Tommy Gabrini 3: Grace Under Fire (The Gabrini Men Series) (7 page)

“From
all I’ve heard,” Peter said, heading for the door, “she’s practically a saint.”

“Good,”
Amy said.
 
“Then her race won’t
matter.
 
We’ll just have to build up her
halo.”

Peter
opened the door before Tommy could knock.
 
And they embraced heartily.
 
He
and Tommy were old friends.
 
He was glad
to see him again.

“Come
on in, Tommy Tom,” Peter said cheerfully.

“Quite
the digs you picked,” Tommy said smilingly, walking in and looking around.

“I am
in Seattle, after all.
 
What do you
expect?
 
A fancy hotel?”

Tommy
playfully choked Peter, causing him to laugh and hug Tommy again as he closed
the door.
 
Amy walked up, smiling too.

“This
is one of the DC operatives I wanted you to meet,” Peter said to Tommy.

“I’m
Amy Richards,” she said, extending her hand.
 
“Very nice to meet you.”

“Nice
to meet you,” Tommy said as they shook.
 
She was an attractive blue-eyed brunette, tall and thin.
 
A Washington mover and shaker from how Peter
had described her.

“Grab
a seat,” she said, and took a seat in the only chair in the room.
 
“We have lots to discuss.”

Tommy
and Peter were forced to sit on the small, twin bed.
 
Amy pulled up her chair to face the men.

“I
heard about your merger with Beltco,” Peter said to Tommy.
 
“Congratulations.”

“It’s
not a done deal yet,” Tommy said.
 
“But
I’m hopeful.”

“With
your art of persuasion?
 
You’re seal that
deal just as sure as I’m your friend.”

“Speaking
of deals,” Amy said, interrupting them, “this is the deal.
 
We want you to seek the office of mayor of
Seattle, Mr. Gabrini.”

Tommy
thought it was ludicrous when Peter first made such a pitch a few weeks
ago.
 
He thought it was even more
ludicrous now.
 
“Yes, I’ve heard,” was
his response.

“What
say you?” Amy asked.

“I
say no.”

Amy
crossed her legs.
 
“May I ask why?”

“May
I ask why would DC be interested in a mayor’s race all the way out here in
Seattle?”

Peter
answered that.
 
“Because this is just the
beginning, Tom,” he said.
 
“From here to
the US Senate, to who knows where.
 
This
is just to get your feet wet.”

“And
DC wants to be there to hold your hand the entire way,” Amy said.
 
“We will inject all the money you will need,
we will make your tenure as mayor the most successful in Seattle history.”

Tommy
studied the young woman.
 
“Why?”

Amy
smiled.
 
“Because you’re handsome.
 
Because you’re attractive.
 
Because you’re gorgeous.
 
Because you’re beautiful.
 
And did I mention because you’re
handsome?
 
The ladies, who vote in mass
by the way, will love you.”

Tommy
was immediately uncomfortable, and inwardly angry.
 
He was the successful head of an
international corporation.
 
He was a
powerhouse manager.
 
He was an
intellectual heavyweight.
 
Yet his looks
were all they were interested in.

“No,”
he said.
 
“I’m not interested.”

“Are
you married?” Amy asked this as if he Peter had never told her.

Tommy
looked at her.
 
“I said I’m not
interested.”

“I
heard you.
 
Are you married?”

“Yes,
I’m married.”

“Kids?”

“No.”

“Describe
your wife.”

Tommy
looked at her.
 
“Why?”

“Is
she pretty, I mean?”

“Yes,
she’s pretty.
 
But what in the world does
that have to do with anything at all?”

Amy
considered him.
 
“We need you, Mr.
Gabrini.
 
I know I seem crass, but your
looks will be a very big part of this.
 
You’re the real deal, and that’s what we need.
 
A man with a highly successful business.
 
A man with gumption and toughness.
 
And a man of great looks.”

“The
total package,” Peter said.

“Right,”
Amy echoed.
 
“The total package.”

“Still
not interested.”

“Is it
because of your family background?”

Tommy
gave her a searing look.

“Your
uncle, your father’s father, was a mob boss, no?”

Tommy
didn’t respond.

“But
your father, the man who raised you, was a police chief.
 
Trust me.
 
By the time we’re done, your great father will be the issue.
 
