Reno's Gift (Mob Boss Series) Read online

  “Because she wants you for herself just like all of these other females around here I’ve had to contend with.”

  Trina said that and then placed her fingers on her forehead, rubbing it. Sometimes being Reno’s wife was a burden in more ways than one.

  Reno could feel her frustration. He exhaled. “I didn’t touch Belle like that when I was in Atlantic City, and I certainly didn’t touch her like that when we were at the mayor’s house. You know that, babe. Don’t you?”

  Trina nodded her head. “I know. But sometimes it . . .”

  “Sometimes it’s more than you signed on for. Isn’t it?” Reno asked this and then steeled himself for the answer.

  Trina wasn’t going to lie. “Yes,” she admitted.

  Reno’s heart dropped, but what could he do about it? His past was messy as hell and the blowback always blew back on Tree. That was why he spent so much time toughening her up. She had to be tough to be his woman. Just like Grace was going to have to toughen up too to be Tommy’s girl.

  “I think it’s about time for me to pay Miss Patrone an unannounced visit,” he said. “Especially since she might have also had a hand in our little accident the other night.”

  Trina was floored. “Belle?” she asked. “Why would you say that?”

  “This guy we went to see led us straight to the mayor’s house.”

  “Where Belle’s staying.”

  “Right. So either our good mayor is trying to do us in, or Belle is. My money’s on Belle.”

  Trina exhaled. This changed everything. “You think she wants to kill you?”

  “No. I don’t actually.”

  “But that’s exactly what could have happened if that fool in that car the other night hadn’t been so inept.”

  “I know. But he was told to ram us, not kill us. No. I think she was trying to send a message.”

  “Or,” Trina thought, “since he hit us on the passenger side, maybe she was trying to send me a message, by getting rid of me.”

  “She’s not that crazy. What, she think I’m going to lose the love of my life and then just forget about it and fall in her arms? Not bloody likely!”

  “But maybe you should take Sal with you, or Tommy?”

  “I can handle Belle, Tree, don’t worry about that.”

  “But Isn’t Grace with you?” Trina asked.

  “Yeah, she’s. . .yeah.”

  “Bring her to the store. She can spend the rest of the day with me.”

  “Like hell she can,” Reno said. “If she wants to be a Gabrini, she needs to know what that means. She needs to be tried in the fire. Tommy’s been babying her ass too long. He treats her like some kid. He’s too possessive with her.”

  “Oh, really, Reno? And you aren’t possessive with me?”

  “That’s different. You’re a tough old broad who thinks she’s some gotdamn Pam Grier. I have to slow your ass down. She’s a virgin compared to your experience.”

  “She did witness what happened with ShoShawna Shanks. Don’t forget that.”

  “Yeah, but that was after Shanks threatened her life. Now she needs to see when no such obvious threat is involved. She needs to see what happens when a Gabrini has to go on offense.”

  “But Tommy’s gonna kill you if you put that girl in harm’s way.”

  “I’m not putting her in harm’s way. Besides, I can handle Dapper Tom. He needs to stick to beauty, and let me stick to beast.”

  Beast my ass, Trina wanted to say. In many ways Reno was just as pretty as Tommy, and maybe even more so because of his contagious personality.

  “Just be careful, Reno,” she said. “Some of these females, when they want a man, they’ll go all-out.”

  ELEVEN

  After going to the mayor’s home and being told at the gate that Belle was no longer staying there, but was renting a small house on Wagner Road, Reno got back into his Bentley and drove, with Grace in tow, to the new location. This concerned him because he knew there would be just so much craziness that could go on at the mayor’s estate, compared to some new location. But he wasn’t so thrown that he felt a need to alter his plans.

  The house was small indeed, Reno thought, as he pulled into the single-lane driveway. A Lamborghini was sitting on the drive, which was odd enough. Reno opened the passenger door for Grace, took her hand to assist her getting out, and then walked with her toward the front door. Grace felt great around Reno, and oddly fearless. It was as if she knew everything was going to be all right just because he was there. With Tommy, she felt loved and cuddled, somebody who was going to take care of everything for her. With Reno, she was on her own.

