Reno Gabrini: A Family Affair by Mallory Monroe

his
father, he knew Sal would say yes without asking why.   He’d just tell him to be careful and then
give him not a couple, but four or five of his best men.   The blackmailer would get the money, but then
Sal’s men would follow him, beat him down into submission and dare him to try
to blackmail Jimmy again, and then give the money back to Jimmy.   And Jimmy would return it without his father
ever knowing it was missing.   Jimmy was a
man with a plan.
    But the next morning, when his father checked his
security cameras, that plan, like Dommi’s plan before his, flew out of the
window too.

 
    “Mommy?   Mommy?”
    Trina looked at her high maintenance son.   They were in the dining room of the
Palargio’s penthouse, having breakfast.   Trina, Sophie, and Dom.   And Dom
was being Dom.   “What?” Trina asked.
    “May I have another toast, please?”
    “No, you may not.   Finish eating what you have.”
    “But I don’t have any more toast.”
    “I’m not playing with you, boy,” Trina warned
him.   “Finish your breakfast.”
    “He’s got food and want more food,” Sophia said to
her mother.   “He’s greedy.”
    “You’re greedy!” Dom shot back.
    Trina shot a look at him.   “Don’t make me get out of this chair.   You hear me?”
    Dom frowned.   “I’m sorry,” he said.   “But she
gets on my last nerve, Mommy.”
    Trina couldn’t help but smile.   “What do you know about last nerves?   Just eat.”
    Dommi smiled, too, when he saw his mother smile, and
began eating his breakfast more vigorously.    
    But when his father entered the dining room, fully
dressed in his pristine suit and tie, his energy slowed again.   Trina looked at him.   That wasn’t like Dommi.   He usually ran to his father whenever he came
down for breakfast.   Which was usually
long after the rest of them.
    But Sophia ran to him.   “Daddy!” she said happily, as she jumped from
the table.  
    Reno was still drained from the day before, and was
barely awake, but he managed to lift her into his arms.   “Hello, Princess,” he said, as he began carrying
her to the table.
    “Good morning, Daddy,” she said.   “You’re late for breakfast.”
    Reno went over to Trina, and they kissed on the
lips.   As usual, he wanted to linger in
his kiss.   But he didn’t.   He sat down, with Sophia on his lap, at the
head of the table.
    “I’ll get your plate,” Trina said as she got up and
headed for the kitchen.
    Reno looked at Dom.   He was a little disappointed that his son didn’t run to greet him the
way he usually did.   “Good morning, Road
Runner,” he said.
    “Beep, beep,” Sophia said.
    “Plan on being fast and furious today too?”   Reno asked.   “Plan on stealing any more cars today?   Plan on cruising the Strip today?”
    Dom shook his head.   “No, sir.   Never.   I’ll never drive again for as long as I
live.”
    “Drive?” Sophia asked.   “You cannot drive.”
    “ Au contraire ,”
Trina said as she returned to the room with Reno’s plate of food.   “Your brother’s talents are endless.   He, in fact, can drive.”
    Sophia looked at Dom as if she was seeing him for
the first time.   Dom, however, was
looking at his parents.
    “Dinner still on with Sal and Gemma tomorrow night?”
Reno asked Trina.
    Trina nodded.   “It’s still on.”   Then she stopped
and looked at him.   “Why?   Don’t tell me you can’t make it.”
    “I can make it.   I want to make sure Sal makes it.”
    “It wasn’t his fault,” Dommi said.   Reno and Trina looked at him.
    “What?” Reno asked.
    Dommi swallowed hard.   “What happened yesterday is my fault.   Not Uncle Sal’s.   I want to apologize to you and Mommy,” he
added.
    Trina stood there and looked at him.   Reno began eating, staring at his son
too.   Then Trina smiled and opened her
arms.   It was exactly what Dommi was
waiting for.   He jumped from the table,
ran to his mother, and fell