Read Sal Gabrini: His House of Cards for Free Online Page B

“You’re making a terrible mistake.   He owns the Gabrini Corporation.   He’s Reno Gabrini’s cousin!”
    The
manager’s eyes widened with shock.   He
knew about the Gabrini Corporation, and he definitely knew about Reno Gabrini’s
PaLargio Hotel and Casino on the Vegas Strip.   He immediately ordered the salesman to go get the keys.   “We’ll be right with you, sir, ma’am,” he said
to Sal and Gemma with respect this time, and then hurried to ensure that his
salesman hurried back.
      Sal looked at Gemma.   “You okay?” he asked.
    “I’m good,”
Gemma responded.   “These people don’t
bother me, Sal.   They feel better about
themselves when they denigrate others.   Don’t let them get to you.”
    Sal knew he
needed to be more like Gemma.   He knew he
needed to take all forms of disrespect in stride.   But he couldn’t.   “Fucker have the nerve to ask if we understand
the price of some fucking car,” he said, his blood still boiling.   “As if we’re living hand to mouth or pinching
pennies or something.   Like I’m going to
bring you here, sit you in this car, and then embarrass you because I can’t
afford it.   What kind of sense does that
make?”
    “None,”
Gemma said.   “But they have this
narrative that they want to keep believing, that no minority woman is going to
be valued the way you value me, and spend this kind of money on me, so they
play that game.   It’s jealousy pure and
simple.   They’re fooling nobody but
themselves, Sal.”   Then she added, in the
best Italian voice she could muster:   “Forget about it!”
    Sal smiled,
and then laughed.   And then placed his
arm around her and kissed her.   “You’re a
gem, Gemma,” he said.   “One of a kind.”
    Gemma smiled
too.   She wasn’t about to let anybody
ruin this beautiful Saturday afternoon with her hubby.   Especially not some stuffy-ass car salesman.

 
    But her joy
became fright when they dropped Sal’s Porsche off at the house and Sal got on
the passenger side of her brand new Aston-Martin.   She thought they would go for a drive in the
country.   Sal thought they’d go skating.
    “Skating?”
Gemma asked as she drove out of their circular driveway.   “Why would we want to do that?”
    “Because we
haven’t done it in ages.   Because this is
the first time in a long time that we didn’t have to be apart from each other
working on a Saturday.   I don’t want to
spend it driving around.   I want to do
something special with you.   We’ll go
driving tomorrow, after church.   Let’s go
skating today.”
    Gemma looked
at him.   Was he joking?   “You mean it?” she asked.
    “Yeah, I
mean it.   When was the last time you went
skating?”
    Gemma
couldn’t remember the time.   “It’s been a
while,” she admitted.
    “It’s scary,
isn’t it?” Sal asked.
    Gemma
nodded.   “Yes, as a matter of fact.   The idea of my behind on skates is a scary
proposition.”
    “Don’t worry
about it,” Sal said and leaned his head back.   “You’ll be fine.”
    Gemma
smiled.   She enjoyed skating when she
used to skate.   And it would be
different.   She warmed to the idea.   “Let’s give it a whirl,” she said.   “But if I fall, Salvatore Luciano, you’d
better catch me.”
    Sal
grinned.   “I told you not to worry,” he
said.   “When have I ever let you fall?”

 
    But when
they arrived at the rink, and placed on their skates, he began moving too
fast.   Gemma could barely keep up.
    “Sal, slow
your butt down,” she admonished him angrily as she held onto his
shirttail.   “I told you I haven’t skated
in years.” They were surrounded by young people whizzing past them as if they
were standing still.
    “You can do
it, Gem,” Sal said with a grin.   “Come
on, babe.   It’s easy, you know it’s
easy.   Just follow me and do like I
do.   Okay?”
    “Let me get
my balance first,” Gemma said as she continued to hold his