Page 52 of Duty

Dante, though, only nodded. “I see.”

“Don’t do that,” Andino muttered. “Don’t make that in to something.”

“I didn’t. Your lack of a response did.”

“It wasn’t anything. It was breakfast.”

“Except you couldn’t answer my question, Andi.”

“Because it doesn’t matter.”

Dante tipped his chin up. “Excuse me?”

“Just what I said—I know what I have to do, and what’s expected of me. So, yeah, it doesn’t matter what she is, or what I want, I still know where this is going to end up, and what I have to do at the end of the day.”

“This family is a legacy,” Dante murmured.

“I know.”

And he did.

He knew how hard his grandfather had worked to build the Marcellos into the empire it was, and how much effort and pain his uncles and father had gone through to keep that stronghold through the decades. It was supposed to be Andino’s turn now—his uncle chose him. Dante was passing off that torch, and the legacy was now on his shoulders to keep going, and hold strong. To grow, and to keep it thriving.

Dante sighed, and stared at Andino like he could read the thoughts going through his mind. “The legacy has to live on—you have to make sure it does. It’s your duty like it was ours to carry on before you. We sacrificed in our own ways; you will, too.”

“It was just breakfast,” Andino repeated again.

“Except it can’t be when you are who you are, Andino,” Dante replied. “Remember that for the next time.”

“Sure.”

But probably not.

“I won’t keep you longer,” Dante added, gesturing at the door behind Andino. “I know you’ve got that gun run coming up to oversee, and of course, keeping an eye on John for us.”

“Of course,” Andino echoed.

Just not the way they wanted him to. Andino needed to start taking care of himself first—nobody else seemed to be.

• • •

“Pink.”

The enforcer currently checking out the backside of a server as she passed him by glanced back at his Capo with a raised brow as if to silently ask, Did you see that ass?

Andino shook his head, and chuckled. “Do me a favor?”

“What do you need, boss?”

He nodded at Snaps who was currently sitting at his feet. “Take him for a walk, or something. He’s being good, but I don’t want him to get restless.”

“Sure thing.” Pink whistled, and patted his thigh. Snaps darted away from Andino without a look back mostly because the dog liked this particular enforcer. “We’ll be back.”

Andino waved a hand, and went back to his cousin sitting at the table with him. “Plan still the same?”

John nodded, and leaned back in his chair as he surveyed the VIP section of the club. “Still the same, yeah. Make sure the gang leader knows the deal with our territory. Get our product in his hands. Keep the bloodshed at a minimum.”

Andino smiled.