Cross My Tigress Face the Wrath

If one person says something looks bad, maybe they're just stirring the pot.

But when everyone who's seen it says it's bad... well, that's probably the truth.

Ronald considered this for a second, then reached over and gave Stella's cheek a playful pinch. "You and Susanna really do love a good gossip, huh?"

He'd already noticed it back when they were living in Portis City. Most of what Stella knew, she'd picked up from Susanna's latest rumor mill.

Honestly, Stella had changed a lot in the three years since she'd left Ferrowland. At least back then, she hadn't had much interest in gossip at all.

Stella chuckled. "What can I say? Maybe it's just a woman's nature?"

Ronald didn't really care. If all Stella did was chat with Susanna on the phone, he could live with it. What worried him was that Susanna seemed to rope Stella into everything lately, dragging her out of the house all the time. But if a little gossip brought Stella some fun, he wasn't about to complain.

"Hey, do you think those twins are actually just someone's stepkids?" Stella asked, curiosity dancing in her eyes.

Honestly, Susanna's theory sounded pretty believable to Stella. After all, the man who ran Black Gate had been an absolute heartthrob in his youth.

Ronald laughed under his breath. "You're impossible," he said, his voice full of affection.

He didn't bother to answer if the twins were really blood relatives or not, and Stella didn't expect any real answer out of him anyway.

They were still talking when someone knocked on the door.

"Boss," called Idris's voice from outside.

his arms and stood

hesitated for a

"What's up?" Ronald asked.

at Stella, weighed his words, then leaned

an instant-his face

Ronald's voice

"Yes," Idris nodded.

when he turned back to Stella, his face was soft and warm again. "I need to step into

was going on, but she nodded. "Alright,

Idris, and Stella wasn't worried. After all, in Ferrowland,

The study.

his pack and lit up-a habit he'd given up ever since Stella got pregnant. Smoke curled around him

did he run?" Ronald asked,

for sure," Idris replied. "But Mr. Quarry's been acting... let's

made Ronald's already

a humorless laugh. "Interested? Please. Whatever he's

nothing. Filthy was one way

her true colors, he turned his sights on Stella? If he really cared, it sure didn't look like love. More likely, the Quarry family

"Hogan

an eyebrow.

interest in Stella is

idea settle in the smoky