Page 87 of John + Siena: The Complete Duet

“No, man,” John said, “but I will if you don’t fuck off. I warned you, so figure it out before you force my hand here.”

“I just want to explain.”

“Your actions told me more than enough, Andino.”

“John, we’re Marcellos. The only people we have to trust in this life is each other. So fuck off with your mood, and give me a chance to tell you how this really went down. Give me that respect—don’t you at least owe me that after everything?”

They’d been friends since Andino was born. His cousin always had his back, no matter what. Andino saved John from himself more times than he could count.

This still left a bad taste in John’s mouth.

“When you were selling me out to Dante about Siena, did you think to mention that chick you’re fucking behind everybody’s backs?” John asked.

Andino stiffened, and his gaze hardened. “Excuse me?”

“Haven—right? That’s her name. You think I don’t know about her?” John smirked and nodded, saying, “Yeah, I heard you were seeing somebody they didn’t approve of given your new position and all. Unlike you, I didn’t go digging in your business, or mention that you were still running around with her despite the fact you’re putting on a good show for them.”

“You don’t know anything about that, or her, John.”

“I know enough to make it hurt.” John pointed a finger at his cousin. “When, or if, I am ready to speak to you, then I will do that. Not one fucking second before. Get that through your thick skull, Andino. I decide when to see you, not the other way around.”

“All right,” Andino said.

“Good.”

“One other thing, though.”

John had all he could do not to punch Andino right in the throat. “What now?”

“You’re ignoring your therapist appointments. Why?”

All over, John felt like someone had dumped ice cold water on him. “I beg your goddamn pardon?”

“You heard what I said.”

“How in the fuck do you even know that?”

Andino glanced away, and shrugged. “I got a friend in with your parole officer. You miss an appointment, and the therapist has to report it. You miss three, and the parole officer has to write you up on it. What, are you trying to get your parole revoked, so you can go back in? Is that what it is?”

Again, someone was checking on his business. Again, someone was trying to stick their fucking nose where it didn’t belong regarding John.

Again, he was shown how little faith they had in him.

“You know you have to go to those appointments, and not just for parole, either,” Andino said. “I’m only trying to look out for—”

“Look out for yourself, and keep me out of it. You make me tell you that again, Andino, and we’re going to have another incident like we did years ago. Only this time, I’ll fucking finish it for good.”

John didn’t wait for his cousin to reply. He turned fast, and headed for the warehouse. This time, Andino didn’t follow behind.

Inside the large building, John found the Calabrese brothers were already waiting for him. None of the crews from either organization had arrived yet, but he expected that. They showed up early to figure out any last minute details in private.

Kev and Darren Calabrese both sat on a table side by side in the middle of the warehouse.

“You two got nothing to do, or what?” John asked.

Kev shoved off the table with a chuckle. “Waiting on you, man.”

“Sure, sure.”