Page 110 of Unruly

Cross was done listening to this nonsense. He strolled across the room, and snatched the phone from his wife’s hand. Catherine didn’t even see him coming until he already had her phone in his hand, and turned his back to her.

“Andino, it’s Cross here,” he said into the phone.

“Cross,” Andino replied coldly.

There was no love lost between the two of them.

“I realize you’re worried about your bottom line like every greedy fucker in this business, but I don’t give a shit. Catherine did what she said she was going to do. She did what the rest of us knew you wouldn’t be able to do.

“She held up her end of the bargain, so you can back the fuck off. Frankly, you could even thank her. Actually, I expect it. Tomorrow, even. Have a good sleep, wake up with a smile, and make another call to properly thank my wife for getting you a new supplier. Otherwise, you and I are going to go on a round together like we should have done years ago, man.”

Cross didn’t bother to let Andino reply. He hung up the phone, and turned to face his very pissed off wife.

“Why would you do that, Cross?”

“Because I could, so I did.”

She glared at him. “I can handle my cousin, thank you.”

“Quite aware, babe.”

“Then let me do that!”

“You need to stop letting Andino walk all over you, Catty.”

Catherine straightened like someone had shoved a rod up her spine. “I don’t—”

“You do. He doesn’t respect you like he does your mother. The only reason he respects Catrina is probably because she threatened to pickle his nuts at one point or another. Honestly, I don’t think he respects anybody but John when it comes to people in positions of power around him. I get it—that’s his shit to handle, but you don’t have to. He either shows you respect, or he can fuck off.”

“He’s family—”

“He’s an asshole.”

“Sometimes you’re an asshole, too, Cross.”

“To you?” he asked.

Catherine didn’t reply.

“To anyone heading their organization?” he pressed. “Am I? Do I disrespect people like that?”

“You said it. It’s his thing.”

“Only if you let it be his thing in regards to you. Stop letting it, or I’ll start pulling shit like that a hell of a lot more often.”

Catherine frowned. “I can handle it, Cross.”

“I know you can. I’ve seen you do it, babe, but do it more often with him. That’s the only way he’s ever going to give you an inch to move. Don’t ever let that man think he’s got any sort of control over you or your business. Remind him every single chance you can that he relies on you for something, and you don’t mind pulling it out of his reach when he steps out of line.”

It took a good minute of silence stretching between them, but Catherine finally nodded.

“Okay,” she said.

“You’re amazing, Catherine.”

Her green eyes met his, the color dancing with both her annoyance and love for him. He tossed the phone to the desk, and caught his wife’s face in his hands. Pulling her close enough to tuck all the sweet curves of her body into his, he stole a quick kiss from her painted red lips.

“Amazing,” he repeated against her mouth. “Beautiful. Stubborn as hell. Smart, sharp, and quick on your feet. You’re good at what you do, Catherine. Exceptional, even if you do have a bit of growing room left to do yet. Don’t let someone treat you differently, family or not.”