Page 10 of John + Siena: The Complete Duet

“We’re good, man.”

Just like that, three words ripped away the concern John had about his friendship with Andino.

“Are we?” John asked.

Andino didn’t drop his hand. “Family first, John.”

John shook his cousin’s hand. Home started to feel a little more real. The distance keeping John and his emotional attachments to his family at bay began to close.

“I hope you don’t mind a crowd,” Andino said.

John cocked a brow. “I never do.”

“Good, because the whole damn city might as well be here to welcome you home.”

“Seriously?”

“Open invitation to anyone in la famiglia, man,” Andino said, chuckling. “I don’t think anyone refused it.”

Huh.

“I have to start looking for a place,” John said.

Andino took a drag off his cigarette, and eyed his companion in the Lexus. “I told you that it was all right if you stayed with me for a bit.”

“I like being alone, Andi. It’s not about you.”

“Fine. You’ve only been home a couple of days, John. Give it a bit of time. You’ve got a lot of adjustment to do. Work in to it all slowly. You don’t have to do it all at once.”

John disagreed. He wanted to get back to his old routine of things as quickly as he possibly could. Part of that was not being under his cousin’s watch all of the damned time. It wasn’t Andino’s fault because the man was just following orders. But John felt suffocated all the same.

“I still need to find my own place.”

Andino tossed his nearly finished cigarette out of the window. “We can do that.”

“Good.”

“So hey, I’ve got to handle some business over at one of my restaurants. Are you interested in coming or do you have things to do?”

John shrugged. “I’ve got shit to do.”

“I’m not giving you my car.”

Laughing, John said, “I don’t need it, asshole.”

But he did need to get his own and soon. It was in the works.

“I’ll take the bus,” John added. “The warehouse is only a couple of blocks from here.”

“Careful and clean, right?”

John glowered. “Back off.”

“I’m just making sure.”

“It’s on the up. It’s your goddamn guys I’m working with.”

“I know,” Andino said. “But not all of those fools are good, either. I’ll see you later.”