"That damned woman-she knows the kid is Xander's, and she still wants to keep it! After everything she did to me? How the hell is she going to make it up to me?" Dan was fuming, veins standing out on his neck.

He knew perfectly well Yvonne would never make amends. She refused to give back even the things she'd snatched from Black Gate. The more he thought about it, the more his anger flared. He jabbed at his phone, dialing Yvonne again, only to discover he was blocked. He had nowhere to vent the wildfire of fury burning inside him.

Elsewhere, just as seething was Shawn, who trudged alone down a moonlit, empty path, phone to his ear as he ranted at Xander.

"Do you even get what you've put me through? Forty miles! Forty! Do you know what that's like? Sure, on the highway maybe I could jog it, but on these damn country roads, I can't even keep up a run!"

Exasperated, Shawn practically spat into the receiver. "I must've lost it for a second, thinking I could save a heartless bastard like you. If I hadn't tried to bail you out, Yvonne wouldn't be gunning for me now. It's all on you! Because of you, I'm getting singled out, and you're just standing by, doing nothing!"

Worked up beyond reason, Shawn was yelling louder than he'd ever dare to Xander's face. But with miles between them, he couldn't hold back anymore. What kind of brother pulls this kind of stunt on him? He'd always treated Xander as family.

Xander's voice was maddeningly calm. "Just hang in there. It's only this time. There won't be a next, all right?"

"Don't count on me next time! If you get the crap beaten out of you, I'll just let you rot there! I won't so much as lift a finger—"

He kept hurling invective, his voice echoing down the lane, not caring who heard.

Meanwhile, Xander was seated at dinner with Yvonne, Ronald, and Stella. Since coming back to Ferrowland, Stella was every bit the family princess. Of course, she had always been treasured by the Quinns-even as an adopted daughter, everyone spoiled her. Who wouldn't, with that sweet face?

When she was little, her cheeks had been so rosy and plump they looked soft enough to melt.

"The fish is great tonight. Try it." Yvonne said.

"Okay, thank you," Stella answered obediently, nodding with a smile. She was never a picky eater, happy to try anything. Though as a mealtimes were a

зал

struggle-someone always had to chase her around with a spoon. Then when her growth spurt hit she

Gould out eat aight

unt

she gave herself a stomachache and ended up in the ER for it.

Now, before Stella could grab her fish, Ronald picked it up with his forks, Let

me check for bonese

said breaking it open carefully

"Seriously?" Xander protested. "Isn't that a little excessive? She's old enough to

handle a few fish bones, isn't she?"

Yvonne and Ronald stopped mid-bite and both slowly turned to look at him.

Xander froze. What was that look supposed to mean? Was he suddenly forbidden from talking at the table?

Yvonne shot him a withering glare. "What is your problem? If you can't behave at dinner, then take it outside."

"I wasn't even saying anything!" Xander tried to protest. “I just—”

"Just what?"

So he blurted it out, louder than he meant to: "You never ask me to try that fish!"

All three-Yvonne, Ronald, Stella-looked at him, stunned. The silence stretched,

the absurdity of what he'd just said ringing out.

It was only after yelling that Xander realized what had come out of his

mouth. What the hell had gotten into bime where was all this childish

jealousy coming from?