Page 121 of Unruly

“I figured I could meet up with him at the park when Katya and I take Cece for a walk and go for coffee.”

Catherine had decided to finally meet up with the Russian girl. Also, Cece had been asking about her Uncle Zeke for a while. It was time to get all that shit sorted. She had also told Cross they had to let Katya in, so she was going to try to do just that.

“You’ll have enforcers from both sides, then,” Cross said more to himself than her. “That makes me feel slightly better. More you being out, than you with Andino.”

“Don’t worry about me and Andino. Take no shit, right?”

Cross looked down at her, and then nodded once. “And don’t you forget it.”

“Peace offering?”

Andino held out the to-go cup usually used for coffee, and Catherine eyed the item curiously. “Depends on what’s in it, frankly.”

“Not poison, thanks.”

“No, I meant what is it?”

“Well, a little bird mentioned caffeine isn’t good for women in your condition.”

Catherine gave him a look. “Condition, really? You have two kids, and your wife is pregnant again, and you call it a condition, Andino?”

“I was trying to be polite. According to Dante, I have no business knowing that you’re pregnant to begin with. When I mentioned bringing you a coffee to soften you up, he let the news slip. Also, it’s a fucking hot chocolate. Take it and like it.”

She snatched the cup from her cousin’s hand, and sipped from the spout hole in the top. The sweetened, hot liquid flooded her tongue.

“Peace offering accepted, asshole.”

Andino smirked. “Thanks.”

“You called my father?”

“Actually, I called Catrina.”

That did surprise Catherine.

“Yet, you talked to my dad,” she said.

“Only after Catrina reminded me she has no patience for my shit,” Andino replied with a dry laugh.

“I love my mother.”

Andino made a noise in the back of his throat. “I bet you do.”

Walking along the pathway around the park, the two cousins stayed side by side. Andino hadn’t brought his daughters along, but that was because he had work to do after their meeting. Or so he said.

Across the park, Catherine could see Cece running away from Zeke as he tossed a small slushy snowball at her. Acting as Cece’s bodyguard and snowball thrower to fend off Zeke’s attack, was Katya. Instantly, Cece had taken to the woman. Catherine thought it might take a little urging from her and Zeke, but nope.

Katya was a soft-spoken, yet happy woman. Catherine hadn’t really gotten the chance to have a conversation with Zeke’s wife—and the cause of one of their issues—but she figured she didn’t need to. Cece liked her. That was enough for Catherine.

Right now, anyway.

Later, Catherine was hoping to get that conversation with Katya. She wanted to learn more about her, and make friends. After all this was over, Katya would be a part of their lives. Catherine at least owed it to the woman to let her in.

Being it was early March, they wouldn’t have snow for much longer. Soon, the rain would come in to make a damn mess until the flowers began to grow. She had made sure to bundle Cece up well so she wouldn’t catch a damn cold. That was the last thing she needed.

“And then Dante kindly reminded me that while I am in fact an asshole, you—”

“Be very careful with your next words, Andino.”