CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

At his corporate headquarters office in Seattle, Tommy Gabrini stepped onto his private elevator with Katherine Keaton, a hard-driving business owner who had just sealed a deal with Tommy to become a part of Sinatra Enterprises.

“This is going to be a wonderful partnership, Tommy,” Katherine said as they rode down the elevator to his private parking lot. “I’m so looking forward to my company coming under your umbrella. It’s a dream come true.”

“I’m glad to have you in the fold, Kate. I think it’s a win-win for both of us.”

“Here here,” said Katherine as she gave Tommy that assessing look he hated.

And when they stepped off of the elevator into the private parking lot, she went for it. “I have a suggestion,” she said.

“Already?’ Tommy smiled that smile that could chase birds from trees, Katherine thought. “The ink’s not dry yet,” Tommy added. “What’s your suggestion?”

“I suggest we get a room.”

Tommy continued to smile and stare at her, but inwardly he felt that anger coming on. All his life he’d been the brunt of advances. Men and women alike. All because his features ranked him as among the best looking men on the planet, although he never bought into that. But so many people did.

But he kept his distaste to himself. “Thanks, but no. I’m married,” was his response.

“I’m married too,” said Katherine. “So what?”

Tommy began walking toward his car, his briefcase at his side.

Katherine, determined to get that Adonis in her bed, walked with him. “You won’t regret it.”

“I’m married,” Tommy said, “and mean it.”

“But does she mean it?” Katherine asked. “Didn’t she divorce you once before?”

“We divorced each other. But we’re back together.”

“It makes no sense, Tommy. You’re like perfection and she’s not even pretty. What’s up with that?”

Tommy stopped walking and looked at Katherine. She was a gorgeous lady, no doubt about it. But he was sick and tired of people putting his wife down. “I’ve never met anyone more beautiful in my life,” he said. “Inside and out. That’s what’s up with that.” And he began walking to his car again.

“Let’s just get a room,” Katherine said, following him again.

“No, Kate.”

“Why not? You’re Dapper Tom for crying out loud. You used to change women like you changed underwear. What happened to that guy? Come on, Tommy. You won’t regret it.”

Tommy’s anger unleashed and Dapper Tom became Backdoor Tommy, the man he was known as during his mob enforcer days. He moved closer to Katherine, invading her personal space on purpose and making her damn uncomfortable. “Keeping pulling that shit and I’ll pull the deal, you understand me? I am married. End of that discussion.”

His look chilled her to the bone. She knew he had mob connections through his family. She knew he might even have been in that life once upon a time himself. She backed off.

And he got in his Mercedes and drove away. He hated losing his cool. But he hated advances more. Especially from married people who should know better. He pressed on the playback on his car screen and listened to the bullet points for his next meeting, comprised by his team, as he headed the meeting across town.

But he was barely on the road when he saw an SUV get perilously close to the back side door of his car. When he looked, the SUV moved over further, which made him look away. But then the SUV suddenly swerved back beside his car and did what seemed like a PIT maneuver the cops used by slamming into his back driver side door and causing the car to tailspin around and around and then sail backwards and down an embankment, losing traction and then sailing toward a body of water he didn’t even know was there.

Tommy, panicking, quickly began pressing down all four of his windows, knowing that as soon as his vehicle hit that water, the computer and electronics would no longer be viable and he could drown. His only prayer, though, was that he survived the hit.

And it was a massive hit as his Mercedes slammed into the water and immediately was submerged with interior water. He quickly got out of his vehicle through his window and began swimming back to shore.

When he got out of the water, was already so sunk down that only the back bumper was showing. And when he turned and looked up at the road again, he saw that same black SUV just sitting there. And then it sped away.