Page 40 of Trina Gabrini: Bring Him Back Home to Me

“That’s not how it works, Uncle Sal,” Dommi said. “As law enforcement, I have to testify in court a lot. Those jurors do bond with the lead attorney.”

“I used to be law enforcement too, smart ass,” Sal shot back. “I didn’t bond with none of them asshole lawyers.”

“You wasn’t on the jury, Sal,” said Tommy. “We’re talking about the jury.”

Everybody expected Sal to fire back at his brother, but he was instead looking toward the entrance. And that was when they all looked and saw Reno and Trina enter the dining hall.

But they didn’t know what to expect. Did they make up, or were they still at odds? Tommy and Sal knew that what Reno did was a tough pill for Trina to swallow, but they both would bet the farm she’d eventually swallow and follow the way she usually did. She and Reno both had issues from their pasts, and both of them always ended up having each other’s back. Big Daddy Sinatra said it best: “Reno and Trina were stuck together for life. Should they be together given their volatile relationship,” he added, “was a different conversation.” That was why they all were staring at the couple.

But when Reno pulled out a chair for Trina to sit at the table, and when he stood by her side, poured her a cup of coffee and then gave her the filled cup, they were all inwardly relieved.

“You guys want something to eat?” Jimmy asked his parents as Reno sat down beside Trina.

“Since I’m starved, that would be a yes,” Reno said.

Trina was about to get up to plate their food, but Jimmy got up instead. “We got it, Ma. Come help me, Dom,” he said to his younger brother and they both made their way into the kitchen.

Tommy was particularly concerned. Reno was his best friend and he was Trina’s confidant. “Everybody okay now?” he asked them.

“No,” said Reno to everybody’s surprise. But then he added: “Not until I find that bastard.”

“He meant is everything okay between you and Trina, Reno,” Grace said.

“Oh,” said Reno. He looked at his wife. “Everything okay now, Tree?”

Trina took a sip of her coffee, and then she sat it back down. And then she smiled that smile they all had been waiting for. “Yes,” she said. “All is well again.” And they all applauded and smiled too. Reno placed his hand on her hand and squeezed it. They could also hear Jimmy and Dommi shout out their joy from the kitchen.

But a part of Trina was still traumatized by Reno’s confession. She didn’t know if she’d ever get over it. She was just hoping to be able to get through it.

But Reno still had Moose Vatelli on his mind. “What’s the latest, Sal?”

“The cleanup crew did their job. Lydia’s been disposed of and her old man doesn’t know she’s gone. But we still haven’t been able to make contact with Moose.”

“He’s not answering our calls?” Reno was surprised.

“Not a one. And several of us have tried to phone him.”

“I’ll bet you he’ll answer Mick’s calls,” said Trina.

But Reno was already shaking his head. “No Mick. I don’t want Uncle Mick involved in this. His ass wouldn’t respect me anymore if he knew what I’d done.”

Since Gemma had already told Grace what she knew about Reno’s situation, which was only a fraction of the full story, neither one of them questioned his odd statement.

But Trina questioned it. “What do you mean he wouldn’t respect you? You must be joking. His ass has done even worse!”

“I know that’s right,” said Sal.

“I agree with Reno,” said Tommy. “This is his battle. He has to fight it his way.”

“And I don’t want to bring in any more families,” Reno added. “I’m sorry you and Sal and your families had to be roped in as it is.”

“They weren’t roped in,” said Trina, who was back to defending Reno. “They knew what went down even when I didn’t know it. They were already in.”

Sal nodded. “True that,” he said.

But just as Jimmy and Dom returned to the table with plates of food for their parents, everybody suddenly heard what sounded like a commotion in the corridor outside of the penthouse.

“What was that?” Jimmy asked.