Page 33 of Loyalty

“We’ve run in to each other a couple of times, I guess. Talked a bit.”

Andino stuffed his hands in his pockets, and glanced at her brothers who had come closer to them again. Despite how the Marcello man was built, like a linebacker ready to tackle someone, he seemed uncomfortable discussing his family.

Or maybe it was just because her family was there. The Marcello and the Calabrese families never did mingle beyond business.

Bad blood.

That shit didn’t wash out.

“The last time we talked, he had to run off,” Siena said, shrugging. “I just wanted to make sure he was okay.”

Andino cleared his throat, and smiled again. “He’s good, Siena. Thanks for asking.”

“Siena, get to work, huh?” Kev clapped Andino on the shoulder, and directed him past Siena. “And mind your damn business, donna.”

She heard her brother’s warning loud and clear, and chose for now, to heed it.

What else could she do?

Once all the men had disappeared down the hallway, Siena headed into the office. She closed the door behind her, and locked it seeing as how she didn’t need or want her brothers interrupting her.

She was a good thirty minutes in to reworking accounts for the restaurant’s books, and the numbers were already starting to bleed together. A knock on the office door made her pop her head up from the PC screen for the first time.

Thankful for the break it would take to get up and unlock the door, Siena shook her wrists and cracked her neck as she stood. She figured it would be one of her brothers on the other side of the door, but it wasn’t.

Andino Marcello stood there.

Hands shoved in his pockets.

A cocked eyebrow.

Smile gone.

The politeness he had shown her earlier seemed to be entirely gone. His warm gaze now felt cold as he looked her over.

Siena’s gaze darted over his shoulder to check for her brothers. Neither Kev, nor Darren stood there with Andino.

“They’re busy—having a smoke in the back,” Andino said, flashing a smirk. “I don’t smoke. At least, not with them.”

Siena wasn’t sure why exactly, but the way he sought her out like this did not feel friendly at all.

“What can I do for you, Andino?” she asked.

“Step inside,” he said.

When she didn’t move as quickly as he wanted her to, Andino simply put a hand to Siena’s shoulder, and moved her inside the office. He kicked the door closed behind him, and completely ignored her indignant shout.

Siena hit his hand from her shoulder, and glared at him. “Who in the hell do you think you are?”

“What do you want with my cousin?”

She blinked. “What?”

“Is it your brothers—your father, maybe? Did they put you up to engaging with John, or what?”

Siena shook her head, so confused that it wasn’t even funny. “We sat across from each other on the bus, and then randomly ran in to each other on the street a couple of times outside the bookstore where I get my books.”

Andino sucked air through his teeth. “That all?”