Page 50 of Cross + Catherine: The Companion

“No.”

“You will do what I tell you to do, Lucian.”

“Not in this case. I will not.”

Catrina’s gaze jumped between her husband, and his brother. They rarely fought, and she was unsure if she wanted to step in the middle of this particular battle. She tried to stay out of Dante’s business, much like he stayed out of hers. It was the respect of the matter, and it allowed them both to work without added complications.

This, though, was not quite the same.

It was beyond business.

It was family, too.

Their daughter.

She understood Dante’s position.

Lucian’s, on the other hand, could also not be ignored.

Not after the things Cross had said.

“I stand where I said with Cross,” Lucian said, “and nothing you say or order will move me on it. After everything you did to him back then, he was owed this moment. Maybe he waited longer than I would have to get retribution, but that was his choice to make. It could have been far worse than what you got today, Dante, and you know it.”

“You—”

“What will you do?” Lucian asked, not even giving his brother a chance to speak. “Will you punish me for being disobedient? I dare you to try, brother.”

The two men quieted—both silently seething between their stiffened postures, and hard glares. Catrina finally decided then that she had enough. This was all more than she could handle at the moment.

With a subtle nod at Lucian to gain his attention, she pointed a single red-tipped fingernail at the doorway. “Leave, Lucian.”

“Catrina,” Dante said, stepping in, “we are not done talking.”

“I can assure you that you are done, bello.”

“I’ll be around,” Lucian said.

That was that.

He was gone the next second.

Dante turned on Catrina as soon as Lucian was out of sight. “What in the hell do you think you’re doing stepping in on my business like that, Catrina?”

She bristled at his tone, but hid it well. Carefully brushing down her dress, and then fixing her curls, Catrina said nothing while Dante continued ranting on. She would give him a minute or two.

He was warranted that, sure.

Not much more.

After all, she now had things to say, too.

“Don’t you ever do something like that to me again,” she heard him say.

Catrina turned a cold smile on her husband. “Or what, Dante?”

His gaze blazed.

Her coldness remained.