Page 15 of Tommy Gabrini: All Fall Down
“Tom, come on,” said Reno. “She didn’t mean it like that.”
“And you don’t know what she’s worthy of,” Tommy added as he continued his takedown of The Hawk. “But I know what she’snotworthy of, and that is for her husband to sit up here and play these weird seductive games just to get you to sign a contract that you would be a fool to pass up. But if you think for a second, the way Reno wants you to think, that I come with the contract, then don’t sign it. Because you will be stiffed. We would like you to be a business partner, and nothing more. If that’s not enough for you, then have a nice day lady. I don’t have time for this bullshit.”
And Tommy left.
Reno stood up too. He knew they’d just blew the best chance they had to secure the deal, but he couldn’t disagree with a word Tommy had spoken.
Ingrid looked at him. “Your scheme backfired, didn’t it?”
“I wouldn’t have to have a scheme if your ass didn’t like playing these games with people.”
She looked Reno up and down. “You’re no Tommy Gabrini,” she said, “but you ain’t bad looking either.”
“I thought I was a weasel.”
She laughed. “I just want what I want and I don’t care who I run over to get it. You were a good contrast for me.”
“Oh nice. Very nice. You’re such a lady.”
“I heard you’re a lot of things too in the bedroom, and a gentleman wasn’t one of them. I also heard they vote you the most powerful man in Vegas every single year. Is that true?”
Reno frowned. What did that have to do with anything? “Yeah it’s true. So what?”
“If that’s true, maybe this is true too. Because I further heard that you were even bigger than Tommy in a certain department. And that you, in a way superior to every man alive, truly knows how to lay it down. I heard there’s nobody like you in that department.”
Reno was inwardly pleased to hear it. But he still didn’t like her. “I handle my business,” he admitted. “What’s that to you?”
“You handle your business with me right here and right now,” Ingrid said, undoing the string of her bikini, “and I’ll gladly become the missing link that is absolutely required for your business empire to ever become a business empire in Europe. I’ll sign your contract.”
Then she looked her soft eyes into his glassy eyes. “It’s all up to you, Reno Gabrini. Do as I say and get my signature, or leave my presence with nothing but your high ethics to keep you warm. High ethics that you don’t have anyway. But it’s all up to you.” She smiled again. “What are you going to do?”
CHAPTER SEVEN
By the time they saw the two uniformed cops heading toward their table inside the restaurant at Trammel, Grace and Trina were eating lunch. “Wonder what they want?” asked Trina. Then she frowned. “Looks like they’re heading straight for us, Grace.”
Grace looked too. And Trina was right. The two white officers stopped at their table. “Mrs. Gabrini?” they asked, seemingly unsure which was which.
Since Trina and Grace were Gabrinis, they waited for them to distinguish which they meant.
“The mother of Thomas Gabrini, Junior?” the taller officer added.
Grace’s heart grew faint. “Yes, that’s me. Is everything alright, Officer?”
“You’ll need to come with us, ma’am.”
Grace and Trina both were now concerned. “Come with you?” asked Trina. “Why does she have to come with you?”
“What’s wrong?” Grace asked. “Is my son alright?”
“There’s been a school shooting, ma’am.”
Grace’s heart dropped. Trina’s too. “Is my son alright?” she asked the officers again as she quickly stood up, her eyes darting from one officer to the next one.
“We don’t believe he’s injured,” said the shorter officer.
“Then why are you here?” asked Trina.
The taller officer looked at Grace. “We believe your son, Thomas Gabrini, Junior, is the shooter ma’am.”
