on you.”
“On me?” Sal couldn’t believe. “Those fuckers try to ice me because some knucklehead iced their baby brother? Are you kidding me?”
“I can’t believe it either. But the Bonaduces have never been considered any type of Brainiac. They’re small time all the way. They didn’t know any better. We’ll school them.”
“There’s more than the four we took out?” Sal asked, and Gemma looked too. She was as concerned as Sal.
Robby was nodding his head. “There’s more,” he said. “But we’re on it, Boss. We’ll take care of them.”
“Like hell you will,” Sal said. “I’ll take care of them. When you find those fuckers, you let me know. My family was with me. My family!” Sal slammed his fist on the desk. “Are they out of their fucking minds?”
“Since they came after you,” Robby said, “I would say yes, they are.”
The desk intercom buzzed. Sal pressed it. “What?” he asked angrily.
“Barbara Jiles and Curtis Kane are here to see Mrs. Gabrini, sir.”
Sal looked at Gemma. Barbara and Curtis were her assistants in her law firm. “What are you looking at me for?” she asked. “They probably saw it on the news.”
“You want to see them?” Sal asked her.
“It’s probably not a good idea,” Robby quickly interjected, and Sal and Gemma looked at him. “I mean, since we’re talking business here.”
Sal looked at Gemma, ignoring Robby. “You’re up to it?” he asked her.
Gemma was still reeling because Lucky had been on the scene. It would have been different if it had just been her and Sal. Still upsetting, but different. “I can’t,” she said. “Not right now.”
Sal didn’t hesitate. He pressed the intercom button. “Tell them my wife is fine, but she’s resting right now. She’ll give them a call later.”
“Yes, sir,” the front gate officer said, and ended the call.
But Sal was staring at Robby. “You okay?” he asked.
“Yes, sir,” Robby responded defensively. “Why would you ask?”
“You look funny, that’s why.”
Robby wondered if Sal knew about the super-secret relationship he had with Curtis Kane and was trying to call him funny as in gay, rather than funny as in not feeling well. But they were super-careful. There was no way Sal could know. “No, I’m fine,” he said.
Sal stared at him a moment longer, but then focused on his real concern: the hit that could have irreparably harmed his family. He looked at Robby and his security chiefs. “Find those fuckers,” he said, “and I mean like yesterday.”
“Yes, sir,” they all responded.
“And I want to know who was the asshole who started this shit in the first place. Who iced their brother. That was some reckless shit. I want to see his ass too.”
“Yes, sir,” Robby said, and then he and the chiefs left.
Sal walked over to Gemma, and put his arms around her. “I know it’s tough,” he said.
“Lucky was with us,” Gemma said.
Sal nodded. “I know.” He leaned her against him. She laid against him. “I know.” He rubbed her hair. “But I’ll get those bastards, don’t you worry. We brought a child into this bitter world. That’s done now. It’s our job to protect him, and we did. I’m just sorry . . .”
They both knew what Sal meant. Times like these they both wished they would not have made the decision to bring a child into their world. But the decision had been made. It was done now.
Sal looked at Gemma. “I don’t want you beating yourself up about it, Gem,” he said. “It’s not our fault. We were living our lives, minding our own business. They brought this shit to us. I have to take it back to them. And I will. You can bet the ranch on that shit. But someday I’m hoping it’ll finally balance out. Maybe someday my good will outweigh my bad and we’ll catch a break.”
Gemma looked at him. “Your good will outweigh your bad?” she asked. “Are you serious? Sal, there’ s no bad in you. You never pick these fights. Don’t do that to yourself.”
Sal smiled. Gemma was the only one who actually gave him the benefit of the doubt. “If my ass would have stayed out of this business to begin with, you and Luck wouldn’t have to be dragged into it.” Then he exhaled. “But there’s nothing to be done about that now.” He looked at her. “We’ll be alright.”
Gemma smiled. “You bet your ass we will,” she said, and Sal laughed.
Then their look changed. And they stared into each other’s eyes. And they began kissing.
Sal