  Belle Patrone living in this dump of a house was strange in and of itself to Reno. And after ringing the bell and Belle herself answering, it was downright eerie. Reno didn’t feel threatened, or otherwise in danger, but he did feel unsettled. As if he was walking on the set of the wrong movie, with the wrong script, at the wrong time.

  “I was expecting you,” she said. Then she looked at Grace.

  “Bet you didn’t expect her,” Reno said, removing his shades.

  “No,” Belle said, finding his blue eyes mesmerizing. “What, Reno, figured you needed a witness?”

  “Yeah, right,” Reno said.

  “First your wife, and now her. I didn’t know you favored the black side, Reno. In fact, if I’m not mistaken, you used to favor blondes. This chick, and that wife of yours, is a long way from that particular type of lady.”

  “Aren’t you gonna invite us in, Belle?” Reno asked her. “I wouldn’t want to cause a scene in front of your neighbors.”

  Belle stepped aside, and allowed Reno and Grace, with Grace getting extra scrutiny, to walk in. She closed the door.

  Reno immediately looked around, checking out the place. Everything was generic. From the furniture to the fixtures to the artwork on the walls. It didn’t matter what it looked like. It just needed to be there. And he immediately recognized what it was. They were in a safe house. It was Belle’s, or somebody’s, safe house.

  “So,” Belle said to Grace, “you’re one of Reno’s too, are you? I knew he had a stable of them. But gotdamn. He brings one to my house?” She looked at Reno. “Really, Reno?”

  But Reno returned the sarcasm. “Your house?” he asked. “Really, Belle?”

  Belle, instead, looked at Grace. “Pretty. Kind of young for his taste. But you are his piece on the side. Aren’t you?”

  Grace took the measure of Belle Patrone. It was obvious she was a bitter woman, aging ungracefully, making mischief wherever she could. But she was also a dangerous woman. Somebody not to be trifled with. Grace saw that too.

  But that didn’t mean she was going to placate her. “What’s it to you?” she asked Belle, to Reno’s delight.

  “Just asking a question,” Belle said. “You are in my home, after all. I figure I’m entitled.”

  “Okay, let’s cut the crap, Belle,” Reno said impatiently. “Why did you feel a need to go to my wife’s place of business and tell some pathetic lie about you and me?”

  Belle began walking toward the sofa. “Can we at least sit down first?” she asked.

  Reno started to say something about sitting her down, but he didn’t. He motioned for Grace to have a seat. Grace, looking so graceful, he thought, in her green blouse and white pants, took a seat. He, however, remained standing. “Now talk,” he said to Belle.

  “Now you wait a good gotdamn minute,” replied Belle. “Don’t you try to handle me, Reno Gabrini. I know your ass.”

  “I know yours too. Now talk.”

  He wasn’t going to make it easy for her. She glared at him. “You know why,” she said.

  Reno glared back. “If I knew I wouldn’t ask you. Now don’t fuck with me. Why, Belle?”

  “Because I missed your ass, all right? I want you back. I think we can do some special things together, like we used to.”

  “Oh, yeah? That’s what you think?”

  “Yes, Reno. After
we met up again in Atlantic City, I felt that we should be together. Yeah, it started out with me warning you about Bruno because I still cared about your ass. But then I saw you again, still looking like good old Reno, and I wanted you. I admit it, all right? Prick!”

  “So that’s what this is about? You wanted me?”

  “Yes.”

  “You wanted me so bad that as soon as we left the mayor’s dinner party that night you had some asshole ram my car on my wife’s side and nearly kill us both.”

  Grace looked at Reno. This was news to her. And from the way Belle frowned, it was news to her too.

  “What?”

  “Oh, so you’re playing dumb now. Or maybe not dumb. Maybe you’re just playing me.”

  “Reno, what are you talking about? What asshole rammed your car?”

  “When I went to see Lefty Gromes, he told me what the deal was.”

  “Who the fuck is Lefty Gromes?” Belle asked.

  Reno hadn’t expected denials. That was never Belle’s style. But then again, he thought, studying her, he really didn’t know what her style was anymore given the lies she told to Trina today.

