Page 135 of Revere: A Legacy Novel

Wolf smiled thinly. “He didn’t have to; the words made the rounds. He did confirm it to me, though.”

“Surprised you weren’t there, actually.”

“My granddaughter’s recital was today—her first. I made a choice, Calisto didn’t argue against it.”

Ah.

Wolf looked to Cross. “The run, give me information.”

Cross sighed, setting his glass back to the table. He rolled the sleeves of his dress shirt up to his elbows, tired and disinterested in this entire conversation. He knew what Calisto was doing by sending Wolf to get information, and it wasn’t all about the gun run that had gotten fucked up, either.

His father wanted to check on him without inserting his presence, it was obvious. Wolf was there to make sure Cross wasn’t acting foolish in some way, and nothing more. Cross didn’t mind playing along, for now.

Truth was, Cross knew exactly what he needed to do for his father. Calisto was sick; he needed his surgery. No matter how unfinished his business was with his father, Cross was going to allow Calisto the chance to live and not worry about having another episode, or worse, dying.

Soon.

“Shit happened. The guns were already on the other boat, so I dumped the run load by sinking the fucking yacht of the buyer by burning it,” Cross said, skipping over all the details that had happened in between. “Dropped the yacht we were using where it needed to go, and grabbed the jet waiting. So, the run route is screwed because the boat is new enough to have auto-warnings that get transmitted when shit happens aboard. Then they’ll find the dumped guns, and they’ll be monitoring that route.

“The buyer—Rhys, I’ve run guns to him before, though not there—sent out new middle men to collect this time, and one was a little too interested in Catherine for his own good. Shit happened. I sent Rhys’ men down with the boat, so he won’t be buying from me again. Adding onto that, the Marcellos are out the other half due for the guns on delivery. A quarter of a million.”

Wolf whistled low. “Cazzo merda.”

“But it was needed, so like I said, shit happens.”

“Andino Marcello might not feel the same way when he learns how much money he’s lost because you dumped the guns,” Wolf said.

Cross scrubbed a hand down his face. “He’ll understand.”

Because of Catherine, Andino would completely understand. Cross wasn’t about to offer those details out, however. Or, he hoped Andino would understand.

“All right,” Wolf said, turning to head back the way he had come. “I will let Calisto know.”

“Tell him I’ll be over tomorrow—lunch, or something. I know he only sent you over here to check on me. He doesn’t give a fuck about those guns or the run.”

Wolf stopped, looking over his shoulder with a sad smile. “You worry him, Cross.”

“I needed time.”

“All he ever did—even back then—was love and protect you and your mother.”

Cross nodded once. “I know, but he still lied to me.”

“By omission, perhaps, but not in his actions. He’s never been anything else but your father, even if your birth certificate had a different name in the slot. Shit, you called him your dad your whole life, anyway, and he adopted you as soon as he was able. For all purposes, that man has always been your father, Cross. Now you know it’s not just because of his actions as you grew up, but your DNA, too.”

“Yeah, I got that.”

“You good for tonight, or do you need something?”

He pulled his cell out of his pocket, checking the screen for any messages. “Just waiting on a call, but other than that, I’m good.”

“I’ll let him know that, too.”

Cross turned back to face the windows. “Do that, Wolf.”

He had other things to wait for, like a beautiful brunette with green eyes somewhere across the city, doing her own thing too far away from him.

She needed to come home.