Page 149 of Loyalty

It took far too long for Siena to move again. Instead of going after John, she moved to the papers on the floor. She picked up one, and then another. Newspaper clippings, and items of a similar nature stared back at her. Her gaze drifted over the words, and the pictures attached.

Old newspapers. Old news.

It was still as clear as day.

The intention was obvious.

Marco Grovatti, one of the headlines read, killed in his home.

Another one … another headline… Johnathan Grovatti, son of murdered mob boss, attends father’s funeral with wife.

Young Calabrese Capo suspected of murdering former boss.

Carl Calabrese takes over Grovatti family.

Over and over again.

Headline after headline.

Newspaper clipping after newspaper clipping. All sent to John. Apparently, by his own family, if she had understood him correctly.

All that bad blood between their families was suddenly staring Siena right in the face. She didn’t know what to do. Go upstairs to John, or stay stuck in her fear?

She knew one thing for sure, though.

John still needed help.

• • •

“Andino.”

Andino turned from the man he was currently going over paperwork with, and his gaze found Siena standing just a few feet away. The restaurant bustled with patrons, and employees. It was closing in on dinner time, and the place seemed filled to the brim.

“Siena?”

She brushed her sweaty palms off on her tweed coat. Her heart raced. At that moment, her nerves were out of control. She felt like she was going to puke. Every single part of her screamed that this was wrong, and bad. She shouldn’t be here. She shouldn’t be doing this.

Not to John.

But she had to.

“How did you find me?” Andino asked.

Siena took a deep breath. “I heard John mention something on the phone to someone. He said he might come see you later. He mentioned this restaurant.”

“John hasn’t been here. Not today.”

“He probably forgot. He’s been doing that a lot lately.”

Andino frowned. “What, forgetting things?”

“That’s one.”

He cleared his throat, and nodded once to the man at his side. “Give us a few minutes. Find a table, and I’ll come see you when I’m done.”

Then, to Siena, he said, “Let’s go to my office.”

Siena didn’t say anything, simply followed behind Andino. He strolled through a busy kitchen, and bypassed the bustling employees. Once inside the office, he closed the door behind them. He didn’t take a seat at the big desk, but he offered a chair to Siena.