Page 257 of John + Siena: The Complete Duet

“Stop putting her in these fucking positions, that’s what. At first it was just getting information from her which was dangerous enough considering how controlled she is by that family—now this?”

“Is it because you think Siena is too innocent to kill a man, or because you don’t want her dirtying up those pretty hands of hers?”

John forced himself not to kick Andino as hard as he could in the guy’s ribs. It took a hell of a lot more effort than he thought it would. “You’re purposefully being an asshole right now, and I don’t appreciate it.”

“Because you’re acting foolish, and letting your feelings cloud up what you should already know about a war like this. We do what we need to—use who we can use—and get it done. Finish it. We finish them. That’s all that matters.”

“Not to the sacrifice of her!”

“You assume she’ll be a sacrifice because she cannot handle herself, or something like that. Maybe that’s something you should handle with yourself, John, because Siena has her shit covered. She’s gold. She knows exactly what she’s doing.”

He heard Andino.

He still didn’t like it.

“Darren Calabrese is not a stupid fuck like you might think. Is he a little screwed up or distracted right now because Kev is dead? Sure, but that means nothing. If you don’t think they weren’t already suspicious that someone inside their circles were feeding us information, then you’re delusional, Andino.”

“I—”

“Darren, or somebody else who will let him know, is going to figure out what is going on. They will figure out that it is her. The more info from her you use, or the more you get her to do, the worse it will get for her. I won’t have you putting her in that kind of danger, Andi. I just won’t.”

“Are you going to fucking let me talk, or what?”

John fixed his jacket, and gave his cousin one last look. “I said what I had to say, actually.”

“Shame—you’re missing out on the bigger picture entirely.”

“Your picture isn’t my picture, Andino.”

After all, John’s bigger picture showcased Siena. It seemed like Andino’s only showcased ruining the Calabrese.

“Get the hell out,” Andino mumbled.

Fine by John.

“John,” Leonard barked.

John glanced away from the clock just long enough to give his therapist a look. “What?”

“You’re all over the place.”

“I noticed that, too.”

John’s father slipped through the living room of Leonard’s home. Lucian now made it his job to occasionally show up at John’s appointments. He tried to put his reasoning under the umbrella that Leonard was an old friend.

Frankly, John saw that guise for what it was.

“When was the last time you slept?” Leonard asked.

John sighed. “Last night.”

“How long?”

Good catch, Doc.

“Enough,” John replied.

“That’s not a good enough answer for me,” Leonard said. “Try again, and give me the truth.”