Page 159 of Duty

Andino knew his uncle meant the guilt.

But still …

“John’s never been a burden,” Andino said, “and if I don’t look out for him, then who will?”

Lucian pointed a single finger upward. “Seems he has someone else doing that now. If not for Siena, tonight might have ended very differently.”

True, but …

“I still fucked up.”

“Andino,” his uncle said firmly, “don’t take this personally, but right now, this isn’t about you. Don’t make it about you to make it easier on John. It’s what keeps him from choosing stability. When everyone else is so quick to offer excuses for him, or they take on the duty to care for him, it makes it easier for him to be blind to his own responsibility.”

Huh.

Andino had never really thought of it like that. He didn’t get the opportunity to continue the conversation further. It was the flash of lights outside the house, and several black cars pulling into the driveway that had both men standing from their seats. A simple look out the window told Andino that they were in for more trouble.

The Calabrese had come, it seemed.

Lucian held a hand up to Andino as if to silent ask him to stay put before the man slipped into the hallway. Andino did just that, and watched from the window as his uncle stepped outside to greet one of Siena’s brothers as the man exited a car.

A quick conversation later, and Lucian reentered the kitchen.

“What do they want?” Andino asked.

His uncle looked upward. “Her.”

Andino stilled. “We can’t let them take her—she belongs with John.”

Lucian nodded once. “I know.”

“So, then she stays.”

“And what, we get into a gun fight with a half of a dozen men? We let them storm the house? We—and John—dies? That’s not going to work, Andino.”

Yeah, fuck.

All he could think to say again was, “But she belongs with John.”

After all Siena had done for his cousin, wasn’t that fair to her?

She loved him. The same way Andino loved Haven. He knew it was true; he saw it every time Siena risked herself for John.

The only difference was … Siena and John deserved each other. Andino wasn’t sure he deserved someone like Haven at all.

“She does belong with him, you’re right.” Lucian shrugged. “So, we’ll have to get her back for him, won’t we?”

That sounded simple.

It wouldn’t be.

• • •

It took another two days before Lucian had been able to convince his son to voluntarily check in to a facility that would help stabilize John, and get him back on track. Andino stayed back, leaning against the side of his car, as he watched his uncle say goodbye to a very despondent John on the walkway of Clearview Oaks.

At least, the place didn’t scream psychiatric ward.

It looked normal.