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.

priceless-why would they ever

looked at Hull, her voice barely a breath. "And

the map back

choosing his

I think she's trying to start something of her own. This is

of her

feud had reached a

like her chest was being

"The web of loyalties and grudges here is too complicated. Your mother—she'd do

that man? What's

doesn't even know you exist.

Susanna fell silent.

didn't, how could he have three kids with

shut her eyes, her heart

there really no way I can

facing all this alone

life, she felt

vanished, shattered by the pain

you,"

after a second, "She doesn't want your father

was Lacey Tucker's stubborn streak. She'd do anything to keep

lowered her eyes; anger flickered

of a daughter desperate to

Meanwhile...

tracked down Skye

She'd before

asy