Page 42 of Tommy Gabrini: All Fall Down
“We aren’t,” said Tommy. “I am. I’m going to stick to Ron Browne like white on rice,” he said, and left the room to do just that.
And for the first time since the ordeal began they all could see a light at the end of that tunnel. It was a dim light, because so much could still go so wrong, but at least it was a light.
CHAPTER TWENTY
Both planes arrived within seconds of each other. But it was up to the Air Tower to determine which plane would have priority landing, and which plane would have to circle the runway. And for the first time ever, Hammer Reese’s plane had to circle so that Mick Sinatra’s plane could land.
That decision stunned even Hammer’s own pilot. “Do you want me to remind the tower who owns this plane, sir?” the pilot asked Hammer over the intercom. “Perhaps they don’t realize that you are, in fact, on this plane.”
“No, Captain,” said Hammer, “you don’t have to remind them of anything. That won’t be necessary.” Although Hammer was as surprised as his pilot that he didn’t get first dibs too, it wasn’t the end of the world. “We can wait,” he added.
But Amelia Sinatra, who was the half-sister of Mick Sinatra and who was on the plane with Hammer, got herself a good little laugh at Hammer’s expense. “You, of all people, have to wait for my brother to land?” she teased him. “You? Now do you understand who my brother is? Now do you understand Mick the Tick doesn’t take a backseat to anybody? Not even the great Hammer Reese? Better put some respect on that name!” she said with relish.
Hammer sat quietly on his plane, his legs crossed, as he refused to take his wife’s bait. They were constantly at each other’s throat lately. It did him good to see her laugh. “All I understand is how misinformed that air traffic controller happens to be,” he responded to her laughter. “Nothing more than that.”
But Amelia knew the macho battles Hammer and Mick always had whenever they were together. She loved that somebody was finally putting Hammer in his place. “You hate it, don’t you?” she said. Then she laughed again.
“Your ass won’t be laughing when I put my foot up in it.”
Amelia’s smile immediately left her gorgeous brown face. “I want your ass to try it,” she said defiantly. And it was Hammer’s time to smile.
Realizing she had taken his bait, she frowned. “Forget you, Hammer!”
But Mick wasn’t surprised that he got priority landing. He was as accustomed to it as Hammer was. But when he saw that a motorcade of SUVs were waiting on the tarmac for their arrivals, he knew that was all Hammer. DC treated him like he was some kind of royalty in America. And his ass didn’t even live in America!
“Canadian motherfucker always have to have a king’s treatment,” said Mick.
“Thank God he’s here,” said Roz. “We need a king to help get TJ out of this mess he’s in.”
Mick remembered the mission, and dropped the attitude.
After his plane landed, he and Roz deplaned quickly and made their way to the first SUV. Although Roz was dressed in jeans and a blazer, Mick was suited up in his war outfit: Black trousers, black turtleneck, and long white coat no matter the weather. Because it wasn’t ordinary attire. It was tricked-out attire that had gotten him out of rough situations time and time again. He only hoped this wasn’t one of those times. Not with Junior’s life on the line.
When they made it to the SUV, one of Hammer’s bodyguards opened the back door, and Mick and Roz got in and sat down. And waited for Hammer’s plane to land.
When his plane finally landed and he and Amelia made their way to the SUV, Roz got on the third row, along with Amelia, as Mick and Hammer took over the second row. The bodyguard got in on the front passenger seat, and the motorcade took off.
“We go in together,” Mick said as soon as he and Hammer were face to face.
“I knew you’d say that,” Hammer responded.
“Tommy told me about this implantation device. Give me the particulars.”
Hammer didn’t like Mick’s tone. He was accustomed to everybody jumping at his command. But Hammer wasn’t the one. “Is that an order?” he asked Mick.
“Ah, I forgot,” Mick said. “You’re so used to yes-men at your beck and call that I forgot I have to tiptoe through the tulips when I’m dealing with your ass.”
“Kiss my ass, Mick,” Hammer shot back.
“Oh hell no,” said an angry Roz. “This is not the time nor the place. We’re here to help TJ, not massage your egos. Now cut that shit out and I mean it!”
Both men had to settle back down. They knew Roz was right.
Amelia looked at Roz. “When I grow up,” she said, “I wanna be just like you.”
“Quit lying,” Roz said, and Amelia laughed.
“They’re expecting us to go straight to the command center,” Hammer said to Mick, “and that’s what I wanted them to think.”
