But sometimes she wondered if he was tired of her. Why else would he work so hard as if that casino, or somebody in it, was his real woman and she was the side piece? Maybe he wanted some hot young thang that would let him get away with murder instead of a wife who didn’t let him get away with shit. Maybe she had outstayed her sell-by date. Maybe his love for her had expired and he was just holding on for the sake of the children or because he wanted to let her down easy or just because of their long history together.
She remembered how they first met, and how he defended her so hard. Somehow she knew even then he was going to look out for her. And he did. To this day. But she had never given him a reason to turn on her. She never did shit to Reno. It was always Reno busy doing all his shit to her. But if she told him about that one event in her life; that one moment in time that she could hardly speak of, he would have a reason to drop her ass like a hot potato and keep it moving.
Or maybe she was just projecting onto Reno all of her own baggage.
Reno looked at her. He felt as if there was a heaviness all over her. “Trina, what’s wrong with you?”
She didn’t expect him to be so blunt. “What do you mean?”
“You want a divorce?”
Trina’s heart dropped. “Why would you say that?”
Reno stared at her a moment longer and then looked back at the ceiling. “Our son is a mob boss. Which means I failed as a father.”
“You didn’t fail, Reno.”
“And that guy at that diner would be more than happy to take my place.”
Trina frowned. “Boy, what are you talking about?”
“I had my guys check him out. Mr. Javon Douglas. And guess what I found out?”
Trina was scared to ask it. She just stared at Reno.
“He’s clean as a whistle. They couldn’t find not a damn thing on him.” He looked at her. “He’s perfect for you, Trina.”
Trina rolled her eyes. “Reno quit. Just quit.”
Reno’s anger burst. “Then tell me what’s going on dammit! Because something is wrong and I know it. What is it, Tree? You wanna leave me? Is that it?”
“No!” She could see the anguish in Reno’s big, blue eyes. “No,” she said again as she pulled him into her arms. “I’ll never leave you stupid.”
Reno held onto her tighter than she could possibly hold onto him. That was how deeply he felt for her. They embraced for a long time.
Then he leaned back and they looked into each other’s eyes. “I feel like I failed him, Tree. My worst fear for Dommi is realized. I failed him, Tree.”
But Trina was shaking her head. “Dommi knows better. He knew the last thing we wanted him to be was in that business. But guess what he did? He got in it anyway. Because it’s never about what our parents want. It’s about what we want. And Dom always wanted that life. They offered it to him, and he took it. It almost cost him everything,” Trina added with a frown, “but it’s the life he wants. You can’t make him be what you want, or what I want. He has to live his own life.”
“But was I a good parent? Be honest.”
“Neither one of us would win any awards, okay? We were never going to be Clair and Cliff Huxtable okay? But we did the best we could. We did the best with what we have to work with. But people become who they are. Dommi is who he is. And like he said: that life is in his blood and always was. Jimmy got out and stayed out. Dom couldn’t wait to get back in.”
“He’s got power now. Real power. He’s staying in this time. You know that?”
Trina nodded. “I know it.”
They stared at each other as if they were realizing their fate. Then Reno’s look changed. “Nobody’s gonna love you like I love you, Trina,” he said.
She stared at him. Where did that come from?
“They might be younger and better looking and got that dark-chocolate skin you prefer, but nobody’s gonna be better for you than me.”
“I know that, Reno.”
She could tell she said it in a way that turned Reno on because his gaze went from her eyes to her mouth. And before she knew it, he was kissing her. But when his kiss lingered longer than usual and it became more desperate and urgent, she knew they were about to have a point-proving make-out session.
And that was exactly what it felt like to Trina when Reno quickly removed her nightgown, tossing it across the room, and began moving down her body kissing her everywhere he could. And when he lingered again, this time between her legs, she knew what was coming next.
