Page 129 of Duty

John laughed. “That’s not going to be an easy road.”

Andino smirked, and shrugged one shoulder. “No, definitely not. I didn’t want to pull the underboss card to get you here, John. Honestly. I know you think I’m a fucking jackass right now, but I was fine with letting you come to me when you were ready.”

“That so?”

“You felt like I crossed a line, and I get that.”

Andino didn’t miss the way his cousin’s fists balled easily at that statement, or the hard clench of his jaw. John was very good at hiding his emotions—he’d perfected it into an art form over the years considering he battled constantly with an emotional disorder that he felt, made him weaker standing next to other made men in their business. Just the fact that John was struggling to keep his emotional reactions in check told Andino more than John ever could in that moment.

Sure, his cousin seemed level.

Acted good.

Kept his tone mostly calm.

All that told Andino was that John knew something was up with himself—his bipolar—and was currently trying to hide it, or ignore it. Bad news again.

“You did cross a fucking line, man.”

“They already had somebody watching you, John,” Andino pointed out, wanting to get his cousin to relax a bit. Nothing he said was a lie, though. That was the thing—he needed John to know he wasn’t fucking lying, either. “I was approached because Dante had a guy trailing you, and he thought I might know something.”

John was quick to sit, then.

Thank God.

Andino continued. “So yeah, Dante and your father came to me asking about the Calabrese, and whatever else. I thought if I tried to explain that Siena was really just a random encounter you had then they would leave it alone.”

“You didn’t think to give me a fucking heads up that they were trailing me like that?” John asked. “And why the fuck can’t they just trust me?”

“I get the intentions were good, or that’s how Dante meant for it to be, but I warned him then that he was crossing a line with you. That kind of shit messes with your head.”

John wouldn’t meet Andino’s gaze then, but he really didn’t need him to. He had already seen the things his cousin was trying to hide. Now, he had to decide what he was going to do about it, or if there even was anything he could do.

Dante had been clear.

Look after John—make sure he stays out of trouble.

It kind of looked like trouble was there.

Damn.

Andino had one last trick up his sleeve, though, and he sure as fuck hoped it worked. Or at least, worked until he figured something else out.

And … John would have to be agreeable.

Here goes nothing.

“I should have let you know, John,” Andino said. “I’m sorry that I didn’t.”

John looked back at Andino. “They’re never going to feel like I can handle this business without somebody babysitting my every move. It puts me on edge like nothing else. I fucking hate it, Andi.”

“It won’t be like that forever, John.”

“Really?” John scoffed, quickly adding, “I’ve gone years without a major episode. I do everything they want me to do, and they still pulled this kind of shit on me.”

“I know, but it won’t be forever, John. Trust me on that. I’ll fucking make sure of it, man. Anyway,” Andino said, smacking his palms against the desk, and smiling, “the reason I had to pull the underboss card is because now, I am the one babysitting you.”

John stiffened again.