Reno Gabrini: His Mississippi Blues

CHAPTER ONE

He couldn’t believe he was hanging out with his kid brother on a big Saturday night. But there they were, Jimmy and Dom, driving around the backside of a big house because of so many cars.

“I see it’s a big-ass house, but damn,” said Jimmy as he was forced to drive around to the back and park his Lamborghini at the far edge of the yard, near the fence. “There’s no way this many people can get in that one house.”

Dom laughed. “You’ve been running with Pop and Uncle Tommy way too long, Jimbo. Just relax. Have some fun. You’re single again. Rejoice and be glad about that. It’s time you embrace your youth again.”

Jimmy didn’t feel youthful at all as he stepped out of his car buttoning his Canali suit. He missed his girlfriend. It still hurt like hell that she didn’t want the Gabrini life for herself and decided to break it off after many on and off attempts at reconciliation. They’d been together a long time. But let Dom tell it, he should be glad. Glad of what? Glad that he, like so many in their family, failed at the only real relationship he’d ever had? Glad that she was going out with other men and having fun? But according to Dom, he should rejoice. That was why he never hung out with his kid brother.

Dom gave a hard exhale when he walked around to the driver side of the car and gave his brother another look-over. Both were biracial who had the same father but different mothers. Each would be considered an excellent catch to many young ladies. But when Dom started shaking his head as if his brother was a lost cause, Jimmy frowned. “What is it now?”

“Your style, that’s what,” Dom said, looking at his brother’s designer suit. “I know you’re the big man at Uncle Tommy’s Fortune 500 corporation. I know you’re the Chief Operating Officer or whatever big shit title he gave you. But this is a party, bro. See how I’m dressed?” They both looked down at Dom’s casual wear. “This is Saturday night. We ain’t going to no board meeting.” Then he shook his head. “You’re a combination of Daddy and Uncle Tommy through and through.”

“Yeah, yeah, sure. Call me whatever you like. Let’s just get this thing over with.”

Dom laughed at Jimmy’s approach at having fun, which irritated Jimmy even more, but the two brothers made their way into the house from the back door.

The entire first floor of the three-story home had been converted into a lounge, with tables and chairs and booths galore, and Jimmy and Dommi had a choice seat reserved for them. “You made a reservation?” Jimmy asked as a waiter sat them down.

Dom laughed yet again. “No silly. They know who’s VIP on the guest list and they give them the best tables. I’m VIP. That’s why we got a great table.”

Jimmy knew it was more likely because of who their father was that Dom got a great table, but he didn’t bust his kid brother’s bubble. He was doing good lately. He was still working at the casino for their father and doing a bang-up job. There were rumors that Dom just might get promoted to VP, although Jimmy hadn’t heard any final word on it yet. Uncle Sal was unusually tightlipped, and Uncle Tommy never told shit about shit. And they were the only two people their father would have asked for advice on the matter. But Jimmy was hopeful for Dommi.

But the girls were too much. Every time he turned around one wanted to dance with him or talk to him or get his number. But he refused them all.

Even Dommi, who actually still had a girlfriend, danced with a couple of the ones that asked him. But not Jimmy.

Which caused more consternation from Dom when he returned from the dance floor and saw that his brother was still sitting at their table. “What’s your problem though? Those some nice-looking chicks you’re turning down. What’s wrong with you?”

“It’s too soon,” Jimmy said.

“Too soon? You and O’s been off more than you’ve been on for so long the family stopped asking if you guys were back together again. They assumed you weren’t. And you’re talking it’s too soon ? Get out of here!”

“Hey Dommi. Who’s that?”

“Hey, there . . .” Dom couldn’t remember her name. “This is my big brother James. James, this is . . . a friend of mine.”

Jimmy inwardly shook his head. Dom didn’t even remember his so-called friend’s name. “Nice to meet you,” Jimmy said with a winning smile as he shook the young lady’s hand.

“Wanna dance?”

“No, I’m good, but thanks.”

