Page 54 of Loyalty

Why would she let him be something to her?

If only shit was that easy.

It never was.

“Shame,” Coraline said. “You’re going to be a lonely woman for the rest of your life at the rate you’re going, Siena.”

“Ma.”

“I’m just saying. Why don’t you go check on your father and brothers for me?”

“For what?”

“See if they would like a drink,” her mother suggested.

“They can get their own drinks, Ma.”

Coraline shot her a look. “Not in this house, Siena.”

Great.

“Sure, Ma.”

Men were the kings.

Women were meant to serve them.

Or, that’s what her mother liked to believe.

Siena didn’t wait on her brothers and father outside of this house, but if it gave her a chance to get away from her mother for a minute, she would do it. At least it gave her an excuse not to see every single one of her decorations redone.

The party was still a couple of hours away yet. She wouldn’t be able to blend into the people until the house was full, and her parents stopped looking for her.

Same with her brothers.

“Nothing, you’re sure?” she heard her father say down the hallway.

Siena headed to the kitchen where Matteo was discussing something with her brothers at the table. Like always, Matteo sat at the head of the table while her brothers sat on the right and left sides.

None of them paid her much attention other than a look.

Her father did make sure to say, “Make us coffees, Siena.”

Like she had come in there to do anything else.

“Well?” Matteo asked. “Nothing?”

“Nope, nothing,” Kev replied.

“And the one was definitely …” Matteo trailed off, and then said, “You know what I mean?”

“Yeah,” Kev said. “It was definitely that.”

Siena stayed out of their conversation as she made coffee just the way the three liked. A little bit more milk for her father, an extra sugar for her oldest brother, and all black for Darren. The three continued talking like she wasn’t even there as she stirred the coffees.

“Maybe it’s not a matter of not wanting to, but being unable,” Darren said. “You know, the logistics or shit.”

“Unlikely,” Kev replied. “Just considering how it was, man. Think about it.”