Page 75 of Unruly

If anything, it had just picked up.

Cross felt the weight of the world come and sit down on his shoulders in that moment. He was always asking for life to slow down so that he could enjoy his family a little more. The problem was, he had put into motion something that could very well take away everything that mattered the most to him.

The Russians.

The meeting a week before still weighed heavily in his mind. It was every reason for his distraction lately. It wouldn’t leave. A bad taste lingered in his mouth. He hoped this was the right choice, and that his family wouldn’t be punished for it.

But was it?

Cross carefully pulled the afghan blanket over Cece’s sleeping form. The dinner had gone on longer than they expected, and Cece ended up falling asleep sometime between cheesecake and talk of an upcoming birthday for someone.

Once he was sure his girl was going to stay sleeping on the couch, he headed back the way he had come. To the dining room. He found it empty, but the echoing voices took him to the kitchen.

There, he found Catherine, Emma, and Catrina cleaning up the mess from the dinner. A perfectly fine dishwasher sat there, ready to be used, but the women opted to wash the dishes by hand. They always did that. He never understood why.

For a moment, he stayed and listened to their conversation.

Safe conversation, he noticed.

“Have you thought of any names?” Emma asked.

“Bit early for that,” Catherine said, “but I think Cross is set on a name for a boy.”

“Something like you did for Cece’s names?” Catrina asked.

Catherine nodded. “Something like that, yeah.”

It might have been safe conversation, but it was still conversation. Cross thanked God for small miracles. His wife was actually talking to her mother. After months of radio silence, avoiding, and silent stewing.

Sure, they played nice during family gatherings, but they still hadn’t actually talked.

Cross hoped this safe conversation would lead Catherine and Catrina into a chat about something else. Mostly, business. He figured Catherine was ready to woman up for stepping out of line with her mother, apologize, and get some real insight about where the hell she needed to go next regarding her issues.

Again, one could only hope.

Seemed he was doing that a lot lately.

“Where did Calisto and Dante go?” Cross asked, finally making his presence known.

None of the women turned around at his question.

His mother was the one to answer. “Upstairs. Dante’s office.”

All right.

He headed that way, seeing as how his presence wasn’t needed in the kitchen. He barely stepped foot inside Dante’s office, and already, his father had a glass of twenty-year-old bourbon ready for him.

Sipping from the drink, Cross let the nutty, spicy flavors wash over his palate as he took a seat next to his father. Across from them, Dante sat behind his desk.

“How’s it going downstairs?” Dante asked.

Cross shrugged. “Catherine is actually talking to her mother. Mostly safe conversation. I think it’s because Ma is down there. Not going to complain, though.”

“Good.”

“Something going on there?” Calisto asked.

Dante waved it off. “Stubborn women who are too alike for their own good.”