Page 51 of Unruly

His grin turned sinful. “Sometimes I do wish I could be a fly on the wall for that.”

“Mmhmm. I bet.”

“We’ll figure something out.”

“Except January is your busiest month,” Catherine pointed out. “And we already decided that I would have to be home for the majority of the month to handle Cece when she wasn’t with my parents, or yours, or at daycare.”

“Shit.”

“I know they’ll take her—Cal and Emma, or my mom and dad. I know they will, Cross, but I hate handing her off like that.”

“I know, babe. I can delegate some shit to Zeke or Rick.”

“Your gun run is coming up, too, in a couple of months. I know how you get the closer that comes, Cross. Your attention needs to be on details, and routes, and whatever else. You’re not really here.”

Cross did not look pleased. “Just get to your point, Catherine.”

“I’ll take her with me.”

“To Los Angeles.”

“Yeah.”

“For how long?”

He hated being away from their daughter. Catherine hated taking her away for long periods.

“A couple weeks.”

“But maybe more,” he pressed.

“Maybe.”

Cross clenched his jaw, but eventually nodded as he stepped away from Catherine at the same time. “Fine, take her. It’s the better option, anyway.”

“You’re not mad at me, are you?”

“Never, babe.”

So why did it feel like it?

“She’s precious.”

Catherine smiled at Meeka, one of her mother’s girls. She brought in decent money, but was edging closer to thirty-five than she wanted to admit. Usually, around that age, the woman opted to step back and start living a more normal, stable life.

She knew Catrina had been waiting for Meeka to bring it up.

“Ma, what’s that?” Cece asked.

Miguel was supposed to be keeping Cece entertained in the connecting room. He had once been Catherine’s handler—every girl had one to keep them safe and manage their business between Catrina, Catherine, and the client. Now, though, he was more like her right hand. She figured the only reason Cross never felt threatened or bothered by the guy was because Miguel had a wife, two kids, and thought of her as a little sister to annoy.

Any other man that came near Catherine was fair game to Cross, though.

Miguel tugged on Cece’s pigtail. “Come on, principessa. Let’s go get a Popsicle from the kitchen.”

“No.”

Her friend shot her a look, silently asking, What do you want me to do, reginella?