Cross My Tigress Face the Wrath

The call was picked up almost immediately. "Stella.”

"Hey, sis."

"You're calling about Susie, right? Listen, don't stress out. It's going to be fine."

Stella hesitated. "I-"

"Seriously, as long as I'm around, nothing's going to happen to Susie. You just focus on taking care of yourself and that baby, okay?"

Stella felt a rush of emotion. She wanted so badly to tell Yvonne the truth about Susanna already being in Hull's hands.

But she...

"Are you with Xander right now?"

Yvonne's voice was sharp. "Yeah, he's here. This Black Gate situation is absolute bullshit, I swear. We've been turning the place upside down and they still haven't handed her over! Do they have a death wish?"

Stella was silent.

Yvonne went on, "Don't worry, okay? I'm stepping it up. We're getting Susanna back, and it'll be in the next few days, tops."

Yvonne ranted about Black Gate, but her tone was softer when she spoke to Stella, trying to keep her calm.

Honestly, with everyone closing in, she couldn't imagine Black Gate holding out much longer.

Stella tried to sound reassuring. "Hey, you don't have to rush so much."

taken

rush? Was she serious? If anyone should be anxious, it was Stella- Susanna was

now Stella was telling her... not to

gently, "Susie's a tough cookie. She'll

Yvonne went quiet.

trying to calm her down because she was the one freaking

"Stella, I promise I'm

no need to hurry," Stella

made Stella feel even worse.

then, Ronald walked

Stella saying, "Sis" into the phone. Ronald's brow furrowed

gently took

pouted, lips

glanced at the screen, confirming it was Yvonne. Into the phone, he said, "You find her

"No!" Yvonne snapped.

get back out there and look," Ronald

"Ronald-" Yvonne started.

he said, then ended the

was speechless, jaw dropped in

at her, his

What are you all up to, huh? If you ask me, Black

apart. If they were planning to make a move, now was the

Watching her little tantrum,

sat on