Page 39 of Loyalty

A peace offering.

After three years of lockup, it felt damn good to get back into business. Being a Capo—even if he did have other Capos looking over his fucking shoulder—was what he did best.

“Pleasure doing business with you, Johnathan,” Maverick said.

John tipped his glass up for a drink, and smirked. “And you.”

The two men sipped their drinks, although John’s was nothing more than water. He didn’t drink—or usually—as it wasn’t good to mix alcohol with his meds.

Only a select few people knew that, though.

Andino was one of them.

John quickly finished his water, and set the glass to the table. Maverick followed along, and finished his own drink as well.

“So that’s settled then,” Johnathan said.

Maverick stood from the table. “Seems so. You’ll supply, and I’ll buy from only you.”

“Keep that agreement, and you won’t need to see us again.”

“We wouldn’t be as nice the second time,” Andino added.

The gang leader gave a single nod in response, held up two fingers, and gestured at his men waiting a few tables over. With a quick goodbye between the three men, Maverick headed for the exit with his three men flanking him from the sides and behind.

John and Andino’s two enforcers came closer damn near instantly. Their empty glasses on the table, and the one Maverick left behind, were picked up by the enforcers, and removed.

“Thanks,” John said to Andino.

His cousin grinned. “For what, man? You handled that on your own. I don’t know what the hell Dante is worried about with you. I wasn’t even needed here tonight.”

John chuckled. “Tell him that.”

“I will.”

He didn’t doubt his cousin.

“I meant, thanks for the water,” John said.

Andino shrugged a single shoulder, and shoved his hands in his pockets. “I’ve always got your back, John. Even when you don’t know it.”

John gave Andino a look. “Not really your job, though.”

“Still going to do it.”

“What about when you don’t have the time anymore, huh?”

Andino’s gaze narrowed. “Like fucking when?”

“How about when you’re the boss, and have a whole organization to manage? You don’t need to be worrying about me when that happens, Andi.”

“Yeah, sure, but—”

“No buts. You work on you—make sure you are where you need to be in this organization, Andino. I’ll handle me.”

Andino scoffed, but clapped John hard on the shoulder at the same time. The two stood at the same six-foot-three height, yet Andino had a good thirty pounds of muscle on John’s lean form. Still, he had never felt like the lesser when it came to his cousin. He appreciated Andino for that more than anything else.

“Man, even when I am looking out for me, I am still going to be looking out for you,” Andino said, shrugging. “I don’t know how to do anything different. Not after everything.”