The great chief.
 
The mob boss side of your family will be the
joke.
 
So please don’t let your past
bother you.
 
We’ve got you covered.”

She
didn’t know what she was talking about, Tommy thought.
 
The idea that she would put
great
next to the name of a sadistic,
hateful, abusive man like his father sickened Tommy.
 
He was about to stand, to get the hell out of
her sight, but Amy beat him to the punch.
 
“Stay,” she said, rising herself.
 
“Talk it over with Peter.
 
All we
ask at this juncture is that you at least consider our offer.
 
You will win, we can guarantee it, and you
will move higher in political life, we can guarantee that too.”
 
Then she blew a kiss at Peter.
 
“Call me later,” she said, and left.

“Don’t
dismiss it out of hand,” Peter urged him as soon as the door closed.
 
“Just think about it.
 
You may change your mind.”

“I
doubt that.”

“If I
can make you laugh, will you at least think about it?”

“Make
me laugh?
 
Come on, Pete!
 
We aren’t in high school anymore.”

“But
if I can make you laugh, will you think about it?”

“So
you’ve got jokes now?”

“Just
say yes.”

Tommy
shook his head.
 
Peter was always the
prankster.
 
So he knew one was
coming.
 
“Yeah, sure,” he said.
 
“What’s the joke?”

Peter
jumped on top of Tommy and began tickling him.
 
Tommy was so stunned, and so tickled, that he couldn’t help but laugh.

“I
got you!” Peter proclaimed, still straddling Tommy.
 
“You’re laughing your ass off!
 
You have to think about it now.
 
You gave your word.”

“You
tricked me,” Tommy said.

Peter,
staring down at Tommy, at such a handsome man, turned serious.
 
“Yes,” he said.
 
“But what’s a little prank between
friends?
 
Right?”

Tommy
smiled.
 
“Right,” he said.
 
And just as he said it, and was about to get up,
Peter quickly leaned down and kissed him on the lips.
 

Tommy
became so angry that he threw Peter off of him, jumped up himself, and then
grabbed Peter and rammed him against the wall, and held him there with his
muscular forearm against the man’s throat.
 
“What’s wrong with you?
 
Are you
out of your fucking mind?!”

“I
was just joking around, Tommy,” Peter nervously proclaimed.
 
“You know how I am!”

Tommy
stared at his old friend.
 
And he was
right.
 
Tommy knew how he was.
 
He knew exactly how Prankster Peter was.
 
But he beat his ass just the same.

FIVE

Grace
was just getting out of the shower when Tommy entered their master
bedroom.
 
She stood at the bathroom door,
drying off.
  
He was late, which wasn’t
like him.
 
“Where have you been?” she
asked.

“A
meeting,” he said, removing his suit coat.

Grace
stared at him.
 
Something was wrong.
 
“Are you okay?”

Tommy
looked at her.
 
“I’m fine,” he said more
defensively than he had planned.
 
He
still couldn’t get over that move Peter made on him, but he knew he had
to.
 
He began removing his tie and
walking toward her.
 
“I don’t look okay?”

“You
look like you’re upset.
  
Or frustrated.”

Tommy
kissed her on the cheek.
 
“It’s been a
long day, but I’m okay,” he insisted, and went into the bathroom, pulled out
his penis at the toilet bowl, and began peeing.
 
“You, on the other hand,” he said, looking over at her.

“What
about me?” Grace asked.

Tommy
looked down her body.
 
“You look great.”

Grace
smiled, because Tommy was looking at her ass.
 
“Just get ready, Lover boy,” she said as she headed for the closet.
 
“We’re late as it is.”

By
the time Tommy had brushed his teeth, showered, and shaved, Grace was
completely dressed and sitting on the bed, her legs crossed, waiting for her
husband.
 
She wore a tight, extremely
form-fitting bright red dress with ruching in folds across the front.
 
As soon as Tommy stepped out of the bathroom
and saw her sitting there, he felt a surge of pride.
 
“You look wonderful, darling,” he said.
 
“Just beautiful.”

Grace
looked down too, at his naked, sculptured body.
 
“You don’t look bad yourself.”

Tommy
laughed and headed for the underwear drawer.
 
“You know we can always take a moment out of our busy schedules and go a
round together?”

But
just as he said it, he heard footsteps on the stairs.
 
