Page 229 of John + Siena: The Complete Duet

Siena nodded. “Yeah, you get it, huh?”

“Will they really do that to us?” Giulia asked from behind Siena.

It was the first time the girl had spoken since the two had been dropped off for their day with Siena. Something was keeping the two very quiet, and sometimes, she could drag out of them what that something was. Today had not really been one of those days. The girls didn’t seem interested in talking—unless Greta’s attitude could be considered talking.

Siena turned to face the fifteen-year-old. “If it furthers their agenda, and they think they can get away with it, then do not put it past them.”

“I don’t see how respecting them will—”

“Because, Greta,” Siena interjected, tossing a look over her shoulder, “if you think the more you irritate them will make them want to keep you around, or give you anything that you want, you are sorely mistaken. And until they’re gone, your best bet, is to give them what they want.”

“Until they’re gone, huh?”

Siena cleared her throat.

Shit.

That had been a slip of the tongue.

“Pretend you didn’t hear that,” Siena said. “Now, are we going out, or not? I thought you two wanted to go swimming at Jacob Riis Beach, and then grab some gelato?”

Greta didn’t move, and instead, put her hands on her hips. Siena had never met the girl’s mother, but goddamn, when she did that, Greta looked just like Matteo. Tall, formidable, and un-fucking-moveable. Even the look in her eye was the very same. Like she was daring Siena to come closer, and try to move her.

Good luck Kev and Darren when you go toe-to-toe with this one, she thought. Her brothers deserved the trouble, anyway.

“You were the only one with Ginevra on the day she was supposed to get married,” Greta said.

“So?” Siena asked.

“Kev and Darren were very mad at you.”

“Listen, they’re always very mad at me, okay? Depending on the day, they don’t even look at me. There’s a reason they call me the stain on this family.”

Greta’s gaze narrowed. “They only really started that after Ginevra went missing. They say she’s dead. Is she?”

Siena cleared her throat again.

Dammit.

It felt like a giant knot was forming there, and she couldn’t get it out. The uncomfortable sensation only grew the longer she tried to come up with an acceptable response for Greta. Nothing was ever simple, or easy.

This answer couldn’t be, either.

“A lot of things happened on Ginevra’s wedding day,” Siena tried to say. “And a lot of things happened after. You have to consider—”

“Is she alive, or not?”

“I can’t tell you that,” Siena said.

“Why not?”

Greta might as well have stomped her foot, too.

“Because it wouldn’t be safe for me to,” Siena explained.

“I won’t tell, and neither will—”

“It’s not you or Giulia that I am worried about. It’s Ginevra. Do you know what would happen if she suddenly wasn’t missing anymore?” Siena asked.