Tommy Gabrini 3: Grace Under Fire (The Gabrini Men Series) Read online

  But the patrolman attempted to pull him back. “It’s going to blow, mister,” he said. “Wait for the fire department. You can’t go down there!”

  But his wife was down there. Was this fool crazy? Tommy snatched away from the young cop and began hurrying down.

  “Mister!” the cop was yelling. “Mister, it’s going to blow! You can’t go down there, Mister!”

  But Tommy was already going down there, and going further down, as he could think of nothing, not his own safety, as he raced to save his wife.

  When he got to the car, he saw the gasoline that was leaking faster, and the smoke billowing up stronger and stronger. And Grace. She was in the front seat, slumped sideway toward the passenger seat. Tommy pulled on the door, but it would not yield. He realized he had a key to the car, pulled it out, and pressed the keypad. It unlocked, but the driver’s door still would not open. He ran to the passenger side. That door would not open, but Tommy would not be deterred. He pulled and pulled. He looked at his woman and kicked and pulled. He refused to let this be her end. This could not be her end!

  He tried to break out the window, with his elbow and arm, with anything he could find, with his bare fist, but nothing would give. The smoke had now ignited, and fire began to appear.

  He heard the patrolmen and other voices at the top of the embankment, screaming for him to take cover. “It’s going to blow!” they kept screaming. “Leave! Leave now! It’s going to blow!”

  But Tommy wasn’t leaving. If Grace was going to die in this fire, he was going to die in this fire. He tried the break the glass again. He kept pulling on the door again. But nothing would work. And the fire began to rage.

  He fell to his knees, pulling on that door. “Jesus, please help me!” he cried. “Please help me, Lord! Don’t let her die. Take me, but please don’t let her die!

  And then, as if the door had never been stubborn to begin with, it easily gave way and opened.

  Tommy slung it open, half slinging it off of its hinge, as he grabbed for his wife to get her out of there. But her seatbelt was still buckled and the fire was growing second by second, ready to combust that very moment. Any fool would have dived for cover right now. But Tommy unbuckled Grace’s seatbelt, pulled her out of the car, and ran for cover with her in his arms. She was out cold, her head lobbed to the side, and was dead weight in his arms. But he had maniac’s strength as he carried her. She felt like a feather in his arms.

  He was barely fifteen feet away when the car exploded in flames, rocking it and lifting it as if it was a rocket-propelled grenade. Tommy dropped where he stood, and covered his wife with his own body, as the fire encapsulated the sky.

  When the patrolman stood back up again, and looked down the embankment again, after the explosion, all he could see was red.

  FOURTEEN

  The plane landed in Seattle and Reno and Trina Gabrini, and their eldest son Jimmy Mack, made their way across the tarmac. Sal was standing next to the waiting limousine, his dark shades on, his heart still recovering from the shock he felt when he realized it was Grace’s car that had gone over that embankment. And Tommy was the man who had covered her in the midst of that explosion.

  Reno and Trina were in shock too, when they finally got the word, and hurried to Seattle.

  Now they were here, with Jimmy, and as soon as Jimmy saw his uncle, he broke free from his parents’ side and ran to him. Sal gathered his favorite relative into his arms and held him tightly.

  “You okay, unc?” Jimmy asked him, still holding him.

  Sal nodded. “I’m okay,” he said. Then Reno and Trina came up too.

  “Thanks for coming, Tree,” Sal said to her as they kissed and warmly embraced.

  When they stopped embracing, Trina asked about Sal’s girlfriend. “I heard that Gemma’s already here? Is that right?”

  “It’s right,” Sal said. “She was already in town visiting me when it first happened.”

  Trina shook her head. “Crying shame. To go from such a lovely trip to Paris, and to come home to this. It’s a shame.”

  Reno and Sal were now face to face, with Sal expecting no kindnesses from him at all. He, in fact, fully expected Reno to quickly want to know how Tommy was holding up.

  But Reno gave him yet another shock by actually hugging him. He and Reno argued and fought more than they ever hugged and played nice. Then Reno asked: “How have you been holding up?” And Sal’s shock was complete. Who was this imposter, he wanted to know.

