Page 146 of Disgrace

Finally, Andino’s gaze found John leaning against the bar, and for a split second, his posture softened. His cousin took him in standing there once more, and raised an eyebrow from across the floor.

It was as though Andino was silently asking, Really, John?

“Hey, we have to get our kicks from somewhere, man.”

Andino let out a laugh, and crossed the floor. His hand came out fast, and struck against John’s already outstretched palm to clap, and then shake. Despite not being a physically affectionate kind of guy, John still pulled Andino in for a one-armed hug before he let him go again.

John took his place leaning against the bar once more as he flicked his hand at the two enforcers of his lingering close by. “Go have a drink, cafones. Relax a minute. We’ll be staying a while before we move onto the next thing.”

“You got it, boss.”

Off the men went without a look back.

Andino, too, gave the two men who had followed him inside the bar a quick wave and a, “Scatter.”

They scattered.

“You look good,” John said, smirking. “I guess jail did something decent for you after all, huh?”

Andino flipped him the middle finger before taking one of the many stools at the bar. He gestured at the bartender with two fingers, and said, “Whiskey, neat.”

Then, his attention was back on John.

“I can’t believe you hauled my ass down to this dirty fucking pub for a drink hours after I get released.”

John shrugged, and tipped his glass of water up for a drink. “Hey, I let you have some time with your wife. Mostly because she threatened everyone who even suggested they wanted to be at the house when you got home, but that’s a story for another day. Bet you used and enjoyed every fucking minute with her, too.”

Andino didn’t deny it. “Yeah, and then I get a call about some arrogant, stupid fuck demanding a meeting with me like he’s got some kind of right to.”

John chuckled. “I knew you would come here just to beat someone’s skull in.”

“That’s exactly what I was going to do, yeah.”

Figures.

“Also,” Andino said as he grabbed the glass of amber liquid from the bartender.

“What?”

“Thanks, John.”

John nodded. “About time I save your ass for once, I guess.”

Andino laughed hard. “Let’s not make it a habit.”

“You are the one with the level head.”

“You’ve got your good qualities, too,” Andino replied in kind.

Turning their backs to the bar, both men overlooked the quiet pub in comfortable silence. John enjoyed this—kind of needed it, really. It had been too long since he just sat down with Andino and did nothing.

“You must be busy as hell lately,” Andino noted, shooting John a look.

“Christ, you don’t even want to know.”

“Try me.”

“The Calabrese organization is a mess. Mind you, it’s a mess I can handle, and one I am handling just fine. It’s still a goddamn mess at the end of the day. I suspected a lot of the men would be difficult, and they are at times, but they’re coming around too.”