Page 85 of Always: A Legacy Novel

“Eh, sort of,” Cross uttered under his breath.

“What was that?”

Here comes more yelling …

He could have lied, but somehow whenever he lied Calisto always found out. He wasn’t sure how his step-father did that shit, but it never failed. It was just better for Cross to tell the truth and get the yelling over with from the jump.

“I went driving down to the abandoned row in Brooklyn for a bit,” Cross said.

“What?”

“The party got boring.”

“Cross—”

“It was better than us driving around the city, wasn’t it?” he asked.

Calisto stilled.

Cross realized his mistake instantly.

“Us. Who is this us?”

“Catherine.”

Calisto’s eyes narrowed. “Catherine who? I swear to Jesus if you say who I think you’re going to say, Cross, I swear …”

“I could not say it, and we could pretend like I did.”

“It’s the Marcello girl because of course it was, Cross. You’ve got a death wish. That’s what it is. You don’t know any better. Killing me here.”

“Okay,” Wolf said, stepping in between Calisto and Cross, “Cal, go take your wife out for the day and relax. I’ll have Cam and this little shit taken care of today.”

“I kind of have plans,” Cross said.

Or, he would make some.

Wolf laughed darkly, pointing a finger at Cross with a cold smile. “No, you don’t. Your father has let this nonsense with you go on for too long. From today onward, Cross, you’re not getting out of my damn sight. And when you are out of my sight, it will be because you are at school, or with someone we’ve chosen for you to be with. Nothing more, nothing less.”

“But—”

“But nothing,” Wolf interjected firmly. “Here’s the thing, Cross, you want to be a made man, but there’s a hell of a lot more to it than following me around and your last name. It’s about goddamn time you learn respect, and just how much it’s worth in this life. Get your shit, and make it fast. We’ve got things to do today.”

Cross knew when to pick battles.

This was not one of them.

“I’m heading out,” Catherine called over her shoulder.

Instantly, her father’s head peeked out of the living room. “To where?”

“Well, with Liliana.”

Her cousin had her license now.

Catherine was taking full advantage of that.

“Yes, but to where, Catherine.”