Page 24 of Duty

Why was his luck so shitty lately?

• • •

“You better have a box of leftovers in the fridge,” Andino grumbled, passing his cousin by where John had stretched over the couch. Snaps trailed behind Andino, but was quick to go greet John who already had a piece of crust ready for the pup.

“Left you three pieces, asshole,” John replied. “You act like I always forget about you.”

Andino grumbled under his breath. “Good.”

He headed for the kitchen while John stayed put on the couch—probably watching that show he liked so much with the dragons and fire and craziness. Sure enough, he found the leftover pizza waiting for him on a plate, and not in the pizza box. That was typical John. The man couldn’t stand to have things be dirty or disorganized.

Throwing his plate in the microwave, Andino waited for the pizza to heat. By the time it was done, and he was back in the living room with his cousin, the television was playing commercials, and John had finished his pizza.

“You’re back late,” his cousin noted.

Andino fell into the recliner, and sighed. “I was out.”

“Famiglia business?”

“Sort of, and … not really.”

John lifted a brow. “Really, you … Andino, who only ever works and never does anything else … were doing something other than work?”

“I do other things, man.”

“Rarely.”

“Mind your own, John.”

John grinned from his reclined position, and tossed an arm behind his head. “Seriously, what were you doing?”

“I had to chat with a bookie.”

His cousin pointed a finger at him. “See, I told you that you weren’t out doing something for you. It’s always about work, Andi. You’re predictable.”

“And then I met someone.”

John stiffened on the couch. “Wait, like met a woman?”

“Something like that.”

“Listen, either she is a woman, or she isn’t. And you need to update me on your preferences because I didn’t know that kind of thing could change.”

Andino didn’t even think about it—he whipped the small decorative pillow behind his back, and hit John square in the face with it. “There’s your fucking update, asshole.”

John only laughed as he pushed the pillow away. “So, you met someone?”

“Maybe. It’s not Marcello business. Just … something to do.”

“I get that.”

And maybe he needed to tell someone.

John was good for that.

Andino gave his cousin a look. “You know, I think I might miss coming home to see your ass stretched out on my couch every day.”

“Don’t be like that. I’m looking forward to moving into my new place tomorrow.”