Page 14 of Cross + Catherine: The Companion

The Restaurant

Dante POV

Dante’s arm struck out and knocked several overturned chairs piled on a table to the floor. It didn’t help his anger a whole hell of a lot, but it felt fucking good for a minute. That’s what mattered most to him.

A sigh echoed behind him as one of his two brothers stopped to pick up the chairs. Giovanni, apparently. Lucian followed behind Dante and started talking instead. He did his best to ignore his older brother. He didn’t need goddamn sense talked to him right then—he had every right to be pissed. That’s what he was going to be.

The up and coming restaurant currently looked like it was ready to be torn down, given the shape it was in. Covered tables and more chairs were piled high in one corner. The floor had been ripped up a couple of days ago to prepare for the stone tiles going in before the week was out. Open holes in the ceiling had bare wires hanging from them where the light fixtures would eventually go.

Another month, maybe, and the place would be in business. Another property and business to add to the Marcello profile.

It had also been the only place that wasn’t a dirty warehouse—no thank you—where Dante knew would be empty. A place he could use for a little bit to get this nonsense over with, and not be noticed.

“Teenagers do have sex,” Lucian said.

For the tenth time.

Dante rolled his eyes upward. “I swear, if you fucking say that again, I will punch you in the throat, Lucian.”

Giovanni had finally caught up with them, too. “He’s got a point.”

“I don’t care.”

“Don’t you think it’s a little strange how in every other aspect of your life,” Lucian said, “you are calm and collected, and then in walks your daughter.”

Dante hesitated in his step, and turned fast to face his brothers. So fast, that the two of them almost bumped into him. “And what the hell is that supposed to mean?”

“I kind of thought it was self-explanatory,” Giovanni said.

Lucian gestured at their younger brother. “What he said.”

“What, like because it’s my daughter, I automatically get raging pissed?”

“Yeah, like that, Dante.”

“And you don’t?” he asked Lucian.

“I have three daughters,” Lucian reminded him. “Only two of which have dated. Cella is a bit too young at fifteen, but here we are, and I don’t get much of a say. I know both of my older girls have—at times—stayed out too late, dated boys I hated, and have probably had sex. Jordyn keeps up on that stuff, and fills me in as necessary. Do you know how I know they’ve probably done that?”

“Because your wife tells you?”

“Nope,” Lucian murmured. “Because they’re teenagers.”

“It’s what we all did,” Giovanni added.

Lucian jerked a thumb in Giovanni’s direction. “Truth.”

“It’s not about the fucking sex,” Dante snarled.

Okay.

It was a little about the sex.

Just a tiny bit.

But not all.

Sure, Dante thought Catherine was too young to be physical with boys, but he realized that wasn’t realistic, either. If she felt ready for sex, and Catrina really seemed to think their daughter understood what she was doing, then he would have to deal with it.