Page 36 of Loyalty

She still kept quiet.

Matteo continued talking, anyway. “Besides, you are my daughter. My only—”

Siena couldn’t keep quiet at that statement. “You have three daughters with Joy Kennedy.”

The reddening of her father’s cheeks almost made her grin. She held it back, but still took great satisfaction at the sight.

“Yes, well, I meant my only legitimate daughter,” Matteo grumbled.

“I’m sure Ma appreciated that when she found out about the other ones.”

“We’re not talking about that right now, Siena.”

No, they never did.

Another rule to add to the pile.

Nothing was discussed that her father didn’t approve. That absolutely included his mistress, and the children she birthed him.

“As I was saying,” Matteo muttered heavily, giving her a pointed look, “you are my daughter. I don’t think I need a reason to check in with you every once in a while. Do I?”

Siena was desperately trying to focus on the words in her book, and not whatever information her father had come here to pry out of her. That’s the only reason she figured he was there. Her lack of focus on the book made it difficult to ignore Matteo.

Besides, if she pissed him off, he would just make the next couple of weeks a living hell for her when it came to work.

He was not very sly in that way.

“I guess so,” she finally said.

Matteo smiled, and patted a beefy hand to her knee. “Good. How about you go make me a coffee?”

Great.

Bookkeeper, and a server.

Perfect.

Siena tossed her book aside with a soft sigh, and stood from the couch. Her father followed behind as she headed for the kitchen. With the electric kettle turned on, she kept her back turned to her father as she pulled out instant coffee, sugar, and a mug from the cupboard. At least this way, she figured her father might get the hint that she was not up for conversation.

Apparently not …

“I wondered if maybe you would be out tonight,” he said behind her.

Siena stiffened. “Why would I be out?”

“You’re twenty-five. Surely you have friends, and you like to do things. Don’t most girls your age?”

“Haven’t you told me for basically my whole life that idle hands and bad behavior would only shame you and the family?”

Matteo chuckled darkly. “That I did.”

“I don’t go out very much, Dad.”

Mostly true.

“No friends, either?”

“A couple.”