Cross My Tigress Face the Wrath

After the doctor hooked Susanna up to an IV, she was still blushing from the earlier commotion, her cheeks flushed an even brighter shade of pink.

A few minutes ago, she'd been full of energy, eavesdropping in the hallway like it was her life's mission. Now, leaning back on the hospital bed, she felt deflated, like a balloon losing air.

Hull handed her a glass of water. "So, you really enjoy listening in on people, huh?"

Susanna was still a bit dazed from everything that had just happened. Oh, boy... Stella's temper was legendary-a real firecracker, that one.

And Dan? He actually faked his own death just to trick her? Was he out of his mind?

"About Dan-" Susanna started.

"Dan, your brother," Hull clarified.

"Please. I don't have a brother like that," Susanna blurted out without thinking.

Anyone who'd go so far as to fake their own death? That's about as low as it gets. If she admitted he was her brother, she'd probably get punched just for sharing the same last name.

As far as she was concerned, family ties like that were best left as distant as possible.

Besides, she'd heard that years ago, Yvonne nearly lost her mind over a man like that.

And it turned out the guy was lying to her the whole time? How could anyone stand for that?

If Stella found out, she'd probably lose it—and Susanna didn't want to be caught in the crossfire.

Susanna almost reached for her phone to warn Stella, but glancing at the clock, she decided maybe it was best to wait until morning.

Hull's question snapped her out of her thoughts. Susanna thought about it for a second. "It's not like I eavesdrop on just anyone."

If it didn't involve her, she wasn't interested. No matter how juicy the drama, she'd never bother-except she'd overheard Stella mention Yvonne's name earlier, and, well, that was different.

out.

feel kind of bad about all this," she admitted, her

couldn't believe she'd

lips curled into a smile at her suddenly formal

wrist, and gently pulled

were suddenly

hitched. "W-What are

glittered. "You

"I... uh..."

low. "Funny, you didn't seem so shy

turned scarlet. "Can we not bring

friend couldn't believe she'd actually negotiated with Hull while lying

a little, will you?" she

Leanne's in this hospital, right? Are

here? So, the Nelsons are

his head. "Not the Nelsons. The Murrays. They take their mother's last

Susanna said, remembering

handful, to

continued, "Her mom's not here, but

her father. She tried to push

"What's wrong?" Hull asked.

that man's not my

the bus just to protect his mistress? He didn't deserve to be

a moment, then said quietly, “He probably

showing up, things were clearly

been the first ones

about his priorities.

settled in