Trina was puzzled. “What is?”
“You all over the country, and I can’t be by your side. All of those vultures out there ready to devour a gorgeous woman like you. And you’re a Gabrini too? With enemies like mine? How am I supposed to sleep at night without you where I can get to you quickly if you need me? I’ll be worrying myself sick about you! Running the PaLargio takes all I have. I have nearly five thousand employees, Trina. That’s five thousand people I’m responsible for. I can’t take on anymore!”
“When have I ever asked you to run this for me?” Trina was flustered now. “When, Reno? I don’t know why you keep acting like I can’t do this. I got it. I can do it. And guess what? I can do it all by myself. And all of this talk of men getting next to me, please. You know me better than that.” Then she pointed her finger against his muscular chest. “You need to have more faith in me,” she said, and moved to leave his side.
But Reno grabbed her by the arm and pulled her back against him. This was his woman and she needed to understand that. And he didn’t hesitate. He kissed her hard on the lips. He closed his eyes and kissed her so hard it hurt her. Trina wanted to pull away. Why was he so desperate? She could even see the frown lines on his face as he kissed her. This was wearing on him, and she hated that it was!
She loved Reno above any other human being. But she couldn’t turn down this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to actually make her business grow. Reno should understand that. But all he understood was that she’d be away from him and the children. All he understood was that she’d be out there for some other man to taste, which was ridiculous. She was going to make this work. Reno would see. She wasn’t going to let her business overshadow her family!
Reno’s kiss eased, and he leaned his forehead against hers.
“Just support me, Reno,” she urged. “And trust me.”
Reno frowned and leaned up. He looked at her. “I trust you with my life,” he said. “What are you talking?” But then that weary look appeared in his beautiful blue eyes again. “But I can’t support this. Because I know what it’s going to take. And it’s going to take you away from me. I see it clearly. You don’t believe it now, but you’ll see. No, Tree. I can’t support this.”
Trina’s heart was broken. Reno had always been her biggest supporter in everything she did. Maybe he was right, and she was making the mistake of her life. But she felt the success of her business/family balance was up to her. And she could handle it. But she would just have to show him. He wasn’t open to the telling.
“We’d better get going,” she said. “The pilot is waiting.”
Reno grabbed her suitcase and placed her arm over his, and they made their way out. But as they made their way to the door, they both tried to go through together and got stuck. Only one could pass through at a time. Reno pulled back and Trina went through without him. He only prayed it didn’t portend things to come. He prayed it wasn’t the omen it felt like it was.
Later that evening, as Vegas hotels and casinos prepared for their normal avalanche of nighttime gamblers and guests, a sudden and unexpected explosion ripped through the streets and shook the Strip to its core. The Bryant Hotel and Casino, still in renovation, still staffing up for their grand opening in the not-so-distant future, the only hotel closed down with no activity, exploded into a fire ball of debris and mangled metal.
Crowds hurried out of hotels and casinos, to see what all the fuss was about, as they stood back and watched the old hotel go up in flames. Fire trucks and ambulances hurried to the scene, adding more excitement on a street that was already overwhelmed with it.
The firemen took no chances. They searched inside and around The Bryant, to make sure no lives were taken or no innocent passersby injured. None were. The place was empty. And the fire was soon under control. Each and every fireman knew it too: a professional did this job.
Gianni Drake, a field director with the FBI, sped onto the scene after the fire had been fully contained and his hotel was in rack and ruin. He stepped out of his car with his hands on his head. He couldn’t believe it. Who would do such a thing?
Then he realized who. As clear as day he realized who.
As if unable to help himself, he immediately turned his big body around, and looked over at The PaLargio. At first he only saw crowds still hanging out in front. But then he looked up further, to the second floor, where a floor-to-ceiling bay window was displayed. Standing at that window, with his hands in his pockets, staring down at Drake, was Reno Gabrini. Looking ten feet tall.
