Page 89 of Unruly

“Why not?”

Cross didn’t like that at all. It was easier to get through his days without his wife when he at least got to hear her voice once or twice.

“I’m heading down to Mexico tomorrow.”

“Catherine—”

“It’s a last minute meet. My contact came through. I can’t turn it away just because I don’t have more time to plan, Cross.”

Jesus.

Every part of him that he swore was born and bred to protect Catherine wanted to rise to the occasion, but Cross knew it would do him no good. His wife was going to do what she needed to do, regardless if he thought it was unsafe.

“What about Cece?” Cross settled on asking.

“Miguel will have her handled.”

“Okay, then who is going with you?”

Catherine made a noise under her breath.

“What does that mean, Catty?”

“I was told I couldn’t bring anyone to the meeting with me,” she said quietly.

Cross clenched his jaw so tightly that his goddamn molars ached. He glared at the wall of his office, trying to just … relax. Anything.

“Cross?”

“Yeah, I’m still here,” he said gruffly.

“I can hear you’re not happy.”

“Why would I be? I think you going alone is incredibly stupid and dangerous. You don’t know anything about them, or how they do business. What if getting you down there and alone is some kind of trap?”

“What if it’s part of the way they do business, Cross?”

“Yes, except we don’t know that, Catherine, because—”

“We don’t know anything about them.”

“Exactly,” he growled.

“It’s a risk I have to take.”

Cross pressed two fingers into his suddenly throbbing temple. “Babe—”

“If this was you, and not me, I wouldn’t say a word, Cross. You’re only getting huffy and concerned because you think I can’t handle myself. I can.”

“I know you can.”

“They didn’t say I couldn’t come armed, by the way,” she added.

“Just alone, huh?”

“To the meeting. Not to Mexico.”

Cross heard her unspoken words loud and clear once again. “All right.”