Page 279 of John + Siena: The Complete Duet

An enforcer stepped up to his door as John pulled his car to a stop at the curb. The man opened the driver’s door, and waited for John to exit the vehicle. He handed the keys over, but gave the enforcer a severe look.

“Only move it a block,” John said. “No more.”

“You sure?”

“Just keep it out of the immediate zone. I need to drive home, but I don’t want to walk a damn mile to get my car after this is over.”

“All right.”

John turned to find his cousin was also getting out of his car. Two Marcello Capos had also been invited to the meeting of the bosses. Andino allowed Darren Calabrese to pick the venue of the meeting because really, it wouldn’t make a difference.

It was all going to end the same way.

“No one else is coming?” John asked as Andino approached.

“We don’t need anyone else.”

John nodded. “Your call.”

“Soon to be yours, too.”

“Don’t get ahead of yourself.”

Andino clapped John hard on the shoulder, and turned them both to face a rundown restaurant that looked as though it had been out of business for a while. “John, I already told you. There’s a boss’s seat waiting for you, and that’s right where you’re headed. There’s no argument. It’s already been done.”

Well …

Almost.

“Hey,” Andino snapped. “Be careful with that fucking thing, you foolish fucker.”

The enforcer carrying a blue crystal vase full of colorful tiger lilies damn near missed a step at his boss’s shout. The man straightened up, and held the vase a little more carefully, and took his steps a bit slower as he crossed the road.

Across the street, another enforcer stood waiting. He was the one who took the flowers from the first man, albeit with a hell of a lot more care. John watched the exchange with an amused fascination.

“Fucking idiots,” Andino grumbled. “They’re going to end this before I can even begin it.”

“Give him some credit. I still can’t believe you went with flowers.”

Andino shrugged. “Haven thought it was a nice touch.”

John smirked. “There’s something cold about your wife.”

“I know. It’s what I love best about her. You ready?”

“Are they inside?”

“According to our men, yes,” Andino said.

John nodded. “Then yes, I am ready.”

The two cousins crossed the street without as much as a look around them. They didn’t have a reason to be concerned until they got inside the restaurant, and even then, it was only because they needed to get out alive afterward. Neither of the two were very concerned about an ambush of sorts from the Calabrese for several reasons.

For one, the Calabrese needed this meeting to go well. Darren was out to get something from the Marcellos—be it more control, power, or influence in New York—but he needed an actual agreement to get it. And he needed to be alive, too. Earning himself a grave would do absolutely nothing for his end goal.

For two, killing John and Andino wouldn’t achieve very much for Darren, anyway. In the grand scheme of the Marcello family, John was only a simple Capo. Two other Capos had come along, too, although they would remain outside in waiting vehicles until the others left. Killing a Capo would mean nothing except more bloodshed.

As for Andino?