Page 98 of Vow

Dante widened his stance for the tailor, and shook his head at Andino. “I’m not sure if I want you to lose that attitude before you take over for me, or keep it and see where it takes you, Andi.”

Andino rested his ankle over his knee, and leaned back on the couch. “I suppose it doesn’t really matter once I’m the one calling the shots, does it?”

“No, I suppose not.”

“That’s the hardest part,” his grandfather said beside him. “Watching the one who comes after you do all the things you wish they wouldn’t. And making sure your voice doesn’t even attempt to overtake theirs in the grander scheme. I suppose that’s why bosses who have taken over after a death find themselves more comfortable than those who have the former boss constantly watching over their shoulder.”

“I don’t intend to watch over his—”

“You will and not even mean to,” Antony interjected before Dante could say more. “I did the same thing for you—why would this be different? It’s what you do or do not do, for that matter, which will make the difference in how the rest of them see Andino once he takes that position in front of them with you still remaining in the background.”

Andino could feel his uncle watching him, but he kept staring at his grandfather. Antony made a good point, and he wondered if anyone else had thought to tell Dante what he had just been told. Andino didn’t think so.

“Arms out,” the tailor said with a tap of his tape to Dante’s chest.

Dante did as he was told, but continued to stare at Andino even when he met his uncle’s gaze, too. “I suppose none of that matters anyway, does it?”

“Why is that?” Andino asked back.

“Because I will be proud of you regardless of what you do as a boss,” Dante said. “Because I am proud of the sacrifices you have made for this family, and how much you’ve stepped up to make sure everyone is protected the way they deserve to be. I will be proud of you for those things even when you do other things that I am sure I won’t agree with, Andino. And I know you think I don’t care or understand just how much you’ve sacrificed, but I do know, nipote. I wish things could have been different for you in that respect.”

Andino stared unflinchingly back at his uncle. “You have no idea, zio.”

Antony was next to get his measurements taken for any final touches on their suits that might need to be done before the wedding in a few days. Andino slipped out the shop when he had a chance, but mostly because his father kept texting his fucking phone nonstop.

Gio should have been there, but he hated going in for measurements more than even Dante did. It was almost amusing how even at his father’s age, Giovanni still didn’t give a single shit about what other people wanted.

“What, Dad?” Andino asked, putting the phone to his ear.

Gio chuckled. “You alone? Took you long enough.”

“Trying to keep Dante amused. What do you need?”

“It’s for you actually. An update.”

“On …?”

“Haven,” his father murmured.

All it took was her name being said for Andino to flinch. It was like a sharp spike suddenly drove into his chest, and left a gaping, bleeding wound behind where his heart used to be. This was so fucked up.

Why was he so fucked up?

“Is now a good time?” Gio asked when Andino stayed quiet.

“Yeah, why not?”

Lies.

It was all lies.

Gio probably knew that, too, but like the good father he was … he listened to what his son said to do, and didn’t press for more details. He’d been the one to offer to keep an eye on Haven from afar without following her to stepping in on her life. Andino’s request. Mostly, he just wanted to make sure the Calabrese idiots left her the hell alone.

Nothing else.

Not yet, anyway.

“She’s still being watched by them,” Gio said, “and yes, it is definitely the Calabrese, like you thought. They’re not approaching her at all, but they are watching her.”