Page 177 of Unruly

“No,” Catrina replied simply. “Never, my girl. See, letting one get away with their misdeeds gives others the impression that they too will get the same treatment. You must be their friend, and make them think they can trust you. Of course. You must also be their boss—one that only accepts loyalty, and nothing else.”

“You have the strangest way of teaching me things, Ma.”

Catrina’s smile bloomed wider. “Your final lesson. I’m going to enjoy stepping back now for good. Enjoying what I’ve made, and watching how you grow it into something even better. You’re my daughter, after all, so I expect nothing less.”

“I want to be angry with you.”

“Yet, you really can’t,” Catrina said with a tip of her hand. “Because you see, when it’s your turn, and her turn …” A nod came in Cross and Cece’s direction before Catrina continued on with, “Then you will also know what to do, or perhaps she’s already soaking it in. Maybe she will make it easier on you than I did. Who knows? What was the lesson, Catherine?”

Catherine stared long and hard at her mother. Cross wasn’t sure his wife was even going to answer. She did, eventually.

“Never stand for competition,” Catherine said. “Always cut it off at the knees.”

“What else?”

“Trust no one.”

“Not even those closest to you. Even your own mother. Well done, mia regina.”

Catherine looked away. “Not the little queen, now?”

“Not when the crown no longer fits. Time to wear a new one.”

“I still want to be mad at you.”

“That’s okay,” Catrina said with a sigh. “We now have all the time in the world to work whatever it is out, and finally, without me being your boss. I’ve missed being just your mother. It’s a delicate line otherwise.”

Catherine’s defensive posture relaxed, and her crossed arms dropped to her sides. “You’re kind of amazing, Ma. You know that, right?”

“Only kind of?”

Cross snorted to himself. Both women’s eyes darted to him, but he was already taking another drink of coffee and looking anywhere but at them.

Cece pushed away from her father’s legs, and crossed her little arms over her chest. She eyed both her mother and grandmother like she was considering what she had just witnessed, and deciding how she felt about it.

Their sly, wild girl.

Their smart girl.

She didn’t miss a fucking click.

“Ma no mads,” Cece said, not even posing it at a question. “No mads at Grandmamma.”

“No, I’m not mad, Cece.” Catherine looked happier, and Cross liked that, too. These last few months had been difficult for more reasons than he cared to admit. “Are you mad, baby?”

Cece shook her head, which caused her waist-length hair to fly out in all directions. “Not to my ma.”

“And what about me?” Catrina asked. “Are you mad at me, bambina?”

Cross set his cup to the counter, and used his elbow to keep himself propped up. This was the most amusement he had in days. He was not going to miss this for a second. Cece never disappointed with her quick wit and cute face.

She didn’t disappoint this time, either.

Strolling across the kitchen, Cece pointed at her grandmother. She walked right on past, heading toward the entryway, and never once dropping her hand or looking away.

“No makes my ma mads,” Cece said earnestly, “no makes me mads, Grandmamma.”

Serious as could be.