kari’s coloring, and could see that she wasn’t the vibrant girl he remembered when Alex brought her to Vegas, he became doubly concerned. “Hey there,” he said to her as he made his way to her bedside.
Kari smiled. She really liked the Gabrinis. “Hey yourself,” she said. “I’m shocked you came.”
“To babysit you?” Reno asked with a smile. “I wouldn’t miss it for the world!”
Kari laughed as Reno leaned down and gave her a hug and a kiss. “How are you, Reno?” Kari asked when they stopped embracing.
“I’m as well as can be expected,” Reno said. “How are you, is the question?”
Kari nodded. “As well as can be expected,” she said. “You haven’t met my son,” she added. “This is Jordan. My pride and my joy.”
“Good to meet you, Jordan,” Reno said, extending his hand.
Jordan rose to his feet and shook Reno’s hand. “Nice to meet you, sir,” he said. “My mother and Mr. Drakos think very highly of you.”
Reno was impressed with the young kid. “Do they now?” he asked.
“If their words bespeak their heart, yes, sir,” Jordan said.
Reno laughed. “A kid who says bespeaks. My kind of kid!” he added, and Jordan beamed. “You do good in school?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Jordan always makes the honor roll,” said Faye as the proud godmother she was.
“Very good,” Reno said to Jordan. “Keep up the good work. Alex has an entire empire he just might leave to you someday. Be ready to receive it.”
Jordan swallowed hard. Nobody had ever mentioned such a thing to him before. “I will, sir,” he said.
But Reno’s attention went back to Kari as he placed his hands in his pockets and took on a more concerned look. Even Faye was surprised at how quickly he went from flirt to serious. He wasn’t giving her a second thought. “You don’t look so good,” he said to Kari.
Kari appreciated his honesty. “Yes, I’ve heard,” she said.
“Not that it isn’t understandable,” Reno said. “It is. You’ve had a rough couple of months I hear.”
“Things had gotten back to normal after that car incident,” Kari said. “At least we thought things had. Then the ex had to show up.”
“And show out,” Faye said with a smile.
“That too,” said Kari.
“Where is she now?” Reno asked.
Kari looked at Jordan. “Babe, why don’t you go downstairs with Uncle Benny? Faye, will you take him downstairs for a few minutes?”
Faye was surprised that Kari wouldn’t want her to hear what she had to tell Mr. Gabrini. But she’d already realized that a part of the life Kari shared with Alex was totally off-limits to her and Benny. It was a part of her life that Kari would not discuss no matter how much prodding and poking Faye did. Faye accepted it. She had no choice. But that didn’t mean she liked it.
“Come on, J,” Faye said to her godson. “I’m being kicked out too.”
“Call me if you need me, Ma,” Jordan said to his mother.
Kari smiled. “I will,” she said, and he and Faye walked on out.
Reno took the seat Jordan had vacated, turned it more toward the bed, and leaned forward with his elbows resting on his knees.
“First of all,” he said. “Alex told me about the engagement. Congratulations!”
“Thank you!” Kari smiled. “I was shocked, I’ll tell you.”
“I knew he had it in him,” Reno said. “I just didn’t know he had it in him this soon.”
Kari’s smile diminished somewhat. “It is kind of quick, I know,” she said.
Reno could see traces of concern, maybe even doubt on her face.
“I really didn’t see it coming,” Kari continued. “One minute I went to Munich to make sure he was okay, and the next thing you know, just as I’m about to head to the airport to come back home, he pops the question. Just like that!”
Another look of apprehension, Reno noticed.
“But he’s a man who knows what he wants,” Kari said.
“And he wants you,” said Reno. “That much is for certain. Any man who would get me on a plane on zero notice is a man who knows what he wants alright. I don’t do that shit for nobody but family. And you and Alex now.”
Kari appreciated Reno’s friendship. Alex appreciated it too.
“You know Trina wants to have the wedding at the PaLargio,” Reno said. “Give you guys a chance to meet the family. I told her knowing Alex, he’s going to want to have it in Paris somewhere. Or on the Serengeti in Africa. Or some other exotic place.”
Kari smiled. “I don’t know about that now,” she said. “But we appreciate Trina’s offer.”
“So, tell me about that gun-totin’ bitch that tried to take you out,” Reno said. “Where is she?”
“Alex’s people have her in a safe house,” Kari said. “When he gets back in town, we’re going to go and have a conversation with her.”
“We?” Reno asked. “What do you mean we?”
“I mean Alex and me,” said Kari. “She didn’t come at Alex with that gun. She came at me. I have to hear her tell me why.”
“You’re a headstrong young lady,” Reno said, “and that’s a good thing. But if you were my woman and you started talking about going to safe houses with me to handle my business, I’d put you over my knees and teach you a thing or two about boundaries.”
Kari grinned. “Sure you will, Reno.”
But Reno was dead serious. “Ask Trina. Ask my wife. Ask her how many times I did it to her to set her ass straight. She’ll tell you.”
But Kari was shaking her head. She didn’t know if he was kidding or serious, and she didn’t care. “I don’t need to be set straight,” she said. “She came for me. I need to hear directly from her why she came for me.”
