Page 141 of John + Siena: The Complete Duet

“Andino.”

Andino turned from the man he was currently going over paperwork with, and his gaze found Siena standing just a few feet away. The restaurant bustled with patrons, and employees. It was closing in on dinner time, and the place seemed filled to the brim.

“Siena?”

She brushed her sweaty palms off on her tweed coat. Her heart raced. At that moment, her nerves were out of control. She felt like she was going to puke. Every single part of her screamed that this was wrong, and bad. She shouldn’t be here. She shouldn’t be doing this.

Not to John.

But she had to.

“How did you find me?” Andino asked.

Siena took a deep breath. “I heard John mention something on the phone to someone. He said he might come see you later. He mentioned this restaurant.”

“John hasn’t been here. Not today.”

“He probably forgot. He’s been doing that a lot lately.”

Andino frowned. “What, forgetting things?”

“That’s one.”

He cleared his throat, and nodded once to the man at his side. “Give us a few minutes. Find a table, and I’ll come see you when I’m done.”

Then, to Siena, he said, “Let’s go to my office.”

Siena didn’t say anything, simply followed behind Andino. He strolled through a busy kitchen, and bypassed the bustling employees. Once inside the office, he closed the door behind them. He didn’t take a seat at the big desk, but he offered a chair to Siena.

She shook her head. “I just … kind of feel better standing right now.”

“All right.”

“I think John needs help.”

In a blink, Andino shoulders dropped. It was a subtle action, and someone else might not have even seen it. His face gave away nothing. There, he was still cold, and emotionless.

“Help how?” Andino asked.

“Today, he got something. This morning, I mean. A file, I guess. He said it was from—or the guy was from your family. An enforcer.” Siena hoped her rambling made sense because she had been dealing with more than enough, and this was just one more thing to add to her pile at the moment. “He threw the file, and had a fit. Broke things, and then he left. I’ve been trying to call him. He’s not taking his meds.”

“Slow the hell down,” Andino said. “One thing at a time.”

Siena was shaking. Her fingers trembled, and her shoulders felt heavy. She stuffed her hands in the pockets of her coat, trying to hide her nerves. Anxiety was most definitely not her best friend.

Not in this circumstance.

“I think John’s manic,” she said.

Andino sucked in a sharp breath. “Manic.”

“Yeah.”

“What makes you think that?”

“Why are you so calm right now?” Siena asked. “Doesn’t knowing that he’s manic bother you?”

Andino cocked an eyebrow. “This is how I am, and how I need to be. Now, what makes you think that?”