Page 304 of John + Siena: The Complete Duet

Lucian grinned at his son. “And they know that now, too, John. Really. Changes like that take some adjustment, though. I think all things considered, they did pretty well stepping back as much as they could, and giving you faith.”

John’s jaw ticked—to Siena, a sure sign that his emotional currents were flip flopping back and forth. He was good at hiding when his high to low swings came on strong from others, but he still felt them. She couldn’t imagine how hard that must be for him on a daily basis. The kind of struggle unique to him in his circle as no one else could possibly understand what it was like for him.

But his family was learning.

It seemed like they were getting it.

Finally.

Progress was progress. Whether John wanted to admit it or not, that progress would mean the world to him at the end of the day. He often alienated himself from his family, and his history with them kept him at arm’s length a lot of the time.

Siena wanted to change that for him. He so loved his family, and they loved him. Look at all they had done for him.

“I think you will find,” Dante said, leaning back in the chair, “that this business will be far more accommodating to you, John, once these changes become permanent.”

“Which changes are those?” John asked.

Because there were a lot, Siena knew.

John had a good point.

“You controlling your own faction, and answering to yourself,” Dante continued. “Andino—someone you trust and are close with—running his own faction, and answering to himself. I think, in ways, you will also … help Andino in a way.”

Giovanni looked to Dante. “How do you figure?”

Lucian laughed. “I think I might know.”

“Go for it, then,” Dante urged with a flick of his hand.

“John is the only person Andino wouldn’t go to war with. Consider how Andino is, Gio … you know it, and we all know it. His concern and care for others is fickle. He’s just as quick to remove his loyalty from someone, as he is to promise it if it suits him. He is a good boss, but he is also a volatile one, too. You’ve seen his games—he manipulates, and he does whatever he needs to in order to get what he wants.”

“Except with me,” John murmured.

The men’s gazes drifted to John again.

“Except with you,” Lucian agreed. “With Dante’s daughter marrying into the Donati family at the end of next month, you taking over the Calabrese faction, and Andino heading the Marcellos … we are unlikely to ever see another war between the three Cosa Nostra families controlling this city. That’s unheard of.”

Giovanni chuckled. “Everything our father always wanted, in a way.”

“It only took three generations to get there,” Dante added with a smirk.

“You know, I haven’t officially taken over the Calabrese family,” John said.

Siena decided maybe then she should get up, and go to the bathroom. Or something to get away from the conversation. It wasn’t as though any of the men made her feel unwelcomed, but her upbringing had taught her that this was not the sort of thing women were allowed to be a part of.

“I’m just going to go—”

“You can stay where you are,” John said, giving her a look.

“It’s business, and you know women don’t entertain business, John.”

“They do in this family,” Dante said, “or they have started taking an interest over the years. You’re fine to sit.”

“See,” John pointed out.

Fine.

“It’s a matter of semantics,” Lucian said, “as they know who their new boss is, and what’s expected of them.”