Cross My Tigress Face the Wrath

That man wanted to hide in the shadows-was it because there was a woman he'd give anything to protect?

And for her sake, he'd put his own mother on the front lines?

"When your mother first took over Black Gate, she had no idea that woman even existed."

"Back then, her time in charge was hell-constant drama, endless conflict. She got hurt, more than once. The worst time, she almost lost you, Susanna. That's when she found out about the other woman."

Susanna listened in silence.

She tried to make sense of this tangled mess.

Learning her own father was the son of Black Gate's current boss was already enough to make her head spin.

But hearing about what her mother went through her eyes went wide, her heart pounding so hard it hurt to breathe.

It was impossible to imagine the kind of despair her mother must have felt.

"So... after that, my mom just took me and left?" she whispered.

Hull nodded. "Yeah. And she didn't leave empty-handed. She took the most important part of Black Gate's fortune with her."

"Part of the fortune" meant that half of the map.

Hull went on, "She's been living in Portis City all these years. Black Gate's people

have never stopped looking for her."

Of course they hadn't.

away with something priceless-why would

at Hull, her voice barely a

that half of the map back from your mother.

paused, choosing

trying to start something of her own. This is the most critical moment for

of

everything-the feud had

her chest was being

grudges here is too complicated. Your mother—she'd do anything to keep you

that man? What's he

shrugged. "He probably doesn't even know you

Susanna fell silent.

didn't, how could he have three kids with that other

shut her eyes, her heart aching with

no way I can see

of her mother facing all this alone made Susanna's

the first time in her life, she felt a surge of

the pain of imagining her mother suffering by

you,"

doesn't want your father to find

anything to keep that man from

anger flickered

the primal rage of a daughter

Meanwhile...

finally tracked down

She'd before

asy