Reno looked at Tommy too. And Tommy nodded. “That’s what Teddy’s saying.”
“Damn,” said Reno. “This shit is deep.”
“Who’s the baby mama?” Sal asked.
Tommy knew Sal really wasn’t going to like it. “Cleo Burgess.”
Sal was stunned. “Get the fuck out of here! Mick gave that bitch a baby?”
“You act like it was wrapped under a Christmas tree,” Reno said. “He didn’tgiveher one. She had one. Get your head out of your ass, Sal.”
“Ah fuck you, Reno!”
“Now that’s enough,” Tommy said. “Uncle Mick’s got enough drama going on. We don’t need to bring ours too.”
Both men settled back down as their limo stopped near the entrance and Robby Yale, who sat up front, hopped out and opened the back door. They all stepped out buttoning theirsuit coats. Robby remained outside with Teddy’s capos as they headed for the front door.
When they went inside, since Reno never bothered to knock, Mick was seated in a chair in the living room with a drink in his hand. Monk Paletti was seated in the other chair with his legs crossed. Teddy and Nikki were on one of the two sofas. Their baby girl was still on lockdown at Mick’s house. The only reason they were allowed to stay at their own home, which was under heavy guard too, was because they still had to run Mick’s syndicate.
After the Gabrinis spoke to everybody, they sat on the opposite sofa. With Tommy, as usual, in the middle.
And Reno, as usual, was the first to talk. “Uncle Mick, you look like shit.”
Teddy was offended. “How would you look if you got shot six times, Reno?”
“The way he’s been running around everywhere says to me that he’s over all that.”
“Still show some respect though,” Teddy said.
“I’m just telling the truth over here,” Reno said in that Italian twang that always came out whenever he got upset. “You worry about yourself. You worry about that hand you almost lost to some punk in the woods.”
“That’s enough, Reno,” Tommy said.
But Reno was still hot. “His ass came for me! He’d better be the one to show some respect!”
This was getting out of hand already, Tommy thought, but Mick seemed unfazed. “Are your wives and children on lockdown?”
“First of all, Tommy brought his entire family,” Reno said. “They’re staying at your house. As for the rest of us, yes. Our families are on highest security and heavy guard, yes sir.But you don’t think that little fucker’s gonna reach back at us. Or do you, Uncle Mick?”
“I do not. It’s precautionary only.”
“Do I know him?” Tommy asked.
“I doubt if you do,” said Teddy. “But Sal does.”
“Who?” Sal asked. He was genuinely confused. “What’s his name?”
“Ricardo DeSouza.”
Sal knew he heard that wrong. “What are you talking, Teddy? Ricky DeSouza is Cleo’s old man.”
“That’s what she lied and said. But he’s her son. She was protecting him.”
Sal and Reno looked at each other. What kind of bullshit was this? And nobody was going to address the elephant in the room? Not even Tommy, who was Mick’s favorite nephew?
But Tommy kept it all business. “How do we find him?” he asked their uncle.
“We find everybody he loves.”