“Anybody home?” It was Sal’s voice.

Grace
laughed.
 
She’d heard him when he first
came in.
 
“Too late,” she said.

“I
didn’t hear any doorbell ring,” Tommy said.

“Haven’t
you noticed?
 
Your brother doesn’t ring
our doorbell.
 
He just comes on in.”

“Who
just comes on in?” Sal asked as he appeared at their bedroom door.

“You,”
Grace said affectionately.
 
She and Sal
had developed quite a bond.
 
“And what if
I wasn’t decent, Sal?
 
I told you about
just barging in.”

“But
you are decent,” Sal said, “so what’s the big deal?”
 
He checked her out.
 
“And you’re looking very, what I would call
nice.
 
Real nice and ladylike.”

Grace
smiled.
 
“Thank-you.”

“So
you’re not only decent, but you’re more than decent.”

“But
my husband isn’t decent, as you can see.”

“He’s
never decent,” Sal responded, looking at his brother.
 
“So what else is new?”

Grace
laughed.
 
Tommy couldn’t help but
smile.
 
“Real funny,” he said, as he
slipped into a pair of briefs.
 
Then he
looked at how well his brother was put together.
 
Sal wore a tan suit, with his usual expensive
tie pin, gold chain, and Rolex on his arm, with the entire ensemble bringing
out the sparkling blue of his eyes and the thick brown of his hair.
 
“You look nice yourself, Sal.
 
Very distinguished.
 
You clean up well.”

“I
still don’t like it,” Sal said.
 
“I still
feel like a third wheel.”

Grace
frowned.
 
“Why would you feel like
that?
 
Because you don’t have a date?”

“Because
I’m forced to go to this boring-ass event with my big brother and his
wife.
 
As if I’m some third wheel.”

“Oh,
give us a break, Sal,” Tommy said.
 
“You
don’t have to go.”

“Yes,
I do.
 
Jake is on the board at
Beltco.
 
His vote could make the merger
happen.
 
I need to be there.”

“Then
what’s the complaint?” Tommy asked.
 
“You
could have easily taken someone with you.”

“Taken
someone?” Sal asked.
 
“You mean like
another woman?”

Tommy
laughed.
 
“Yeah, a woman.
 
Remember those?
 
There’s any number of women you could have
asked to attend with you.
 
They’d love to
go with you.”

“But
that ain’t happening,” Sal made clear.
 
“Nobody’s going to think I’m with any woman but Gemma.
 
Since she can’t be here, she’s in the middle
of that messy trial back in Vegas, then I go alone.
 
Always.”

Grace
smiled.
 
She always loved Sal’s loyalty to
those he loved.
 
Especially Gemma.
 
“You’re a good man, Salvatore Luciano.”

But
he was shaking his head before she could finish her sentence.
  
“Good?
 
Me?
 
You got the wrong guy there.”

Grace
laughed.
 
“Okay, Sal Luca.
 
Sorry.”

“She’s
right, however,” Tommy said as he headed for his massive closet.
 
“You’re a good man.
 
Stop selling yourself short.”

“What
selling short?” Sal wanted to know. “I’m being honest here!
 
Am I a smart man for picking a good woman
like Gemma Jones?
 
Yeah, I’ll give myself
credit for that.
 
But a good man?
 
Hell no.”
 
Then he looked at Grace.
 
“Good my
ass!”
 
Grace laughed again.
 
“Don’t you dare mess up my rep, Mrs. Gabrini,
what’s your problem?”
 
But then he winked
at her, and laughed too.

The
dinner party was hosted by Jake and Edith Lindley, at their mansion in Madison
Park.
 
They were an interracial couple as
well, with Jake being of African/Asian descent and Edith of eastern European
descent, and they both welcomed Grace with open arms when Tommy first married
her.
 

“The honeymooners
have arrived,” Jake said jovially as they greeted the Gabrinis in their foyer.
Both Tommy and Grace often forgot that they had been married for only a few
months.
 
But honeymooners?
 
They felt too familiar with each other to
view themselves that way.

“The
honeymooners and Sal, that is,” Jake added.
 
He never cared much for Sal, suspecting him of harboring racist
tendencies.
 
But he adored Tommy.

He
and Tommy shook hands as Grace and Edith hugged.
 