Drake’s heart dropped. He knew Gabrini was a crazy man. He knew that fucker would do some crazy shit if you messed with him. But Drake had that badge of protection around him. He was Fed for crying out loud! He never dreamed even Reno would have the balls to go this far. And it was only at that very moment, as he stared up at Reno, and Reno simulated an explosion with his hands, did Drake fully realize just what kind of balls Reno Gabrini really had. It was only then did Drake fully realize just how much more it was going to take if he ever hoped to bring a fearless man like Reno down.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Two days later, Reno got off of his private elevator and made his way across the lobby of his hotel, heading for the casino. Although he waved at the various big wigs seeking his attention, and smiled at every average joe enjoying the shit out of the slot machines and roulette wheels, he was in a state. It had been another long day of too much. Of shop stewards complaining about fired workers he never promised to keep. Of managers complaining about lazy workers the unions made too hard to fire. Of performers complaining about crowd control and stage conditions, when their asses should be glad people were showing up at all to see that shit they threw together onstage to begin with. The talent and staff that had walked before, thinking they had a commitment from The Bryant, were returning like bees to the hive, but Reno wasn’t forgiving them that easily. Every one of those fuckers had to agree to a reduced-benefits package. Less money. More shows. Reno had leverage now. He was able to extract more than he could have ever hoped to gain because of their disloyalty. And the decimated Bryant Hotel still sat across that street, in smoke and ashes, reminding him that he was still Reno Gabrini. That he still had enemies in this world.
And his wife, he thought, as he buttoned his suitcoat and made his way into his casino, was still in Florida, still doing her own thing, still charting her own path. And she still had two more days to go. Who was he kidding? He missed his wife.
He was equally certain, however, that she didn’t miss their arguments. She was probably thrilled to be away from his ornery ass. But what did she expect from him? They had two small children at home to raise, one of the largest hotels and casinos on the Vegas Strip to manage, and she was gallivanting across the country taking on more work, troubling trouble when they had too much already. And he was supposed to support her efforts? He was supposed to be on board with that shit? Reno was getting angry just thinking about it. He knew Champagne’s was her baby and she wanted to take it to higher and higher heights. He understood that ambition.
But he wanted her home! He wanted her in his arms, in his bed, immersed in their children’s world again. He was old fashioned and he knew it. But both of them couldn’t be workaholics. There was just no way. Something had to give.
But he didn’t come down here for his health. He came down because an old friend was in the house. He was tired, but he smiled, put on his game face, and got to work. “If it ain’t Mister Magic,” he said, his hand already extended as he approached a tall, over-tanned Italian at the blackjack table. “How the hell are you, Josie?”
Josiah “Josie” Supino, turning to the sound of that voice, grinned affectionately and shook Reno’s hand with both of his. “Good to see you again, Mr. G! You didn’t have to come down here on my account!”
“Why didn’t you come up to the office?” Reno asked.
“I know you’re a busy man.”
“Busy my ass! When they told me you were down here
, I couldn’t believe it. Josie in my joint and he doesn’t come up and say hello? What kind of affront is that? I had to come and see for myself.”
“Thank you, sir. I appreciate it. But I told them not to bother you.”
“It’s no bother and you know it. You were one of the best security chiefs I ever had, what are you talking? My pleasure to come and say hello.”
Josie appreciated that. “You always was the best boss I ever had,” he said. “Even still to this day. But you worked me to death, boss. I had to leave this place or my wife was going to leave my ass.”
Reno laughed. “I understand. How is Faye?”
“Good. She’s good. Still spending us in the poor house, but good.”
Reno laughed again.
“But what was that you call me when you first walked up?” Josie asked him. “What’s with the Mister Magic shit?”
“Because your ass knows how to disappear!” Reno responded, and Josie was the one laughing. “Where the hell have you been? Where are you working now? I heard you left Carlo.”
“Carlo left me. He let me go, sorry prick. Said I was too expensive.”
“Ah, what does he know? You’re worth every dime.”
