Page 24 of Loyalty

Andino laughed quietly. “Yeah, uh … they want to move me up in la famiglia, John. The end goal is for me to take control after Dante is done.”

Like a boss.

The boss.

A Cosa Nostra Don.

John took in the news, and let it process before he spoke. Not because he felt bad about it, or wondered why. He knew that was the best choice for the Marcello organization. Andino was the best choice, for more reasons than John could name.

Seems John would now have something to discuss with his father when he went to have dinner with his parents tomorrow. Their dinners were already stilted because John didn’t have a lot to say.

“Okay,” John said. “I don’t understand what the problem is.”

Andino blinked. “No?”

“No.”

“A lot of us figured it would be you to do that, John.”

Oh.

“Me, too,” John said, chuckling, “a long time ago.”

“I’m sorry, man.”

John shook his head. “They’re making the right choice, Andi.”

Andino glanced down. “I didn’t ask for this, John. I woke up being a very content Capo, and good at what I do. It’s what I wanted to do, and they just shoved this at me. Like here you fucking go, so be thankful.”

“You’re the right choice. You already look out for this family like it’s your first job, anyway.”

“Family first,” Andino said, nodding.

“God is a very close second.”

So was the Marcello way.

• • •

“Johnathan.”

At the sound of his mother’s sweet voice, John’s anxiety slipped away. It wouldn’t last for long, he knew, but he enjoyed it while he could.

Bending down, he kissed Jordyn’s smiling cheek. “Hey, Ma.”

Jordyn’s blue gaze took a silent inventory of her son. “You look well.”

“I looked well when I was here a couple of weeks ago, too.”

“Mmhmm, but you don’t come over often enough for me to make sure you are always well, John.”

“Ma,” he said quietly.

Jordyn waved a hand as if to dismiss what she had said. “Never mind. It’s just me thinking out loud.”

John offered his mother a hand to help her up from the couch. He followed behind her as she headed for the kitchen. His mother’s favorite room in the entire house. Despite all her efforts to teach him how to cook, John still sucked.

Jordyn checked the casserole in the oven as she said, “I didn’t know if you were coming today or not, but I made you chicken and salad—all organic, John.”