Page 44 of Revere: A Legacy Novel

“You sound like Ma, Cam.”

“Shut up, Cross.”

His sister punched him hard in the gut, and headed down the hallway out of sight. Despite being younger than him at almost twenty-three, she was not a girl he liked to mess with. Even as a kid, his sister gave him a run for his money.

God, he loved her though.

Tommaso laughed as Cross regained his breath. “Dinner?”

“Yeah, sure.”

“She was just getting ready to pull it out of the oven. Come on.”

Cross followed behind his old friend. Tommaso was only two years younger than Cross, but the two had been friends since … forever. Around nineteen or so, Cross met Tommaso when he first started running guns for Chicago. Tommaso had been his partner on that very first gun run.

For the most part, Cross was not a people person. He didn’t like to interact with others socially. He did not make friendships that were worth keeping. Yet, he had with Tommaso. It was still going strong.

Cross was pleased his sister had at least married a man that he did not want to kill every time he looked at the guy.

Tommaso waved at the captain’s chair at the other end of the table, and sat down at the head of the table where a glass of water was already half empty. He sat his whiskey down beside it. Cross sunk into the chair with relief.

“I should have just drove,” Cross muttered. “That plane was packed. Sardines in a can.”

His brother-in-law cringed. “Fly private.”

“Waste of money.”

“And yet, you complain.”

Cross lifted a single shoulder. “What can you do? That’s life.”

“I’m just going to plate the steaks, and I’ll be out,” Camilla called from the kitchen.

“Yeah, it’s fine, Cam.”

Tommaso picked up his whiskey and swirled the amber liquid. “Theo mentioned the Canadian’s guns came in early yesterday.”

“That’s why I’m here.”

His friend nodded. “It’ll be an easy run for you.”

“Already had it planned two months ago.”

“I’m not even surprised.”

“You should come with me,” Cross offered. “It’s been a couple of years, Tom. Run some guns.”

Tommaso laughed. “I would, but my father would probably have my nuts when I got back.”

“Spoiled little underboss,” Cross joked.

“Says another underboss.”

“Yeah, but I still run my guns, man.”

“Truth.” Tommaso sipped from his whiskey before saying, “It’s risky, though, and Dad doesn’t like that. We’re already on corkboards in some FBI agent’s office, right? Why give them more reason to look at me than they already have.”

“Everything in this business is risky, Tom.”