The young lady was offended, Jimmy could tell, but that was her problem. He wasn’t ready yet.

And after less than an hour of the noise and the nothing conversations and to many thirsty ladies coming over and smiling at him as if he was new money on the scene, he decided it was time to go. He was the boss of thousands and had an early day tomorrow. This non-fun fun wasn’t worth losing sleep over.

He got up and went over to the bar where Dommi was now hanging out and laughing with a few of his buddies. “Let’s go, Dom.”

Dom looked at him as if he was crazy. “Go? What are you nuts? We just got here!”

“I told you I wasn’t staying long.”

“It hasn’t been long.” Then he stared at his brother. “You aren’t even trying to get over that bitch, Jimmy.”

“Don’t call her that,” Jimmy said bluntly. “Don’t you dare call her that.”

“But why don’t you go into one of the gambling rooms? Maybe that’ll give you a lift.”

“No thanks.” Jimmy gave up gambling years ago.

“I tried,” Dom said sincerely. “But you go ‘head on. I’ll catch a ride with one of my guys.”

“Sounds good to me. I’m out,” Jimmy said, the brothers gave each other a half-hug, and Jimmy gladly got out of there.

But he was barely out the door and across the patio, where a few couples were making out, when he heard his name.

He turned around and stopped walking when he saw Paulie Bernardi heading his way, his hands flared out as if he was puzzled. “What was that about, Gabrini?”

Jimmy frowned. “What was what about?”

“That was my girl you were trying to hit on, and you knew she was mine.”

They were now face to face, and Jimmy was now the puzzled one. “Paulie, what are you talking? I wasn’t hitting on anybody. I didn’t even see your girl, whoever she is.”

“Yeah right! If you weren’t giving her that look ever since you got here, then I’m a blind fucking bat.”

“You might be if you think I was coming on to your girl.”

“You know me right?”

Jimmy rolled his eyes. He had to play the tough guy now. He was Brocco Bernardi’s heir and he had to act the part now. Jimmy had been around it most of his life. That Italian accent would thicken and they would have to play the role. Only Jimmy’s family invented the role, he didn’t have to play shit. Paulie’s family was knee deep in that mob shit, too, and he didn’t have to play the role either, but some guys never learned. “Go back to your lady, Paulie. I’m going home,” Jimmy said as he turned to leave.

But before he was completely turned around, he felt Paulie grab his arm, sling him back around, and swing on him with a roundhouse right. But it wasn’t Jimmy’s first time at the rodeo. He might have forsaken that life for the corporate world, but he was still a Gabrini. He deftly jerked his head to the left, just evading the punch, and then took his own fist and punched Paulie squarely on the jaw, knocking him off his feet.

But Paulie, like his old man, was a tenacious bastard and hopped right back up. And the fight, which was more like a wrestling match, was on, as both men did all they could to get the advantage on the other one.

But within seconds, and just as Jimmy had the upper hand and had slammed Paulie to the ground, he suddenly saw a flash of metal in one of Paulie’s hands. Realizing it was a gun, Jimmy frantically grabbed Paulie’s hand and the two men wrestled for control of the gun. It was so sudden that everybody on the patio just stood still. They didn’t know what was happening either.

And then, just as Paulie seemed to regain the upper hand and was able to turn Jimmy onto his back, the gun went off. One shot was all it took. And then Paulie, with the gun now pointed at his stomach, fell off of Jimmy and onto the ground.

Jimmy, stunned, jumped to his feet, his heart pounding. He immediately took off his suit coat and applied it to Paulie’s bleeding stomach. He couldn’t believe it. What just happened? How could something as juvenile and ridiculous as supposedly looking at somebody’s girl end up like this? Jimmy was a Fortune 500 businessman. He didn’t know anything about this gangster shit anymore. He wasn’t about that life!

But Dommi was.

“Get my brother!” he yelled out in agony to the few outside. “Get my brother!”

And a guy on the porch, who knew the Gabrinis, ran back into the house and got Dommi.