“He’s a nobody, okay?” Josie agreed. “A wannabe gangster is what he is.”
“I could have told you that,” Reno said. “He wanna play with the big boys but can’t keep up with the big boys. He’s too nervous nelly for me.”
“I hear ya, Boss.”
“So where did you land? Don’t tell me you want back in over here, because we can talk.”
“And nearly lose Faye all over again? No thank you very much!” Reno grinned. “But Naw,” Josie said, “I landed on my feet. I’m with Panama Russo now.”
“Panama?” Reno was surprised. “His old ass still in the game?”
“Hell yeah he’s still in! Don’t count that fucker out. He’s ruthless as ever.”
Reno nodded. “I don’t doubt that. But he’s old as ever too.”
Josie laughed.
“So how’s the children?” Reno asked. “How’s the kids?”
And as Josie began quoting chapter and verse on the life of his four kids, Reno began perusing his massive casino. At first, all looked fine. It was jumping, and the slots were hot. But then, in the far back near the wall-to-wall windows in a section of the casino his employees called Lovers Lane, he noticed somebody familiar. Very familiar. In fact, so familiar that Reno touched Josie on the arm, to stop his longwinded talking, and excused himself.
“Sure thing, boss,” Josie said, although he was a little perturbed to be interrupted when he was gushing about his kids. But he knew when duty called, Reno took off. Although, Josie thought, he didn’t know what duty Reno would have in Lovers Lane.
As Reno made his way toward the back of the festive casino, he wasn’t enjoying what he was seeing. He was getting even more upset the closer he got, because he realized his eyes were not deceiving him. By the time he made it up to Val, up to his son’s wife, he was royally pissed. She was back there, in his casino, kissing on some man and allowing that man to grope her as if she was some trick he picked up, and it was intolerable to Reno.
And he didn’t wait for explanations either. Over the objections of her “boyfriend,” he grabbed Val by the arm and all but dragged her across the casino to one of the private rooms. Boyfriend made a move to stop him, but one of Reno’s bouncers, who was always lurking around, especially when the boss was in the joint, moved in front of him.
“I don’t think so, pal,” the bouncer said. And the boyfriend, knowing when to back off, backed up.
Reno used his master keycard to unlock the private room, flung Val inside, and slammed the door behind them. He unbuttoned his suitcoat, and placed both hands on his hips. His face was so filled with anger that even Valerie, who was all parts angry herself for the way he manhandled her, felt his fire. “What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” he asked her.
“I was minding my own business, Reno,” Val said with more unction that Reno was used to her displaying around him. “That’s what I was doing!”
“Making out with some dude in my casino? You’re out of your fucking mind!”
“Jimmy left me, remember? We aren’t together! He left me. I wasn’t going to sit home and cry. I’m young. I’m beautiful. I have a life to live too!”
Reno stared at his daughter-in-law. She was still a gorgeous girl, but she was a hot mess tonight, as she was squeezed into a too-tight, leather, super-mini skirt and a leather halter top that was one wrong turn away from revealing her breasts. There was something so different about her!
He knew she and Jimmy weren’t on great terms. He knew they’d been living apart for months. And he also knew it was both their faults. But for her to show her behind in his establishment like this, right under her husband’s nose, right in front of her husband’s father? Hell no!
“Where’s Maddie?” Reno asked her.
“You know where she is. She’s with her father.”
“And you know where Jimmy is, right?”
Val wanted to roll her eyes. But she knew what Reno was capable of if he was ever disrespected, he didn’t care who you were. She kept her eye-roll to herself. “He’s in the penthouse. In your penthouse,” she added, as if that made it somehow less her fault. “At least that’s where he said they were going to be.”
“That’s where they are,” Reno said. “So I want you to tell me, Valerie, I want you to explain to me on what planet do you think it’s acceptable for you to do your thing with some beefcake muscle head on my property, with your husband and child upstairs? Please tell me where, because it’s for hell not on any planet I occupy.”
