Page 369 of John + Siena: The Complete Duet

SEVENTEEN

John followed Andino through the old mansion in silence. Side by side, the two men took their time heading to the upstairs office where—far more than once—they had both been dragged to in order to get yet another lecture about the importance of their last name and maintaining the dignity and respect of being a Marcello.

Now, he couldn’t forget it.

He didn’t think their legacy weighed as heavily on Andino’s shoulders as it did for his own, but John couldn’t say for sure, and he’d never thought to ask. Better he didn’t, maybe. They all had their own things to handle.

Nonetheless, the mansion brought back a lot of memories for John. Colored with nostalgia in every single corner, the past was never far from his mind when he was here. Every step he took inside the place, he could relive five different memories from years long past. He looked forward to the many more they were sure to make with their own children here.

The legacy lived on.

Once the two were inside the old office that didn’t get nearly as much use as it used to, John closed the door behind them.

John was the first to speak. “Do you remember how they used to drag us into this office every single time any of them had something to say to us?”

Andino laughed under his breath. “Seriously, every time we came to this mansion. At least fifty percent of the time it was because I kicked somebody’s ass for talking shit about you behind your back. Man, I fucking hated when they did that.”

He grinned.

Because it was true.

“I worry,” Andino said, turning to face John with his hands shoved into his pockets. He shrugged his broad shoulders and glanced to the side as though he might find something interesting to stare at on the far wall. John understood the need to look away—it was always easier to admit your wrongs when you didn’t have to look someone in the face while you did it. “And you know, Haven likes to tell me I can become an even worse asshole in that case.”

John cleared his throat, rocking on his heels while he replied, “You certainly can.”

His cousin sighed.

The silence raged on.

John simply waited it out.

Sometimes, in this life with men like them, it was all about the waiting game. And the thing with Andino and John was the fact they were best friends. Always had been and always would be. Until the very fucking end. From the time the two of them were put together when they were still wearing diapers, they’d forever had each other’s backs.

Yeah, sometimes shit happened. Sometimes, they had moments like these. They always came back, though. Just had to wait it out.

Andino turned back to John, meeting his cousin’s gaze as he said, “I’m sorry.”

John nodded. “For being an asshole, or questioning my ability to do what I need to do?”

“Fuck, do you know Haven does that shit to me all the time? Makes me explain every single reason I’m sorry, what I did wrong, and why it was wrong. Drives me crazy.”

“Her right to do so. She is your wife.”

“Yeah, but—”

“I’m fucking with you,” John said, laughing under his breath. “I don’t need you to explain shit, Andi. Although, if not for your wife, you’d be a lot less tolerable, let me just say. I hope you know that woman really is your better half, man.”

“She is. I’ll never deny it.”

At least Andino knew it.

“Same for your wife,” Andino added quieter.

“I know.”

All too well, really.

“And I talked to Pink,” Andino said, shifting from foot to foot. The only show of his nerves. He had so few tells, but growing up alongside him had allowed John to know every single one of them. “Seems he’s fine to stay right where he is working with you—he makes a good underboss, doesn’t he?”