Page 207 of John + Siena: The Complete Duet

“It is, except when one does not go through, it is usually because another bigger, better one is coming. The only major event we have going on as a family right now is—”

“Andi’s wedding.”

Lucian nodded. “Exactly, son. Mind you, we have been very careful about releasing details regarding the wedding. The main event is not an open invitation to famiglia. The party afterward at the Astoria is, but it’s very public, there will be a large crowd.”

“And you said it’s well protected.”

“That, too, yes.”

“But you’re still concerned.”

“We all are,” Lucian said quietly. “These are dangerous days, John.”

And for what?

Because of him.

John still didn’t regret what he did when he killed Matteo Calabrese. He would never regret any of that, but he hadn’t wanted this. He didn’t want his family to suffer again because of him.

“I’m sorry.”

“You have absolutely nothing to be sorry for, and this is only a passing moment in all of our lives. We have lived through worse, and we will live through this. There is always something beautiful waiting at the end. What is it you want when you get to the end, John?”

Well …

“Siena,” he admitted. “But that’s a little fucking impossible, isn’t it?”

Lucian looked over at John. “Keep your fucking chin up, and your eyes on the prize, John. Marcellos don’t look down.”

“Not unless we’re looking down on somebody, right?”

Lucian’s chuckles echoed once more. “Right, my boy. Chin up.”

“You couldn’t fucking let me in on the little secret, or what?”

John’s question—his tone coated with amusement—quieted the whole room of men. The one person he had directed his question to was the first person to find him and Lucian standing in the doorway waiting.

Andino grinned widely. “John.”

“Hey, cousin.”

“About fucking time you showed up. I was starting to get nervous.”

John smiled. “I might have lost the rings, so, yeah.”

“You didn’t.”

“No, I damn well didn’t.”

John flashed the box in question. Slung around his arm was the garment bag with his tux safely hidden inside. He still had to get dressed, but he had a few other things to take care of first. Like his family—Andino, mostly.

“Come here,” Andino said.

John crossed the room, and took the tight hug his cousin offered. Andino smacked John on the back twice, and then let him go with another one of those signature grins. His cousin patted his cheek, and nodded.

Quietly, Andino said, “I really didn’t want to do this day without you, man.”

“Yeah, I kind of got that. Congrats, huh?”