Page 100 of Duty

What was the point?

“In the kitchen, Ma,” Andino called back.

Haven gave him a look he couldn’t decipher as she slid around the island to stand next to him, and help build the fajitas he’d been working on. He didn’t even get the chance to ask Haven about her look, or what it meant, because his mother walked into the kitchen a second later.

And promptly froze right where she stood.

“Oh … hello,” his mother said quietly.

Andino smiled at the way confusion lit up his mother’s tone. He didn’t miss the way she checked Haven out—like all good Italian mothers would do when they caught a woman with their son. Kim was soft-hearted, and sweet-natured, sure, but when it came to her son? Her only son? This woman turned into someone else entirely.

“Hey, Ma. I didn’t know you were coming over tonight.”

She usually called.

Kim laughed nervously, and waved a hand. “I was in the neighborhood. That’s not important—who is this?”

“I’m Haven,” the woman next to him said, smiling softly.

“Haven,” Kim echoed. “Pretty name.”

“Thank you.”

“Not Italian, though.”

The look his mother gave him spoke a thousand words without her even needing to say a thing. Andino was quick to drop her stare and go back to work on finishing his meal, so he could finally fucking eat.

“Definitely not Italian,” Haven replied, although some of the softness was drifting from her tone. “Born and raised in Brooklyn, though.”

Kim nodded, but her attention was still on Andino. “You didn’t mention seeing anyone to me.”

“Because I didn’t feel the need to, Ma.”

“Didn’t feel the—”

“No,” Andino interjected, glancing at his mother. “It wouldn’t matter if I did, right?”

He felt Haven’s eyes turn on him, but it was the buzzing of her phone on the counter that stopped anyone from saying anything else.

Shitty luck, maybe.

Or karma stepping in.

Who fucking knew?

“Sorry,” Haven said, grabbing the phone. She did a quick check of whatever was rolling across the screen, and then frowned before setting it down. Her attention was back on Andino, then, and he gave her a small smile—one he hoped was supportive, but he could see there were questions in her eyes. More things for him to have to answer at a later date, likely. “Problem at the club—I have to go.”

“You’ll be back, won’t you?”

She shrugged. “Maybe. I guess I owe Snaps a treat, too.”

Andino nodded. “Yes, for Snaps.”

She winked, and then gave him a quick kiss on the underside of his jaw before moving around the island. As she passed his mother by, Haven was quick to say, “It was very nice to meet you, Kim. Andino only has wonderful things to say about you.”

His mother smiled faintly. “That’s a shame, sweetheart.”

Haven’s brow furrowed. “I’m sorry?”