Page 148 of Disgrace

Andino tipped his glass high. “Truth. Consider, though, that she feels so strongly in a negative way about you at the moment because she felt just as strongly about you in a positive way. That means good things—the bridge is not yet burned.”

“Actually, that just makes me feel like even more of a piece of shit. She trusted me, and I took something away from her that she cared about.”

“Give it time. Better days are ahead, John. Far better days are ahead.”

Sure.

But for how long?

• • •

John stayed a few paces behind Siena and Lucia as the two navigated The Annex. Usually, he liked the market because it was yet another place where he could be surrounded by people, but he didn’t need to engage them at the same time. He was all for anything that put him in a crowd, but didn’t make him the center of attention at the same time.

He was only good with that when he wanted it.

Today, though, John was starting to feel like a third wheel as he watched Siena and Lucia chat, and laugh together. He was not privy to their conversation as he didn’t want to intrude, mostly. Lucia had barely given him a hello when he picked her up earlier, but she took to Siena damn near instantly.

Small blessings.

He was counting those up.

“John, you’re out of that jam you like, right?” Siena asked over her shoulder.

Lucia’s gaze drifted to her brother when Siena mentioned his name, but just as fast, hazel fire turned to dark ice in a blink. She looked ahead once more, and didn’t grace him with anymore of her attention.

John sighed.

Siena didn’t miss the exchange, and frowned. Had his youngest sister not been standing right there, he would have reassured Siena everything was fine. He couldn’t do that, so instead, his love was left to try and fix things.

John had come to learn that about Siena.

She was a fixer.

“We can grab some of the jam on the way out,” he told her. “Don’t worry about it, bella.”

He meant for her not to worry about more than just the jam, and hoped his unspoken message got the point across. He seriously doubted that it did, though. Siena just didn’t work that way when it came to John.

Always looking out for him.

Always having his back.

“No, I can make a trip around. I need to grab something else that way, too. You and Lucia keep going. She wants to grab—what is that, again?”

Lucia didn’t look at John as she said, “Some bagged tea.”

“Yeah, so take her,” Siena said, dropping his sister’s arm and giving him a pointed look. “And I will meet you at the entrance on the way out of the market.”

John tried not to scowl as Siena dropped a quick kiss to his lips and murmured, “Stop pouting, John.”

He was not fucking pouting.

“I will meet you at the entrance,” John grumbled.

“Good.”

Her hand patted his cheek affectionately, and then she was gone. Quickly disappearing into the crowd of people. Just as fast, one of the two enforcers that were following along, but also keeping their distance, split away from his partner without needing to be told. He followed behind Siena without her ever realizing he was even there.

That left John.