  “I’m holding up,” Sal got over his shock and responded. “Thanks for asking.”

  “Reno said a female caused all this trouble,” Trina said.

  “He’s right,” Sal said. Alex Dawse. She’s one of Tommy’s ex’s.”

  “You met her before?”

  “A couple times. Some young chick. Stuck up. Thinks she rules the world. The only thing she had going for her was a good piece of ass.”

  “What about Tommy?” Reno asked. “How’s he doing?

  A wary look appeared in Sal’s deep blue eyes. “He’s Tommy,” he said. “Playing it cool. But he’s pretty beat up about it.”

  “Oh, I can only imagine,” Trina said, already feeling his pain. “As much as he loves Grace? He gave up so much, his entire lifestyle, to be with her. He loves that woman. He has to be shattered.”

  And shattered was the word for it, Trina thought, when they all arrived at Tommy’s estate and greeted him. His hair was all over his head, his face was unshaven, and his usually lively, enlightened eyes looked drained of even a pretense at sharpness. This was not the Dapper Tom they knew. Although, and Reno was not surprised, he was still dressed immaculately in what looked like a Ralph Lauren get-up of pleated pants and a Cardigan.

  After a series of greetings, Trina took off in the bedroom and the men settled in the living room. Reno sat beside Tommy on the sofa, with his arm around him, and Jimmy sat on the arm of the chair Sal was sitting in. They all were quiet, with none of them, with the exception of maybe Reno, particularly affectionate men. They needed the silence to ease the realization of just how close they came to absolute disaster.

  In the master bedroom upstairs, Trina and Sal’s girlfriend, Gemma Jones, were holding what felt like a vigil at Grace’s bedside.

  Grace was sitting up in bed. Other than the concussion she suffered, the doctors had, remarkably, given her a clean bill of health. She was fine, they said. But Trina and Gemma both knew better. She was fine, all right, except for that undeniable terror still in her big, bright eyes.

  Gemma stood at the window looking out, and Trina sat on the side of the bed with Grace. For the longest time not a word was being spoken. But for Trina and Gemma, who had been there themselves, they knew exactly how Grace felt. Especially Trina. Who, ever since she hooked up with Reno, had seen it all and then some.

  She placed her hand on the side of Grace’s pretty face. Grace looked at her.

  “The answer is yes,” Trina finally said to the younger woman. “It will get better.”

  Grace nodded. “I know. It’s just . . .” Grace attempted to smile. “It’s not easy.”

  “Oh, don’t let me mislead you,” Trina made clear. “It’s definitely not easy. And yes, it will get better. But then it’s going to get worse again, and then better again, and then worse again. Sad, but true. It’s all a part of being a Gabrini.”

  Gemma smiled. “A rollercoaster ride,” she said.

  Trina thought about it. “I guess you can look at it that way,” she said.

  “You don’t?” Grace asked.

  “No. The highs are high, yes, but in my book, even the lows are high because Reno’s there. And I’m with him. And that’s all that matters to me.”

  Gemma and Grace both stared at Trina. “Even though you have small children?” Grace asked.

  Trina frowned. “Even though I have small children, yes. They’re Gabrinis too.”

  “And you still say it’s worth it?”

  “Yes, because Reno is their father
. It’s worth it because Reno is my husband. And even though, because of our attachment to Reno, blood will be shed. But it’s still worth it.”

  Grace exhaled. She wasn’t there yet. And Gemma was nowhere near there yet. “I love Tommy,” Grace admitted. “With everything within me, I love him. But . . . I nearly died. That foolish woman was willing to kill me because Tommy chose me over her. What’s to say other women won’t do the same thing? They feel as if, because they’re beautiful and successful and smart, they’re entitled to Tommy. What can I do about that?”

  “Hell if I know,” Gemma said honestly.

  Trina, too, decided to be honest. “Get out while you can,” she said.

  Grace was surprised to hear such an answer. Gemma was too. “Get out?” Grace asked, remembering that woman who had advised the same thing.

  “You asked what you can do. That’s what you can do.”

  “I told him I wanted some time away,” Grace admitted, “but that doesn’t mean I want to leave him.”

