"I was only trying to take back what's rightfully mine!" Derek snapped, his tone sharp with frustration.

He meant something that belonged to Black Gate-something that belonged to the Murray family. Lacey, years ago, had been ruthless enough to take that away the day she left.

“But let's be honest, you wanted Lacey dead," Dan said, his voice flat, holding nothing back.

Derek fell silent.

"If that's not true, then why did she vanish for so long? Are you really saying you had nothing to do with it?" Dan pressed, his words cutting. "Right now, no one knows if she's even alive. To Susanna, you're as good as her mother's killer."

Neither Dan nor Derek knew that Susanna had already gotten a call-Lacey was safe. But as far as Dan was concerned, Susanna fully blamed Derek for her mother's disappearance.

Derek's breath quickened. This was a subject he had no desire to discuss, but now it was unavoidable. He had to face it: in Susanna's mind, he was the cause of her mother's fate.

“But at this point, the only way to get Hull off Black Gate's back is to bring Susanna back to Blacktower," Derek said, desperation lacing his words.

"Well, that's your problem," Dan replied coolly. He couldn't care less—and he knew Susanna would never come back so easily. To her, Blacktower wasn't home. Besides, hadn't she already said she wasn't Derek's daughter? The situation had become nothing short of a farce.

No matter what Derek pleaded, Dan refused to get involved. He showed no concern for Black Gate's troubles, leaving Derek heartbroken and helpless, staring at the last of his family.

With nowhere left to turn, Derek decided to go to Susanna himself.

Hull had just stepped out when Derek arrived. Susanna was fast asleep, only to be shaken awake by Barnaby.

She squinted in sleepy irritation. “What is it?"

Anyone would be annoyed to be woken up in the middle of a good rest-Susanna hated it even more.

"The sterile old man is here," Barnaby announced bluntly.

"Who?" Susanna was still half-asleep, her mind stuck in neutral.

"You know the one who can't have kids. Derek."

It took her a moment, but then she mumbled, "Didn't they already prove Dan was his son?"

Barnaby shrugged. "You were the one who kept calling him sterile. So where'd this kid come from, huh?"

Susanna was suddenly wide awake. "I figure he's here to take you home," Barnaby added casually.

At the word "home," Susanna shot Barnaby a glare.

She dragged herself out of bed and went to see Derek. In just a handful of days, he looked like he'd aged at least ten years.

Susanna raised an eyebrow.

"Seriously? It's not worth making

yourself sick over this So what if the

kid you thought was yours isn to

Turning your hair gray over it won't make him your son."

Was she twisting the knife on purpose, or had too much time with Barnaby and Hult robbed her of every fast fifter? Whatever it was, Barnaby's approving grin made it clear he appreciated the effort.

But Derek was far from amused. He was already resentful that Susanna wouldn't even try to smooth things over with Hull. Now, these words felt like a deliberate slap in the face.

What was the point of dragging her back home? Had he lived too long and needed her just to frustrate him into the grave?

He fixed Susanna with a steely stare.

"Alright, alright," Susanna said,

rolling her eyes. "I get you're upset. But what do you want me to do? Shë just wanted it to be the two of you-no kids. It is what it is, right?"