“How are you, Jake?” Tommy asked.

“Couldn’t
be better, my man.
 
Good to see you
again.”
 

Jake
and Sal merely nodded at each other.
 
“’Sup,” Jake said to Sal.

“What’s
up?” Sal replied.
 
He used to go out of
his way to try to befriend men like Jake Lindley, but they always seemed to
view him in a negative light, as if no man could ever make mistakes in life and
change, so he gave up trying.
 
To hell
with it, was his actual response.
 
They
could think whatever they wanted to think about Sal.
 
He didn’t give a shit.

   
The party was in full bloom by the time the
Gabrinis arrived, and Tommy and Grace launched right into the thick of
things.
 
Men tended to follow her, and
women tended to follow him, and they both knew how to smile and hold polite
conversation and keep it moving.
 
But
Grace, Tommy thought as he kept an eye out on her, was especially adept at
doing so.
 
Tommy would stand in the
middle of the room, in deep conversations with various people, but his eyes
kept wandering to Grace.
 
He would
occasionally check on Sal, who was bored and looked it, but he mainly kept his
sights on Grace.

To
Grace’s own surprise, she was actually enjoying herself.
 
Edith was introducing her to other women in
her circle, and they all seemed vivacious and friendly.
 
And the men who came up to her, though
flirtatious, were nonetheless polite with it.
 
She even saw Brad Michelin there, who came over and extended his hand.

“Mrs.
Gabrini,” he said, as they shook, “so good to see you again.”

“How
are you, Brad?”

“Good,
thank-you.”

“I
take it my husband phoned you?”

“He
did, yes.
 
He said you have final say and
would get with me once you’ve made your decision.”

Now
was as good a time as any, Grace thought, especially since he was probably not
as on guard as he would be in an interview setting.
 
Although, she suspected, men like Brad were
probably always on guard.

“Tell
me,” she asked, “above all the people I could hire, why should I hire
you?”
 

Brad
smiled.
 
Her suspicion was right.
 
“I have a degree in Finance.
 
I worked for Merrill Lynch for several years.
 
I owned my own accounting firm for several
more.
 
And I’ve conducted numerous audits
for your husband, and he has always been pleased with the results.
 
That was why he recommended me for the job.
 
Because of how thorough I am.”

“And
what else?”

“Excuse
me?”

“What
else about your background you aren’t telling me?”

Brad
smiled.
 
“I don’t understand.”

“In
other words,” Grace said, studying Brad, “my husband wants you at Trammel to be
his eyes and ears.
 
Am I right about
that?”
 
This was the integrity question
for Grace.
 
She had already worked out
that hiring a man like Brad, whose credentials were good but hardly sterling,
was more about Tommy keeping his reins on her, than Brad being such an
outstanding pick.
 
She just wanted him to
have the balls to confirm it.

He
smiled.
 
“That’s a loaded question, Mrs.
Gabrini,” he said.

“Is
it a true question, Mr. Michelin?”

Brad’s
smile dissipated.
 
“To spy for him?
 
No.
 
He’d never do that to you.
 
To be
a failsafe for you?
 
A backup if you
will?
 
Yes.
 
That’s part of it.”

Grace
felt a little letdown by the confirmation.
 
Not because Brad told the truth, she was pleased with that, but because
it was true at all.
 
“And what part of
your background qualifies you to be, not only CFO, but my backup?”

He
smiled.
 
“Let’s just say when Tommy needs
extra muscle, I can hold my own.”

“An
accountant with swag?”

Brad
laughed.
 
“You can say that.”
 
Then he hesitated.
 
“So, what do you think?
 
Am I still in the running to get the job?”

“To
be my CFO?
 
No.
 
I won’t put one of Tommy’s men in that
position.
 
But I can use a good vice
president, somebody with Tommy’s recommendation.
 
I could consider you for that position.”

It
was hardly what Brad had hoped for, but for some reason he was anxious at the
prospect of working closely with her.
 
He
extended his hand.
 
“I accept,” he said.

Grace
was thrown.
 
She smiled.
 
“It’s not exactly CFO rank.
 
Sure you don’t need to think about it?”

“I’m
positive, Mrs. Gabrini.
 
You’re a special
lady, I see why Tommy loves you so much. It’ll be my honor to work for you.”