  “I know that. But you’re going to have to make up your mind, Grace. And I know I’m one to talk, since I left Reno so many times, and he’s left me. But this is different. You’re early in your marriage. You’re at a crossroads. Which road you take is going to be everything. And if you aren’t willing to understand the man you married, warts and all, and accept him unconditionally, then you need to choose the right road and get out now. That’s my advice to you. It’s harsh, I know, but I’d rather you break Tommy’s heart now, rather than break it later. Later won’t work. Not with Tommy. Because later, we’ll kick your ass if you hurt Tommy.”

  Even Grace had to smile at that.

  “Reno is the head of the Gabrini family,” Trina went on, “but he’s more of the physical leader, the face of the family. But Tommy is our silent leader. He’s the man Reno turns to when he needs advice.”

  “So what does that make Sal?” Gemma asked with a smile.

  “Sal,” Trina said. “He’s in a category all by himself.”

  Gemma laughed. “Let me go check on my unique man,” she said, as she headed out of the bedroom. “He’s my leader, how’s that?”

  “That’ll work too,” Trina said.

  Then she turned her attention back to Grace.

  Sal stood up as soon as Gemma came downstairs. “You okay?” he asked her.

  “I’m good,” she said. “How’s everybody down here?”

  “Somber as hell,” Sal said and Jimmy and Gemma laughed. “I thought I was down in the dumps before. They just took me down lower.”

  Even Reno had to smile at that. Tommy wasn’t there yet.

  Sal placed his arm around her waist. Gemma was what Sal considered that rarest of females. She was beautiful without trying to be, and she gave no excuses for any part of her being. She was extremely dark-skinned, she had short hair that she wore in a natural, always fresh cut, and she was tall and slender and everything Sal never thought he’d want in a woman. Before he fell in love with Gemma Jones, he liked his women blonde and busty, or those biker chick/exotic dancer types who were as bad as bad could be. But Gemma was a smart, professional woman, an attorney, whose integrity was unquestioned and who wasn’t about to compromise anything about herself to please a man. The man had to take her or leave her, those were his choices. Sal took her and wasn’t about to let her go.

  Reno looked at her. “How’s she doing now, Gem?” Reno asked her. Tommy looked at her too.

  “She’s the same. Physically she’s okay. Thank God.”

  “And emotionally?” Reno asked.

  Gemma shook her head. “Not so good. It’s going to take time.”

  Tommy stood up, as if such a statement was objectionable to him. He ran his hand through his thick hair and began pacing the room.

  Reno looked at Sal. Sal knew that look.

  “Let’s get some fresh coffee, guys,” Sal suggested to Gemma and Jimmy Mack. Jimmy, no stranger to Reno’s silent orders either, didn’t mix words. They all headed for the kitchen.

  Reno stood and walked over to Tommy, who was now staring out of the window. “Don’t tell me it’s not my fault, Reno,” Tommy insisted, “because it is.”

  Reno frowned. “Damn right it is,” he said.

  Tommy looked at him. That was why he loved Reno so much. He always told it to him straight.

  “Just like it’s my fault whenever something happens to Trina. We married these women, Tommy. We selfishly brought them into our world. For me, it’s mob enemies. For you, it’s women. But it’s all the same thing. Why do you think Sal hasn’t asked Gemma Jones to marry him? Why do you think he hasn’t made her move here to Seattle with him? Because Sal is the least selfish of us all. So hell yeah it’s your fault. That’s not the question. What are you going to do about it is the question.”

  Tommy exhaled. “She wants some time away,” he said. “She wants to go back to her apartment and stay there until . . .”

  “Until when?” Reno asked.

  “Until,” Tommy said. He had no other answer for it. “Until I don’t know. I don’t think she knows.”

  “So what are you going to do about it?”

  “I think I’m going to let her go,” Tommy said.

  “Whoa now, Tommy,” Reno said. “That’s a hellava thing. Be sure about that. You let her go, she might not come back. You realize that?”

  “I realize it. But what am I supposed to do? Is it better for me if she leaves me? No. Hell no! I love that woman. My life would be just like going through the motions without her in it. But would it be better for her if she left me?”