“I’m not trying to do anything to anybody,” Val said. “I’m just trying to have some fun. I work hard. I take care of our daughter. Jimmy’s probably screwing every female he can get his hands on. Why can’t I have some fun too?”
Just as she said that, the already precarious strap of her halter top came slightly undone, and her oversized breasts popped out. Reno’s body betrayed him immediately, and his dick went hard.
Val, seeing his sudden erection, felt a tingle deep down in her vagina. She used to have a crush out of this world on Reno Gabrini. She used to judge other men by his example, including his own son. Still did, if she were to be honest with herself. And now they were alone in a room, his wife was out of town, and she had his full attention. She decided to keep talking, as if she didn’t realize her wardrobe had malfunctioned. Because she believed in her heart Reno always wanted her too, but never had the nerve to go there.
She was about to test his resolve in a big motherfucking way.
“I can’t help it if men find me attractive,” Val continued as if nothing had just occurred. “It’s everywhere I go. This man wants me. That man wants me. Every man wants a piece of my tight little ass. Except for your son. So what am I supposed to do? I like dick, okay? I’m used to dick. I need somebody to put it in me.” Then, she felt, the coup de grace. “You could have, any time,” she added, “but you haven’t yet.”
When he didn’t respond, except for his dick getting bigger and bigger, she moved up to him so close that her jutted-out breasts were touching his chest, and his dick was sticking her. She was gorgeous, and she knew it. And she was using every inch of what she had. “You can put it in me, Reno. Nobody will ever know. You know how discreet I am. And I won’t see any other man but you.” She placed her hands on his massive biceps, as if she was about to kiss him. “All you have to do is do it.”
But if she thought she had a willing partner, she was badly mistaken. Reno frowned and pushed her away from him as if he was pushing away trash. Her breasts bounced as she stumbled back. But when she looked up, she didn’t see anger in his eyes. She saw sadness.
“What happened to you?” Reno asked her. “Where’s Val? Where’s that sweet girl my son married, and we all fell in love with? Who is this trashy tramp who think it’s okay to flap he
r breasts around her father-in-law as if that’s cute? It’s not.”
Val was hurt, and sad, too, for the woman she used to be. But life had robbed her of her sweetness long ago. Being a Gabrini in a loveless marriage had stolen her innocence and toughened her. Her husband fucking another man started it. Her fateful decision to return the favor and fuck a man of her own finished it. The old Valerie was like old clothes now, packed away and smelling of mothballs. That Valerie, to her, was what was no longer cute. “You say I’m a tramp,” she said to Reno, “but your dick must want a tramp because he’s very actively seeking me. You just don’t want to let him out.” Then she smiled. “Trina’s got you very well sprung if you’re willing to give up all of this.”
Reno was dismissive. “Your tired butt couldn’t last a minute with a man like me. Now get your trick ass out of my fucking face!”
Val now had embarrassment mixed in with her anger, and she decided to do something even she knew went too far. She slapped Reno across his face so hard that it caused his head to snap sideways.
But when Reno looked back at her, and Val saw that cold, stormy look in his eyes, she tried to back away. But she didn’t move fast enough. He backslapped her on the right side of her face, and then backslapped her on the left side of her face, and then grabbed her neck, leaned back, and was about to punch the shit out of her like she was a dude, when he caught himself.
She was crying now, as she finally came to her senses and realized who she was in the arena with, and he saw her tears. This was the mother of his only grandchild. This was a woman he once loved. And despite her many issues, he still cared about her.
He released her. Then he moved up to her, lifted her halter top back over her breasts, and tied it. He looked into her beautiful, tear-stained eyes. “Go home, Val,” he said to her.
Val was breathing heavily now, not only because of the sting of his licks, but because of the sting of his words. What happened to you, he’d asked her. And now, as she slowly walked out of the private room, it was a question she couldn’t answer herself. Because she didn’t know who herself was anymore. She was in trouble.
Reno Gabrini: I'm Losing You Page 13
