Cross My Tigress Face the Wrath

Stella didn't say a word.

Honestly, it was true. But... why did it sound like Dan was just getting blamed for everything?

Wait a sec-now that she thought about it, Dan really had been getting the short end of the stick lately.

Like that thing with Xander sneaking into her sister's room-her sister wouldn't believe anything else, insisted it was Dan, and ended up smacking him for it.

Now there was the whole Susanna mess. Of course, her sister pinned that on Dan too, even going as far as storming Dan's place.

This guy was getting blamed for everything. It was almost tragic-like a modern- day Job or something.

Stella was lost in thought when Ronald gently pinched her cheek. "Hey, what's got you so spaced out?"

She shrugged. "I was just thinking... Dan's kinda like the ultimate scapegoat, huh? The poor guy."

Seriously. No matter what went wrong these days, if Yvonne was upset, she'd just dump it on Dan.

It was like he had a target on his back.

Ronald chuckled. "Yeah, he really does get the raw deal."

"And what about Hull? He just sits back and lets it happen!" Stella huffed. "My sister's been running all over The Black Gate looking for Susanna, practically losing her mind. Hull could at least say something, right?"

Even if Yvonne wanted to pick a fight with Dan, couldn't Hull at least pretend not to know what was going on?

make Susanna feel better. Trust me, your

figured Hull out a

And that part

on

ruffled her hair.

"Yeah, but Xander's not

mind, Xander

what happened three years ago—if Xander hadn't messed things up, maybe she and Ronald wouldn't have

her a little resentful

say anything else. He just pulled her close

been between them before?

...

Hull walked in, he found Susanna zoned out on the couch, while Barnaby lounged next to

darkened. He strode over and aimed a

But Barnaby was quick-almost

As Hull's

grabbed Susanna

way, landing both of them safely across the room.

Susanna just stared, dumbfounded.

in his

Barnaby was a bit of a doofus had to admit he was a lot quicker than she'd ever giver him