  But Reno continued. “After I spoke with Lefty,” he said, “and he told me he was going to meet with the female who hired him, he thought I had left. But I hadn’t. I followed his ass. He went straight to the mayor’s house.”

  “So?”

  “So you were the only female at the mayor’s house.”

  “But nobody came to that house after you and Katrina left. Nobody.”

  “You think I’m fucking playing with you, Belle? I followed Lefty Gromes to that very house. I saw him leave the bar and drive straight to that very house. I saw it with my own two eyes!”

  “But it’s not true! Why would I want to harm you?”

  “Maybe not him,” Grace interjected. “Maybe his wife. Since you want him so badly.”

  “This is bullshit,” Belle said. “I wouldn’t do something that stupid and Reno you know it!” Then she thought about something. “I can get the tape,” she said.

  Reno looked at her. “What tape?”

  “The tape at the security gate. If a car came to this house after you and Katrina left, then it would show on that tape. I can have Ronald send a copy of that tape for that night to my phone. And yes, it’ll be complete with date and time, to prove it’s authentic.”

  “Then get the shit rolling,” Reno said impatiently, although he was beginning to feel uneasy again.

  And sure enough, the tape was ultimately saved to her phone. They watched it, with date and time appearing. And Lefty Gromes did indeed arrive at the gate of the mayor’s house that night. Reno’s car was shown too, slowing down and then driving on off. But then, what stunned Reno, was when Lefty then drove away too. He never got out of his car. He never requested entrance into the mayor’s gate. He just drove away too.

  Reno’s heart began to pound. “Mother fuck,” he said, and Grace looked at him, puzzled too. “I’ve been had.”

  Tommy, Sal, and Jimmy were walking out of Reno’s still-under-construction PaLargio Hotel and Casino just as Reno’s Bentley stopped under the portico. He and Grace hurried out.

  “Well hello there,” Tommy said with a grand smile. Because of the heat, all three men were in shirt sleeves. Jimmy wore a Lakers t-shirt and a pair of Puma shorts. Sal wore a nicely pressed white dress shirt and dress pants. And Tommy wore an off-pink dress shirt with matching suspenders, and black slacks. Tommy and Sal looked as if they owned the PaLargio, rather than was just touring it.

  “Why didn’t you tell us you guys were coming by?” he asked. “We were just leaving.”

  “It wasn’t Belle,” Reno said as soon as he approached.

  Tommy frowned. “She wasn’t the one who paid Lefty Gromes?”

  “She wasn’t the one,” Reno said with frustration in his voice.

  “But how do you know that?” Sal asked, concerned too. “How could you be certain she wasn’t involved?”

  “I saw it on the mayor’s surveillance video. Lefty drove up there all right, but as soon as I drove off, he drove off too.”

  “Get outta here!” said Sal.

  “He didn’t go in?” asked Tommy.

  “He didn’t go in. I left, and then he left right after me. Mother fuck!”

  But Tommy was still confused. “How did you get hold of that video?” he asked.

  “That’s the crazy part. Belle went to see Tree today.”

  “No that fucker didn’t!” Sal said. “What did she want with Tree?”

  “She was telling her some cockamamie bull about me fucking around with her.”

  “I sure hope Tree didn’t fall for that.”

  “Of course not. But Belle tried it anyway. So we paid her a visit.”

  Tommy frowned. “We?” he asked, glancing at Grace. “What do you mean we? Are you telling me, are you saying that you took Grace with you on a mission? Are you out of your fucking mind, Reno?”

  “Keep your shirt on, Tommy. I had it under control.”

  “You bastard!” Tommy yelled and then swung hard at Reno.

  Reno, however, managed to duck and then body slam Tommy against the brick wall. The two men were tussling for a fight, but Sal and Jimmy moved quickly to break it up. Grace was screaming for Tommy and Reno to stop it.

  “All right that’s enough!” Sal said after they managed to pull the two men apart.

  “What the fuck is wrong with you?” Reno asked Tommy.

  “What the fuck is wrong with you?” Tommy asked Reno. “How dare you put my woman in harm’s way like that! You had no right taking Grace on any gotdamn mission!”

