Page 153 of Duty

“I had to leave—something came up with my cousin, John. His dad called me. He took off, and he’s in a bad place. Remember when I told you that he got mixed up in some bad people?”

Haven’s jaw felt stiff even as she said, “Yeah, I remember.”

“Well, it’s worse now.”

“So, you’re not even at your—”

“No, I’m a couple of blocks away right now.”

Jesus Christ.

Haven didn’t want to be angry. It might have even been a little irrational—she was willing to admit that. Still, she hoped maybe tonight could have been a turning point for her and Andino. She wasn’t sure that it would be, now.

“Just don’t go anywhere,” Andino said quickly. “Wait for me, please.”

Haven glanced out the window at the passing street. “I want to, Andino. I really do, but I’m not sure I should anymore. And it’s more than tonight—it’s a lot of things. So, maybe I need you to give me a reason why I should wait for you, okay? Because between us, I’m the one who goes the distance. I give; you take. It can’t keep being like that.”

“You should wait because I love you, and I would like the chance to tell you.”

His declaration came out fast, sure, and true.

Haven still couldn’t help but wonder … would it matter in the end? After everything was said and done, would I love you be enough for both of them?

Right now, it was.

“I’ll wait,” she whispered.

“Okay. I’ll see you then, my girl.”

The call hung up with a click at the same time the cabbie pulled to a stop in front of Andino’s restaurant. The place was as dark as night, and obviously closed, but that wasn’t the first thing to catch Haven’s attention.

No, the first thing was the woman looking in the windows. Haven recognized her, but barely.

Siena Calabrese.

The woman Andino’s cousin had gotten mixed up; the woman who came from bad people. Although, the one-time Haven had met Siena, she thought the girl was sweet, and kind. There wasn’t very damn much that was bad about her.

“Thanks,” Haven said to the cabbie, paying him quickly and stepping out of the vehicle. She was quick to cross the sidewalk, and climb the steps of the restaurant’s entrance. “Siena?”

Siena spun around fast to face her—panic stared back from the woman. That screamed bad news to Haven.

“What are you doing here?” Haven asked.

“Where is Andino?”

Nice way to greet someone.

“He was here working in the office,” Haven said. “But he got called out a while ago.”

“Where is he now?”

Haven looked away, knowing she probably shouldn’t tell this woman very much, even if she didn’t have a lot to tell. Not because she personally thought Siena couldn’t be trusted, but because she didn’t know if Andino felt the woman could be trusted.

Therein lied the difference.

“Why?” Haven asked.

Siena’s jaw stiffened, and her gaze hardened as she looked Haven over. “Let me guess, you’re not supposed to trust me either, right?”