Page 54 of John + Siena: The Complete Duet

“Well?” Matteo asked. “Nothing?”

“Nope, nothing,” Kev replied.

“And the one was definitely …” Matteo trailed off, and then said, “You know what I mean?”

“Yeah,” Kev said. “It was definitely that.”

Siena stayed out of their conversation as she made coffee just the way the three liked. A little bit more milk for her father, an extra sugar for her oldest brother, and all black for Darren. The three continued talking like she wasn’t even there as she stirred the coffees.

“Maybe it’s not a matter of not wanting to, but being unable,” Darren said. “You know, the logistics or shit.”

“Unlikely,” Kev replied. “Just considering how it was, man. Think about it.”

Darren made a noise under his breath. “True.”

“Can we not safely say we have passed the point of perhaps something being in the way? Perhaps it’s more like Kev thinks, and it’s done. We missed our chance to see something come of it.”

Business.

It was always business in their house with the men. They never took a break, and didn’t care who was around to listen.

Business was always the first discussion to have.

She wasn’t surprised considering the Christmas party happening that night. A lot of her father’s men would be there to celebrate. Matteo always got his plans set up before the men gathered, so he didn’t look like a boss out of the loop.

Siena paid attention far more than her father and brothers thought she did.

Someday, it might save her life.

“So maybe something happened,” Matteo added, and then grunted under his breath. “Well, shit. The better question is, can it be fixed?”

“You could … tip the odds to your favor again,” Kev suggested.

“How should I do that?”

“There’s a million ways, specifically one that would mean bringing the main goal close, you know what I mean?”

“This has always been at arm’s length,” her father explained, “and that’s never changed. I don’t think this would change that, either.”

“It might not make a difference at all,” Darren said.

“He’s right,” Kev agreed, “when you consider something preferred is right there to be taken, then anything is possible.”

Silence echoed for a few moments as she walked her father and brothers their coffee. First, serving her father, the head of the house, and then going back for her brothers’ mugs, too. None of them thanked her except for her father.

Matteo touched her wrist with his beefy hand—a gentle stroke that surprised her. “You’re my good girl, huh?”

Today was not the day to piss off her father. For one, because she didn’t want to listen to his nonsense. And for two, because it would seriously displease her mother.

“Yeah, Dad,” she said with a smile.

He liked smiles.

They were the best distraction.

She thanked her mother for that lesson.

Matteo waved her off. “Go help your mother.”