  But Jimmy jumped in, defending his father. “He wasn’t going to let anything happen to her,” he said. He, too, was stunned by the scene. In all of his time knowing Tommy and Reno, he’d never known them to so much as raise a voice at each other.

  Sal, however, took a different view. He defended his brother. “You were wrong for that, Reno,” he said. “You would kill me and Tommy both if we put Trina in any kind of harm’s way. And you know it!”

  “I wasn’t in harm’s way,” Grace finally was able to say. “Stop talking about me as if I’m not here!” Then she looked at Tommy, his hair remarkably, given how sweltering hot it was, perfectly groomed. “Do you want me safe and clueless, or do you want me to be able to defend myself?”

  “You don’t understand, Grace,” he started, but she would have none of it.

  “I do understand! I’m going to be a Gabrini, Tommy. Reno’s teaching me what I know you won’t! Trina didn’t start out tough like she is now. Reno taught her how to be tough. He taught her how to look out for herself. If I’m going to make it in this family, I need to learn!”

  Tommy knew it was true, but he hated that it was true. He didn’t want her to be tough. Shanks was tough. He’d had enough of tough in his life. He wanted her to be Grace, that same girl he first met who didn’t believe in open relationships and went to church every Sunday.

  But he understood exactly what she meant. He understood it completely.

  He looked at Reno. “So what’s the next move?” he asked.

  Reno hesitated, still huffing and puffing himself. Then he let out a harsh exhale. “We go see Lefty,” he said. “And that’s only if he’s still in town.”

  Tommy looked at Jimmy. “Take Grace to Trina’s.”

  “But why, Tommy?” Grace asked. “I thought you were going to let me learn?”

  “You are learning,” Tommy said. “You’re learning to do what I tell you to do.” He looked at Jimmy again. “Take her to Tree.”

  Jimmy nodded. “Come on, Grace,” he said.

  Grace, at first, was hesitant. But Jimmy smiled. “No need to complain,” he said. “They do me the same way. We’re Adam of the Cartwright family. From Bonanza, remember? Everybody got to go with the posse, but Adam always had to stay at the Ponderosa.”

  Grace didn’t quite know what he was talking about, but Trina once told
her best. Tommy, and Tommy alone, had to wear the pants in their household or it would be a household he wouldn’t be in for long.

  She went with Jimmy.

  Reno, Sal, and Tommy, however, got in Reno’s Bentley and drove to the Smoke-N-Gun tavern. As soon as they drove up, and all three stepped out, they stood out like a sore thumb. But Reno didn’t care. He and Tommy headed for the entrance, while Sal headed around back. The same yellow Corvette that Reno had followed previously was in the parking lot now. Even money would say Lefty was therefore onsite.

  And he was. He was in the back of the tavern, in the pool hall, shooting a round with a customer. As soon as he looked up and saw Reno approaching, he thought about it and then made a decision to flee.

  He tossed the pool stick at Reno, causing Reno to knock it aside with his arm, and then Lefty was gone.

  Down the narrow back hall, through the narrow galley-style kitchen, and out of the backdoor. He was big, but he was fast. He jumped from the porch, ready to run around front and jump into his Corvette. But Sal, who was seated on the porch, jumped down too, grabbed him from behind in a chokehold, and held him there until Reno and Tommy walked calmly out of the back door, and up to their target.

  “You can either walk with us calmly,” Reno said to Lefty, “or we can beat the crap out of you and put you in the trunk. But either way, you’re coming with us.”

  Lefty, who was breathing harder than a marathon runner, knew when the gig was up. He calmed down, and followed them.

  “I’m telling you the truth!” Lefty screamed, the blood trickling down his nose and mouth.

  “No, you’re not, Lefty!” Reno screamed back. “Now quit fucking with us! Why did you keep going?”

  “I didn’t!”

  “I saw it on videotape you idiot! Now tell me the truth!”

  They were in one of Reno’s safe houses. It was small and generic, not unlike the one Belle had been staying in, but only it was purposely hot and muggy, with no air conditioning, no creature comforts. Reno was handling the interrogation. Tommy was against the side wall, and Sal was behind Lefty, in case he tried something crazy.