Page 219 of John + Siena: The Complete Duet

John nodded. “Yeah, but it still makes me fucking edgy, babe.”

So was their life, apparently.

At least, for now.

Siena wanted to get her mind, and John’s, far away from all of that nonsense. Well, for as long as they possibly could, anyway.

“Let’s eat,” she said.

John let her go with a grin, and moved toward the cart of waiting food that was still covered on silver platters. “There’s a spread, so whatever you want. You made the orders, and I will feed you like I promised.”

She preened. “You better.”

“No!”

“Cella, it’s—”

“No.”

John’s head whipped in the direction of the door, but no one came busting through despite the shouting that suddenly filled the hallway outside. Still, he left their food, and grabbed his clothes hanging off the back of the chair. Pulling on the items, he moved for the door, and opened it up just in time for the yelling to get louder. More voices joined the chorus.

Siena heard pain.

Disbelief.

Grief.

Anger.

“Not my husband—not my husband!” Cella screamed. “You’re lying, Daddy. Why would you lie to me like that?”

John’s gaze cut back to Siena, and then just as fast, he disappeared out into the hall. She should have stayed where she was—after all, a lot of his family didn’t actually know that she was even there to begin with. The whole point was for her to stay low, and leave out the back quietly where she wouldn’t be seen.

Siena didn’t stay in the room.

She left instead.

“I’m sorry,” Lucian said, the words coming out repeated and sadder with every one. “I’m so sorry, Cella.”

The young, dark-haired woman—one of John’s sisters—fought with her father in the middle of the hallway. Her fists slammed into his chest when he tried to hug her, and tears stained her face as sobs ripped past her lips. People surrounded them. Confusion echoed as questions were asked.

Still, Siena heard the explanation given to John when he finally found someone who knew what in the hell was happening.

“William had taken the baby to grab some things from their place—I guess they forgot a bag,” Jordyn told her son. “Cella was sleeping, and he told Lucian he didn’t want to wake her, so he took the baby, too. His car was run off the road, and shot up. We got the call a little while ago.”

“Is she—”

“We don’t know about the baby,” Jordyn interjected.

“And William?” John asked.

“Why, Daddy?”

Cella’s pain coated the hallway. So thick, and heavy. Like a blanket of agony that no one could escape. Siena didn’t think John really needed his question answered, not when all he needed to do was look at his sister, and hear her cries.

“I’m sorry, bambina, I’m so sorry.”

Lucian finally got his daughter in a bear hug that she couldn’t escape. Jordyn must have felt safer to move closer, and so people parted to let her through. Siena heard people murmur about the hospital, and needing to go.