“She wants Alex back,” Reno said. “It could be as simple as that.”
“It could be,” Kari said. “But not the way that heifer was talking. There’s something more going on with her. I can just feel it.” Then she frowned. “But I just don’t know what it is.”
“You think Alex, the man who’s making you stay under bedrest until he can get back to town, is going to let you go with him to find out?”
“Absolutely,” Kari said confidently.
Reno smiled and leaned back. And he crossed his legs. “I don’t know Alex like that, but I know him like that,” he said with a logic only he could understand. “I’ll bet you a thousand bucks he’ll kick your ass before he lets you go to that safe house with him to confront that woman.”
Kari smiled too. “Bet,” she said, and extended her hand. Although she knew her butt didn’t have anything approximating a thousand dollars if she lost that bet.
Even Reno hesitated. Not because of the dollar amount, but because of Kari. Was this chick bluffing, or was she just that confident? But he shook on it anyway.
Eight hours later, after a long and anxious flight back, Alex was home.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
After firing the second security team responsible for Kari’s safety, and after determining that it was their negligence rather than collusion with Linda that allowed her to access Kari’s house unchecked, he made his way to his own house. He’d deal with Linda after he spoke with Kari. He needed to check on Kari first!
As he checked out the security around his perimeters, and he was grateful to Reno for bringing som
e men of his own as backup to his men, Alex made his way upstairs to Kari. Although Jordan was in Alex’s bed fast asleep after staying up nearly all night long, Kari and Reno were in the sitting area of the bedroom watching, of all things Alex thought, some soap opera. Reno Gabrini watching the soaps! And he appeared all into it too.
“But that’s Victor Newman for you,” Kari was saying as they watched. “He can be a snake when he wants to be.”
“That old guy?” Reno asked.
“Oh, yeah! He can be something else!”
“Why is he in a coma? What happened?”
“He got in a fight.”
“A fight? That old guy?”
Kari laughed. “I’m telling you he’s something else, Reno!”
“And here I was feeling sorry for his ass,” Reno said. “Him being in that coma and all.”
“Sorry to interrupt you ladies,” Alex said.
Kari turned when she heard his voice. And when she saw his face, back home to her at last, she jumped from her chair and ran to him.
Alex smiled. He loved the way she responded whenever she saw him. And he caught her into his arms. He lifted her up and held her tightly. He could hardly believe it when they told him Linda had tried to kill her. He couldn’t believe his men dropped the ball that profoundly once again!
But at the end of the day he blamed himself. A near-miss on Kari’s life twice in a row? That shit was on him. Kari could have paid the ultimate price for his negligence. Nobody felt worse than Alex did!
Still embracing her, he leaned back and looked at her. Reno had told him, by phone, that she didn’t look so good. Dazed was the word he’d used. But now, presumably after getting at least some semblance of sleep, she looked revived. She looked as if she was ready to give this life another go. Her resiliency. That was what Alex loved.
And when he looked into her eyes, he loved her even more. “Doc said you’re okay,” he said, rubbing her hair, “so I know there’s nothing physically wrong.” Alex had his doctor take a look at her after the incident. Twice. “But how are you emotionally, baby?” he asked her.
“I’m good, Alex,” she said. “I’m just glad you’re back.” Then she wrapped her arms tighter around his neck.
And he kissed her passionately. He didn’t care that Reno Gabrini was in that room. He didn’t hold back. This lady was going to be his wife someday. He didn’t hold back!
Reno stood to his feet. Although he cared about Kari, and enjoyed her company immensely, he was glad to be relieved of his duty too, as Benny and Faye had been relieved after he arrived. They got to go home soon after his arrival. He was hoping to hop his plane and get back to Vegas, and his work and family, too.
When Alex sat Kari back down on her own two feet, he looked over at Jordan. Poor fellow. He knew he had disappointed him. Benny told him how he was upset with Alex for not protecting his mother better. And Alex didn’t blame the kid. He was upset with himself!
“Reno’s been a champ,” Kari said with a smile as she took Alex’s hand and they made their way to the sitting area. “He even cooked me breakfast, if you can believe it.”
“What do you mean if you can believe it?” Reno asked. “I’m a man of many talents. What are you talking?”
Kari and Alex laughed. Alex extended his hand. “How are you, old man?”
Reno shook his hand. “We’re around the same age,” he said. “What’s with this old man shit?”
Alex smiled. Then his look turned serious. “Thanks for coming, Reno,” he said heartfelt. “I’ll never forget it.”
“No problem whatsoever,” Reno said. “I have a lot of family. When I’m in trouble, they come running to take a fucker out who tried to do me harm. You ain’t got shit,” Reno said, and Alex laughed. “I’m the only gangster you got! But all kidding aside, it’s my pleasure to help out.”
“Thanks,” Alex said again.
Then he and Kari sat down on the settee, and Reno sat back down in the chair.
“Any idea what the fuck is going on?” Reno asked. “Because something’s going on. Too much shit’s going down.”
“Oh, yeah, something’s happening, that’s for sure,” Alex said. “But answers are few and far between.”
