Page 27 of Revere: A Legacy Novel

“Then what it is the point, Cal?”

Calisto frowned. “Not Papa today, Cross?”

“Depends on my mood. It’s not very fucking good at the moment.”

“At least not where I’m concerned, hmm?”

Cross wasn’t doing this today.

At least, not with Calisto.

“Move on,” Cross said quietly.

Calisto sighed, and scrubbed a hand down his face. “You need to be at tribute regardless if you owe dues or not. It’s the respect of the matter. You don’t get to blow one off because you’re in a pissy mood with me. Just so we’re clear, Cross.”

“Fine.”

“Now, what did you want?” Calisto asked. “You were the one who asked for this meeting today. What did you need?”

For a long moment, Cross simply stared at his father. He could plainly see the similarities between them standing out far more than ever before. It was like looking into a slightly older mirror when he stared at Calisto’s features. He had always passed it off before as them being related, and the dominant Donati genes they shared.

Certainly not that he was looking at his father.

Cross hadn’t sat down with Calisto, or his mother, in weeks. He ignored their calls, his mother’s messages about dinner and church, and even his sister calling to ask what the fuck was up with him lately. He assumed Emma had probably complained to Camilla about his lack of presence in their home the last time his sister called from Chicago.

This was the first time he actually sat down with Calisto, and spoke to him since that night he came over during his father’s episode. Even his mother hadn’t lingered too long when he first came into the house earlier.

“I need to fill you in on something I’m doing,” Cross said.

Calisto’s brow dipped. “Why?”

“Because it involves another New York family, and I’m technically a Donati man. Your made man. Shouldn’t I let my boss know when I’m involved in another family’s schemes?”

“Is that what it is, a scheme?”

Cross tipped his hand over as if to say, kind of.

“What is it, then?” Calisto asked.

“I owe Andino Marcello a favor from years back. He decided to cash it in now.”

“A favor because of what?”

Cross blanked his expression, unwilling to explain exactly what had gotten him into this position years ago. “For something—that’s not the point.”

“What does he have you doing, son?”

“Running some guns to a buyer down in the Gulf.”

Calisto’s gaze hardened, and his jaw tensed. Still, he stayed silent. Cross knew his father was instantly irritated by the news, either way.

“It should be a quick and clean run,” Cross assured, “and then I’m done with him. The debt is paid.”

“I suppose a warning from me regarding the Marcello family will do you no good.”

“If you need to, then by all means, go for it.”

Calisto rolled his eyes upward. “Dante Marcello has already made it very clear you’re to stay far away from his areas of New York, and his men. He does not want any of the Donati family, but especially you, touching his business. I’m extremely positive that running his guns falls into that category, Cross.”