  “Hell yes,” Reno answered for him.

  Tommy nodded. “Right.” Then he ran his hand across his unshaven face. “So what am I supposed to do? Be selfish and keep her by my side? Or let her go, for her sake?”

  “This early in your marriage? Before she’s too damaged to leave? Yes. If you love her, you’ll let her go.”

  Tommy nodded his painful agreement.

  “Excuse me, sir,” Henry’s voice could be heard.

  Tommy and Reno both turned to the sound. “Yes?” Tommy asked.

  “They’ve found her, sir,” Henry announced.

  Alex Dawse looked up when Tommy walked into the safe house. But he didn’t walk in alone. Reno was with him, and Sal, both of whom she knew, and some young black guy, who she didn’t know. She knew Tommy wouldn’t hurt her, he loved her too much, and Reno always looked at her as if he wanted some of her too, so she knew he wouldn’t hurt her either. But Sal made her nervous. He never did like her, and wouldn’t hesitate to inflict pain if it was left up to him.

  But it wasn’t up to him. It was up to Tommy. And Tommy, she knew, would never hurt her.

  He stood in front of her, his hands in his pants pockets. She looked up at him and smiled.

  “I love you, Tommy,” she said. “You know I do.”

  “You love me?”

  “You know I do! You’re the only man I’ve ever loved. But these men brought me here as if I was some criminal. I haven’t done anything wrong.”

  “You tried to kill my wife. What do you call that?”

  “Justice!” Alex said proudly. Reno and Jimmy both couldn’t believe she said that. She apparently didn’t know Tommy as well as she thought she did.

  Tommy continued to study her. “Justice,” he said. “You call attempting to murder my wife justice.”

  “I asked you to come be with me. But you would not come. What else was there to do?”

  “What else was there to,” Sal started saying, but was too angry to continue. “I know that bitch didn’t just ask what else was she supposed to do.”

  “She doesn’t deserve you,” Alex went on. “How does she get to be at the head of the line? It was justice I tell you! What I did to her was justice. I call it justice.”

  “You know what I call it?” Tommy asked.

  “What?” Alex asked.

  “This,” Tommy said, pulled out his gun, and shot her between the eyes. She
stared at Tommy as if she was in a state of disbelief, before she slumped over.

  Sal was nodding his head. “Damn straight,” he said. “Damn straight.”

  FIFTEEN

  When they returned, Tommy’s Chef served dinner for the guests while Tommy headed upstairs. Grace was up, in the sitting area of their bedroom, and was reclined on the window seat. She was looking out across the estate at the beautiful gardens and waterfall. Tommy walked in slowly, and sat down beside her.

  She looked at him, at his yellow Cardigan sweater first, and then into his face. “How did it go?” she asked him.

  Tommy had that look in his eyes, and then he looked away from her.

  Grace exhaled. “I’m sorry she tried that.”

  “Me too,” Tommy said.

  “Maybe if I hadn’t angered her in Paris---”

  But Tommy shook his head. “She would have still pulled the stunt she pulled,” he said. “But she won’t be pulling any more stunts.”

  Graced closed her eyes.

  “I know it’s awful,” Tommy said, feeling her pain, “and I hate that it came to that myself, but her entire intent was to kill you.”

  Grace opened her eyes and nodded her head. “I know.”

  “That cannot stand. I can’t let it stand. If I wouldn’t have handled it, somebody else would try to harm you too. It’ll be open season on you. I couldn’t let that stand.”

  Tears were in Grace’s eyes. “I understand everything you’re saying,” she said, “but it’s hard, Tommy. It’s so hard.”

  He swept her into his arms. The pain he had seen in her eyes devastated him. And for him, there was no other answer for it.

  He pulled back, and looked at her. “But the thing is,” he said, a distressed look now on his face, “I think your idea is a good one.”

  Grace stared at him.

  “I’ll give you time to think this through. I want you to . . . You’ve been through a very traumatic situation. You need some time apart. I can move---”

  “No,” Grace said, shaking her head. She placed her hand on his. “I’ll stay at the apartment for now. Until we . . .” Then she exhaled. “Tommy, are you sure about this?”