“I heard about that attempt on your life in Munich. That was some crazy shit.”
“You’re telling me!”
“It took some great skills to extricate yourself from that craziness. I was impressed when I got the details.”
Alex smiled. Coming from Reno, it meant something.
“So, what’s your game plan?” Reno asked. “How do you plan to approach it?”
“From every angle,” said Alex. “I have to go hard or don’t go at all.”
“Now you’re speaking my language,” Reno said happily. “Those assholes don’t understand anything but hardcore. I should know. I’ve been dealing with them practically all my life. I should know. Not that you’ve been a choirboy yourself,” Reno added, and they laughed.
“But what I don’t get is why they came for Kari,” Reno said. “And they came twice. That’s what I can’t figure out. Or is that shit related?”
“That may be the biggest part of the puzzle that’s puzzling me, too,” said Alex. “But I’m on it. My men are on it. We’ll get more answers soon.”
“Need my help?” Reno asked.
“I can take it from here. Coming here to make sure there were no fuck-ups in security until I could get back was all the help I needed. Thanks.”
“You don’t have to thank me. It was my pleasure, like I said. Kari is a great girl. She’s a smart girl, too. Your slick ass doesn’t deserve her, but that’s another story.”
Alex laughed. “Yes, it is, Reno,” he said, and Kari laughed too.
“But really, I can help,” Reno said. “I know you like to work alone, but I can give you a helping hand.”
“Thanks, man. But I got it. Seriously.”
“My advice?” Reno asked. “I say handle that shit. You hear me? Leave no stones unturned. Handle all that shit. Including that fucking ex-wife.”
“Don’t worry,” Alex said. “But first I need her to tell me all she knows.”
“Tell you?” Reno asked. “According to Kari, she’s going to tell her too.”
Alex nodded and took Kari’s hand. “Yes, she will,” he said. “She tried to harm Kari. Kari has a right to ask her questions, and to hear it straight from her.”
Reno was floored. He couldn’t believe it! But Kari was smiling. “Told you!” she said triumphantly.
“What?” Alex asked, puzzled.
But Reno was smiling too. And, true to his word, he pulled out his thick wallet, and handed her, in crisp one hundred-dollar bills, a cool grand.
Kari started laughing and kicking her legs in joy that she just beat the grand master of casinos at his own game, while Alex couldn’t help but smile too. He assumed she had won some bet, but it didn’t matter to him either way. He was just happy that after her ordeal, and after all they’d been through, they were still able to laugh.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Alex and Kari both wore jeans and tucked-in shirts when they left Alex’s house and made their way to the safe house. Alex, in an unhurried speed, drove his white Mercedes-Maybach to the edge of town and turned into a sparely populated farming community that barely boasted five houses. Each house was self-contained within acres and acres of land. The last house, on a street by itself and fronted by a briar patch, was owned by Alex.
“It’s way back here, isn’t it?” Kari asked as he drove farther and farther back to a small, wooden-framed house with, oddly, what looked like a five-car garage. It was where the men who manned the house hid their automobiles from sight. “It’s almost deserted-looking,” she added.
“That’s the idea,” Alex said. “It was a good purchase for its intended purpose.”
Kari looked at him. He looked relaxed in casual clothing, as he leaned his arm on his center console and drove with a lack of urgency that
belied their intended purpose. He also wore shades that kept that coolness vibe going. But that was what she loved about Alex. He handled all of their ups and their downs with a steadiness that helped to keep her steady too.
He parked his car on the narrow driveway, got out, and walked around to the passenger side. Kari’s every instinct had always been to open her own door and get her own ass out of the car. Every man she’d ever dated before Alex never opened any doors for her! But she learned, from the first date she ever had with Alex when he flew her all the way to New York when she thought they were just going up the road to a local restaurant, to let Alex be who he was. And he was, whenever he was around her, a gentleman.
He opened her car door, held the tips of her fingers, and assisted her as she stepped out. And together, they went in.
Once they entered the home Kari quickly saw four men inside, all strapped with shoulder holsters and weaponry, all standing around as if they were awaiting further orders. She also saw that the place did not have any typical house layout, but the living area was one big open room filled with uncomfortable-looking chairs and a few tables pushed up against the walls. It was dusty and dirty and reeked of man, and it had no intention of being what its name implied: a safe home. It might have been a safe place for the rest of society, but it most certainly wasn’t for the men and women unfortunate enough to be taken there.
Because Linda Drakos was also there.
Kari’s heart squeezed with hatred and anger when she looked in the middle of that room and saw that witch sitting in one of those chairs. She was trying to style and look all dignified, as if she was just visiting one of her vacation homes rather than the prison that held her as guest of honor.
She reminded Kari of that woman that tried to run her over, that Courtney Tyson. She had had a sense of entitlement about her, too, just because she’d been with Alex before. All of Courtney’s experience with Alex had been in the bedroom, and Kari knew, by her own personal experience, what nights in bed with Alex could do to a girl. But damn! These women were taking it to the Nth degree. It was insane!
Alex Drakos 3_What They Did For Love Page 13
