Page 86 of Revere: A Legacy Novel

Cross looked away. “Some nonsense, I suppose. Following me. People showing up at businesses I frequent. Phone calls. Nothing that bothers me too much.”

“And what’s been said?” she pressed.

“Catty.”

“Cross.”

She already knew his answer before he said it. “I’ve been told to keep away from you, for the most part.”

“Except you let me in last night.”

“Because I don’t give a fuck what somebody tries to do to me,” Cross said with a smirk. “I’m not easily scared. After what your father already did to me once, the only thing he can really do now is kill me.”

Catherine felt her cheeks drain of color.

Cross stepped closer, and set his cup aside. Reaching for her, he cupped her cheek, and stroked her jaw with his thumb. “Hey, I was joking, babe.”

“Were you?”

“Mostly.” Cross shrugged, adding, “He’s trying to intimidate me, and it’s not working. This is about me and you figuring shit out. Not him.”

Catherine looked up at him. “What if it gets worse?”

“I don’t think it will.”

“Why not?”

“Because Dante loves you.”

“So?” Catherine asked.

Cross waved a hand between them. “And here you are with me not locked down somewhere else.”

Oh.

“I did wonder, though, when I saw you here last night,” he said.

Catherine didn’t understand. “Wonder what?”

“What you were doing, I guess. Was it some stunt you were pulling on him? Rebellion, maybe? I considered it for a moment.”

“But you didn’t ask,” she said.

“I didn’t really need to,” Cross replied with a grin. “You don’t play games with me, Catherine. You never have. Your father won’t be the one you decide to start with where I’m concerned.”

He was right.

She was there because she wanted to be. It felt right. Nothing else mattered.

“Did you ever think to contact me, or try?” Catherine asked. “Anytime at all during these past seven years?”

Cross nodded as he picked up his cup. “Sure, but I never did.”

“Obviously. Why not?”

“One year turned into two, and then I was looking down six years before I blinked. I thought … she doesn’t even know you exist anymore, so let her live.”

Catherine’s gaze darted to his, and she found truth there.