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.

looked at Hull. "Um, you should probably head out. You don't have to stay." Hull

kind of bad about all this," she admitted, her cheeks burning again. She'd been a handful

measures. She couldn't believe she'd even made that deal

into a smile at her suddenly formal

free wrist, and gently pulled her

suddenly just inches

hitched. "W-What are you

eyes glittered.

"I... uh..."

"Funny, you didn't seem so shy when you were

scarlet. "Can we

couldn't believe she'd actually negotiated

little, will you?" she

just grinned. "You know Leanne's in this hospital, right? Are you sure you want to be

blinked. "She's here? So, the Nelsons are

"Not the Nelsons. The Murrays. They

Right," Susanna said, remembering

were... a handful, to say

continued, "Her mom's not here, but

father. She tried to push Hull away, but

"What's wrong?" Hull asked.

man's not my father,"

wife under the bus just to protect his mistress? He

a moment, then said quietly, “He probably knows you're

both showing up, things were clearly

jaw tightened. If her so-called father really cared, the twins wouldn't have been the first ones to find her. That told her everything she needed to

about his priorities.

determination settled in her