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 aback.

If anyone should be

Stella was telling her...

cookie. She'll be okay. I

Yvonne went quiet.

how it was? Or was Stella just trying to calm her down because she was the one freaking

softened. "Stella, I promise I'm

need

Stella feel even worse. She was almost bursting to tell

Ronald walked

into the phone. Ronald's brow furrowed when he saw who she was

took

lips trembling.

it was Yvonne. Into

"No!" Yvonne snapped.

back out there

"Ronald-" Yvonne started.

he said, then ended the call without another

dropped in outrage. "What

his expression

talk to Yvonne? What are you all up to, huh? If you ask me, Black Gate is

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

Watching her little tantrum,

sat on