Page 18 of Revere: A Legacy Novel

“I talked to Andino today,” Dante said.

Shit.

Catherine stuck her fork in a piece of cut steak and asked, “Oh?”

“Yes, he mentioned you stopped by to eat at the restaurant.”

“I did.”

“What did I miss?” Michel asked.

“Nothing,” Catherine said.

“Oh, there must be something given the way you look,” Catrina said. “Or rather, the way you’re trying not to look, Catherine.”

Dio.

This was why Catherine sometimes avoided her family. They pried too much and stuck their noses where they didn’t belong.

“Are you seeing the Donati boy again?” Dante asked out of the blue.

Catherine dropped her fork. It landed on her plate with a loud clatter. It was the only noise the table made for the entire ten seconds that she spent staring at her father with her mouth wide open.

“What?” Catherine finally managed to ask.

“Donati. Cross. Affonso Donati’s boy.” Dante scowled when Catherine stayed silent. “Why are you playing dumb, Catherine? You know who I’m talking about. You dated him for years.”

“Why would you think I was dating Cross again?”

“Andino mentioned—”

“What, that Cross showed up at Andino’s restaurant and we had a conversation, Dad?”

Catherine blew out a heavy breath, more frustrated than ever. While her father had never explicitly told her she couldn’t date Cross, he’d never totally approved of the man. Catherine suspected it was just because someone was interested in her, and Dante never liked boys around his daughter all that much.

That, and the long history Catherine and Cross had together. A history that eventually ended very badly.

Dante raised a single brow high, and instantly, Catherine shut up. She knew which lines to cross with her father and which ones to never touch. Rudeness was one he wouldn’t accept. It didn’t matter how old she was.

“Sorry,” Catherine mumbled quickly.

“All right,” Catrina said, standing from the table. “Michel, let’s go … do something for a few minutes.”

“Come on, Gabbie,” Michel said, holding a hand out to his wife.

Catherine focused on her plate instead of the eyes of her father that were burning into her.

“Get it out, Daddy,” Catherine said.

Dante sighed. “I just wanted an answer, Catherine.”

“I gave you one.”

“That you had a dinner date with Cross Donati at Andino’s restaurant. Yes, I got that.”

“What dinner date?” Catherine asked. “It wasn’t a date.”

“You didn’t invite him there?”