Page 77 of Always: A Legacy Novel

Cross shifted from second gear into third as he drove down familiar roads. Old buildings in need of repair passed them by, and the Range Rover’s headlights lit up the quiet streets of Brooklyn.

“This is not a great part of town,” Catherine said.

“No.”

“Do you spend a lot of time around here?”

“A bit,” he admitted. Catherine turned in the passenger seat to look at him, making Cross take his gaze off the road for a split second. A burning curiosity stared back at him. “What?”

“Did you know my brother was dealing drugs at school when he attended?”

“Catherine, I know which teachers will slip you a Xanax before an exam, and which ones will give you a grade to keep your spot on the team.”

She cocked a single brow. “Yeah, but that’s not what I asked.”

“My point just flew right over your head, didn’t it?”

“Don’t be an asshole, Cross.”

He sighed. “Yeah, I knew. I mean, everybody knows who to go to when you want to get something of a certain type. The Academy is full of rich kids with too much time and money on their hands, and parents that are too busy to pay attention. It’s not a big surprise.”

“That kids use drugs? No. That my brother was supplying? Kind of.”

“Like I said, to you, maybe.”

Though Cross was kind of shocked Catherine hadn’t known Michel Marcello had been supplying the Academy kids with whatever their poison of choice was for nearly as many years as he attended the place. Before him, it had been his cousin John, from what Cross understood. Since Michel was still around, and still had the time to deal, Academy kids still called on him when they wanted something to spike their fun.

Cross wasn’t sure who would pick up after Michel was done.

He also didn’t care.

“Is it not surprising to you because you know what my family is involved in?” Catherine asked quietly.

Cross made sure to keep his expression neutral as he replied, “I mean, that depends.”

“On what?”

“On how you want me to phrase what I know—do I know it because everyone knows the Marcello surname is attached with crime, or because so is mine?”

He didn’t miss the way Catherine nodded to herself and settled back into the passenger seat as though she had got her answer without asking it.

“But yeah,” he said, “that’s why I’m not surprised Michel deals.”

“Oh.”

Cross shrugged as he cut the wheel to turn off into an abandoned row of buildings that went on for a good block or two. Their destination was coming right up. “Somebody’s got to supply the demand, Catherine, and Michel happened to be the one with the right connections, and people knew where and who to go to. Just because Michel is brilliant in the book kind of way—or that’s what people say about him—doesn’t mean he’s dumb in other ways. He knows what he’s doing, and he’s probably got his own reasons for doing it. Who knows? Ask him.”

“I did. He said he likes money.”

“Shit, that’s a good reason, then.”

Catherine side-eyed him. “Do you?”

“Hmm?”

“Like money, I mean.”

Cross smirked. “I like it well enough.”