Page 31 of Loyalty

Amelia didn’t seem to miss the bite in John’s tone if her narrowed eyes were any indication. “You’re not typically this snappy, Johnathan. Is something different? How are you feeling today?”

“At the moment, kind of pissed off.”

“Why is that?”

“Your secretary interrupted me when I was trying to set up a date with somebody.”

Amelia coughed, and hid her small smile by looking away. “Like a woman, or a business thing?”

“What do you think?”

The therapist sighed.

John knew what she was going to say before she even spoke.

“As good as it may be on the surface that you’re trying to get back to a normal routine, you have to remember that you’re still getting assimilated outside of confinement, John. I have to remind you that dating or sex or anything emotionally intense like those things could be detrimental to your success outside of prison while you’re still attempting to adapt to these sudden changes. You have a history of hyper-sexuality, for one. Given how delicate the balance is while we work on med changes right now, I wouldn’t toy too much with that behavior.”

He knew she was right.

His disorder could be fickle—and predictable—in that way. Changes in his life, especially big ones, could easily tip the scales and lead him toward another manic cycle.

“I’ll keep it in mind,” he told her.

“Please do.”

It was the best he could do.

Siena was still in the back of his mind, and she didn’t seem to be going away anytime soon.

CHAPTER FOUR

SIENA CHECKED the calendar on her phone again—something she did upwards of twenty times a day. Like all the things she had put in to-do slots would suddenly change or disappear. Everything was still there, including the fact she was supposed to be at Kev’s restaurant over an hour ago to look over some changes he wanted made to his books.

Also, it was the end of August.

How in the hell did two weeks slip by without her noticing?

She was losing it.

That, or she was too busy to have a freaking life.

Siena headed inside Kev’s restaurant, and went to the back offices. She didn’t even stop to say hello to her friend that was waiting tables. She didn’t have the time.

The restaurant was full, though. The scrape of utensils against plates, and the conversations echoed behind her as she slipped into the back hallway.

Funny.

She worked here at least once or twice a month, but she had never actually eaten at the place. No, her whole life just revolved around which business she needed to be at from one day to the next in order to keep her brothers and father happy.

Siena tried to shrug off the irritation as she stepped up to the closed office door. Normally, she would have knocked if a door was closed. Her brothers demanded that she did for privacy. Not today, however.

She was too busy, and lost in her thoughts.

Siena opened the office door, and headed inside. She was still looking down at the calendar on her phone when someone cleared their throat.

Her head popped up.

Kev and Darren were both staring at her.