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

If anyone should be anxious, it was Stella- Susanna was

now Stella was telling

cookie. She'll

Yvonne went quiet.

it was? Or was Stella just trying to calm her down

"Stella, I promise I'm getting Susanna

need to

obvious even over the phone, which made Stella feel even worse. She was

then, Ronald

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

took the phone from

pouted, lips trembling.

it was Yvonne. Into the phone,

"No!" Yvonne snapped.

back out there and look," Ronald replied

"Ronald-" Yvonne started.

hanging up now," he said, then

was speechless, jaw dropped in outrage. "What

looked down at her, his

are you all up to, huh?

apart. If they were planning to make a move,

Watching her little tantrum,

sat on