Page 192 of Always: A Legacy Novel

Cross’s hand drifted over her back, as he chatted to Andino just behind her. His pinky finger hooked hers while she looked up at her dad.

Dante smiled. “I’m so proud of you, reginella.”

“Yeah?”

“Never stopped, not once.”

Catrina tucked a stray wave of hair behind Catherine’s ear before her mother darted off to talk to her Aunt Jordyn. Catherine barely felt a thing.

“Vita mia—my life,” Dante said, still holding that same, soft smile. “You were my impossibility, Catherine, my never-meant-to-be. I need you to keep proving me wrong. Keep doing what everyone thinks you cannot. You were born to do that, vita mia.”

“No, we would, but we’re just heading over to a party, Daddy,” Catherine lied.

Dante sighed. “Dinner tomorrow, then? And you better not miss that birthday party next week.”

The one for her cousin, Cella—the only August birthday in their family.

“I won’t miss it. Tomorrow, we’ll be there for dinner. Okay?”

Satisfied with her lies and promise, her father hung up.

Cross slid into the Rover not two seconds later, a package in his lands. He handed the bubble mailer over without a word, and Catherine ripped it open. Tipping the contents into her lap, she looked over the drugs, and then quickly stuffed them back in.

“Prescription pills are getting more popular, I see,” Cross noted.

Catherine shrugged. “Opiates, especially. But yeah, anything will sell. I just have to make it clear what I’ve got on hand before they start asking for other shit.”

Cross gave her a side-eye as he pulled out onto the road. “This should be … fun.”

“I’m sorry you’re going to miss that fight in Brooklyn.”

“I don’t give a shit about the fight, Catty,” he murmured.

Yeah, she knew that, too He was more worried about her dealing at the street races, especially since the last four had been raided by police. Andino ended up getting a call about something last minute—which was also happening a lot more often lately—which left Catherine to go on her own.

Cross would not have that shit. Not at all.

She could deal on her own, and she would, depending on the circumstances. Parties, people she knew, or very public events that she got into due to her last name and social status, sure. She did those alone just fine, with a very sharp knife hidden at her inner thigh just in case someone tried some stupid shit.

Cross wasn’t going to let her head out to the races alone, though, not given the circumstances. Catherine didn’t bother to bring her knife, if he was going to be there. He wouldn’t be far away, and always close enough to have both damn eyes on her just in case.

“Check that message on the times again,” Cross said.

Catherine pulled out her phone. She rattled off the event’s location, and the time the cars would kick off. “We’re making good time.”

“Shit, I should have brought some money for a bookie.”

She laughed.

“I could loan you a bit,” Catherine teased, leering, “but it’s going to cost you.”

Cross reached over and tangled his fist into her hair, before pulling her across the seats for a kiss. “No way, Catty. You’re a fucking shark.”

Another reason Catherine knew Cross hated watching her work?

Men.

The thrall of her dealing happened to be the fact that she was pretty, and men liked to look at her. Cross did not like men coming within breathing distance of Catherine if their intentions were anything less than innocent.