Cross My Tigress Face the Wrath

But then a low, rough voice full of promise sounded right by her ear. "Don't move."

It was Hull.

His warm breath brushed against her neck, sending a shiver down her spine that was half nerves, half...something else.

"Raise it up a little," he murmured.

"Like this?" Susanna asked, her voice shaky.

"Yeah. Now, pull the trigger."

She did as he said. This time, the bullet hit dead center.

Before Hull showed up, she'd been practicing at the shooting range with Barnaby for an hour already. At first, she could barely bring herself to even fire the gun. Then, her arms started aching from the recoil.

Funny thing was, Susanna had been more emotional than ever lately, especially whenever Hull was around. But today, she stuck with it. Even though her hands were numb and her arms ached, she didn't quit.

So much had hit her, all at once-from finding out the truth about her own life, to nearly getting kidnapped the night before. Every step had come out of nowhere, and she knew time wasn't on her side.

Hull's hand tightened reassuringly on her waist as he glanced at the fresh hole in the center of the target. His eyes looked darker than ever. "What's got you out here practicing today? Last night?"

She nodded. "And...my mom. What happened to her, it's just the beginning."

on her

wasn't over. Not even close. Susanna knew things were only going

to wallow.

stand up for herself-wasn't really that sudden after

said softly, "You don't have to do all this,

of course, that as

me?" she shot back,

grinned. "You

not that," she

middle of chaos? Protected, cared for, as if nothing bad could ever touch her. But even Star, despite all that, had ended up having to

her, if she hadn't learned

what she'd faced out

kind of the same thing," Susanna said, taking a

all sunshine and apple pie. She'd have to walk a

to become someone who

hand across her forehead.

much she'd cried before-God, that had been

But

already changing.

he admitted to