Cross My Tigress Face the Wrath

"She's the one who told us to take it, anyway..."

Yvonne had no clue about that flicker of something strange in Xander's eyes. She kept talking, “Honestly, I think it's good you're being tough on them. Who knows, it might just force them to give in!"

“And as for Hull, you know when he sees you getting tough, he's gonna double down too!"

Xander just stared at her for a moment. “...

Yvonne continued, "Hey, have you noticed something weird?"

"Noticed what?" Xander asked.

"Hull. Doesn't it seem like he's got a personal vendetta against Black Gate?"

Xander blinked. "What makes you say that?"

A vendetta? He hadn't seen that coming.

Yvonne dragged out the chair next to him and flopped down. "My people told me that since last night, Hull's been going after Black Gate nonstop. He's ruthless, not giving them a moment to breathe."

She sounded casual now, but when she first heard the reports, she'd thought— this doesn't seem like someone just trying to negotiate...

It felt a lot more like revenge.

Xander said, "You think anyone's gonna give Black Gate a chance to catch their breath right now?"

we push too hard, they'll

didn't seem worried

it seemed. Susanna's own relatives were the ones who'd gotten her into this mess, and

in her past life

his glass of wine, then said with meaning,

was nothing left for them to

sure? I'm telling you, people like that-when they get desperate, they do crazy things. Sometimes,

if they just handed Susanna back over, she'd return what

if she made it clear there was no chance of getting anything back, she really did

***

Black Gate were

and Hull had joined forces, and

main strongholds had been thrown into disarray. And Lottie? She was even more ruthless-she'd all

by the time Dan came home, Finch had

room, blocking his way. Derek and Finch were in

were being dragged into this mess-she couldn't

people were taking heavy losses, and their grip

Dan didn't even look at

want, Dan-Finch and I will

Please, just give Susanna

want," Dan finally looked her way, but there was only cold

caught.

you and Finch-shouldn't it stay in