Cross My Tigress Face the Wrath

Inside Hull's country house.

Susanna Tucker had been running a high fever, and it had left Hull absolutely

exhausted. It wasn't until around six in the evening that she finally drifted awake,

groggy and disoriented.

Hull was standing by the window, speaking on the phone, his voice low and tense.

Susanna couldn't make out what was being said on the other end.

He glanced at the watch on his wrist, then spoke coldly into the phone,

"Everything's set."

"Tell Mrs. Tucker I need to see her. No excuses."

With that, he ended the call without waiting for a reply.

He turned and caught Susanna's gaze-her eyes were glassy and dazed, like she

was still only half-awake.

"You're up?"

Susanna gave a weak nod, still feeling like she'd been run over by a truck.

Hull walked over to the bed and pressed a hand to her forehead. "Fever's mostly

gone."

A woman with a fever, he thought, could really be a handful.

Susanna looked up at him, wide-eyed and anxious. "That call just now... When

you said Mrs. Tucker, did you mean my mom?"

Just mentioning her mother made worry flicker in Susanna's eyes.

Everything she thought she knew about her life had been turned upside down in

few days. And there was no one who could really help

that

Hull nodded. "Yeah."

did

hesitated, his lips pressed in a thin

heart started pounding, the silence making

finally said, "Don't stress out too much. The conflict between your

isn't life or death. They're not out

that supposed to

sighed. "It's just...

"Complicated how?"

Hull nodded, looking tired. "Some of Black Gate's

up. But I

"What kind

her in the eye. "Your dad... He's the father of the current head

Black Gate."

Susanna blinked. "Wait-what?"

dad... was the father

way. Are

up believing her dad was dead. Now he'd

the ground?

face was serious. "I'm

"So then, me and the boss of Black Gate

"Half-siblings," Hull said quietly.

Susanna's mouth dropped open.

you're telling me I suddenly have not just a dad,

her whole life, and now

popping out of the

shrugged. "Not just a brother. You've got

just stared at

it's a whole crowd,

why did he take my mom? And

to

wonder Hull had said it was

years ago, she took half of Black Gate's

"with her."

frowned. "Half a

Hull nodded.