Reno Gabrini: A Man in Full by Mallory Monroe Read Free Book Online Page A

again about some new nonsense of yours, I’ll invoke the morals clause of that contract and toss you out on your fat ass.  And I’ll have the paparazzi outside waiting to photograph the toss.  And if you don’t believe me, if you think I’m blowing smoke up that ass, then try me.  I’m begging you to.”
    Then Reno looked at her entourage, who collectively backed up as soon as his cold, blue eyes looked their way, and then he looked back at Shay.  “As simple as that,” he said, and then left the room.
    Lee shook his head as he followed behind his boss.  He had warned Shay that nothing good would come of her continual badgering.  He had warned her how stirring up Reno’s ire was just like playing with fire.  But when Lee glanced back, and saw the look of anger, rather than humiliation, on her face, he knew she still didn’t get it.  He knew she still was determined to toss that match on that gasoline all the same, just to see, with her entourage egging her on, if it would really explode.
      Reno, however, already had his mind on other things.  Anything was better than dealing with divas.  His phone began ringing as Lee joined him in the corridor and they began walking back toward the elevators.
    “She’s nuts, Reno,” Lee said.
    “Crazy as goat shit,” Reno agreed.  When he pulled out his phone and saw who was calling, he glanced up at Lee.  “I’ll check you up later,” he said to his right hand man and Lee, understanding, walked on ahead of his boss. 
    Reno then pinched his temple as he walked slowly along the corridor, his suit, though expensive, rumpled and showing signs of serious distress. “What is it?” he asked into his phone.
    “She just went to dinner,” the voice on the other end said.
    “Yeah, so,” Reno replied.  “What are you bothering me about that for?”
    “A very attractive man is with her.”
    Reno slowed his walk.  “Yeah?”
    “Yes, sir.”
    “Do I know him?”
    “I don’t think so.  I’ve never seen him before, that’s for sure.”
    “You have his photo I take it?”
    “I do.”
    “Shoot it to me,” Reno ordered, and then killed the call. 
    Within seconds a series of photos arrived on Reno’s phone.  He stopped walking completely as he looked at them.  First it was the photo of the guy.  Tall, handsome black guy.  And Reno knew immediately who he was.  Jody fucking Parks.  Then he was opening the passenger side door of a car, helping Trina in.  Then he was walking in front of the car to get to the driver’s side, and he was photographed with a big grin on his face.  As if, Reno thought, he was a man who couldn’t believe his good luck. 
    Then more photos came in.  Jody and Trina getting out of the car at a restaurant Reno knew as The Carlton.  It wasn’t a fancy restaurant by any means.  Reno certainly wouldn’t have taken Trina to a place like that.  It didn’t even have valet parking for crying out loud.  But it was close to Champagne’s, which, he assumed, was the point. 
    And then there was the final photo where they were walking through the double doors of that restaurant, and Jody had his big ass hand on the small of Trina’s back.
    Reno stared at that last photograph, and the fact that this man was touching his wife so intimately, and then he began walking again. 
    Only Reno was walking much faster now.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

 
     
    FIVE
     
    “A toast,” Jody said as he lifted his glass toward Trina’s.  They were at a booth inside the Carlton and had already placed their dinner orders.  Now they were having a toast.
    “And to what are we toasting?” Trina asked as she lifted her glass too. 
    “You, my dear,” Jody said.  “Always you.”
    Trina smiled, clanked her glass with his, and then sipped from her wine, looking at Jody as she did.  He was definitely a looker, she thought, and had that swag in spades.  But she didn’t get it.  His showing up like this felt too surprising, too out of the