Page 25 of Unruly

He was fucking ecstatic.

“Merry Christmas, Cross.”

“Best Christmas gift ever, Catty.”

“Please remain seated for the safety portion—”

Cross ignored the woman speaking at the front, and pulled out the vibrating cell phone in his pocket. Not bothering to check the caller ID, he put the phone to his ear.

“Donati here.”

“Hey, boss.”

“Rick,” Cross greeted. “How’s things?”

“All right, I guess.”

His underboss didn’t sound too sure.

“I’ve been gone all of two days, Rick, so please don’t tell me shit is already falling apart.”

Rick scoffed. “Have a little faith in me, huh?”

“I do.”

When I’m within breathing distance, Cross added silently.

He had control issues where his famiglia was concerned. It was a bit unfounded, as neither Rick, nor Zeke, had ever given him a reason to distrust them. The two men handled the business Cross delegated to them without issue. They managed responsibilities between each other when Cross wasn’t there, too.

Still, he was detail oriented. It was difficult to see the details when he wasn’t there.

“Nothing’s wrong,” Rick assured. “I just thought I should give you a call, and check in.”

“Well, thanks for the call. You checked in.”

“Yeah.”

“I should let you go, though, as we’re about to leave the gate.”

“Well, one thing.”

“I knew it,” Cross grumbled, scrubbing a hand over his jaw. The three-day scruff tickled his palm. He was due for a shave. “What the fuck happened?”

“Nothing, boss, honestly.”

“But something.”

Rick made a noise Cross couldn’t decipher. “I don’t think so. I mean, sometimes he goes off for a day or two, but he calls on and off.”

“Who or what are you talking about?”

“Zeke.”

Cross straightened in his seat. “What about him?”

“Have you talked to him since you left the city?”

“No, but that’s not unusual. He won’t call unless something comes up. He knows better.”