Cross My Tigress Face the Wrath

If someone who didn't know Jaxon overheard this, they'd probably think he was legitimately crazy.

Stella took a sip of her oatmeal and nodded. "Yeah, he really needs to get some help. I swear, that guy's got more energy than sense. Never knows where to put it, either."

She rolled her eyes. "He'll move mountains when all he needs to do is open a door."

Ronald spent the morning at home with Stella, just hanging around. They didn't go anywhere.

Around ten, Idris stopped by. He greeted Ronald with a respectful nod. "Sir, it's done."

Before Ronald could say a word, Stella blurted out, "Wait, you actually sent Jaxon to a psychiatric hospital?"

Idris nodded. "Yes, ma'am."

Stella's eyes went wide. "Oh my God. That's brutal."

Idris turned to Ronald. "Mr. Miguel had some trouble last night."

"What kind of trouble?" Ronald asked.

Idris hesitated. "The Nelson twins-Leanne and Ivanna-the ones running Black Gate? They broke into Mr. Miguel's house last night, tried to take Miss Susanna."

Stella froze, spoon halfway to her mouth. "What?"

Ronald glanced at her, and Stella's heart skipped a beat. "Is Susie okay?"

Miguel's

sigh of relief. "Thank God. As long as they're

what did Ivanna and

Their reputation preceded them-mean as snakes and twice as ugly,

cleared his throat. "They're... well, they're

Stella blinked. "What?"

could

current boss is

jaw dropped. "You're kidding me. Like, actual

the public knows,

Stella just stared, dumbfounded.

a lot. Still, Susanna couldn't be that much older than her brother...

what the official story says. Whether he's a brother

head. "This is... this is

thought about it, the more tangled it got. Susanna's family

in charge of Black Gate

left, her father took over for a while, then passed it to the current boss," Idris

together. Susanna's life was way more complicated than she'd guessed. She

night, despite all this chaos. Maybe she was finally getting used to living in a world that

herself, sooner or later. And with the way things were going, Stella could see

her thoughts. "Things

Ronald raised an eyebrow.