Cross My Tigress Face the Wrath

Stella rolled over and pushed herself upright.

The room wasn't completely dark—a nightlight glowed faintly in the corner, casting a soft shadow across her face. She looked almost emotionless.

"Sick as she was, I'm honestly surprised Ursula managed to hang on this long before finally kicking the bucket," Stella said, her tone flat.

Everyone figured Ursula would be finished within days after Jaxon Larkin threw her out of the Larkin household.

No one expected she'd survive this many nights on the street.

Tegan huffed. "So what if she was tough? You can fight fate all you want, but in the end, she still died a miserable wreck."

You can refuse to accept your lot, but you can't trample over someone else to get ahead.

After all, what goes around comes around.

Stella's brow arched slightly when she heard how bad Ursula's end had been. "How miserable are we talking?"

Tegan hesitated, lowering her voice. "Under the highway bridge. Two homeless guys... did things to her."

She trailed off, letting the ugly details hang unsaid.

But Stella got the picture.

Homeless. That was fitting.

tried so hard to keep up her fancy image—she'd even tried to get Stella

the Larkin estate, Ursula did everything she could to keep her own reputation spotless,

just the adopted daughter, always

where

"That's pretty

worse than rough.

hospital, if Susie and I hadn't watched out for you, who knows how you would've ended

name made

was his

had tried to hurt Stella more times than

about, others she probably never

heaviness in her chest. "Thanks for all you did back

waved her off. "Don't get sappy. Just thought you'd like to know. Maybe

way possible, and

or just plain

honest, after I moved back,

Not just Ursula.

whole Larkin bunch—unless someone shoved their names in

just

chuckled. "Sounds like life in Ferrowland's treating you pretty

Stella replied, her answer simple