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."

Yvonne was taken aback. "What?"

Don't rush? Was she serious? If anyone should be anxious, it was Stella- Susanna was practically family.

And now Stella was telling her... not to worry?

Stella said gently, "Susie's a tough cookie. She'll be okay. I just know it."

Yvonne went quiet.

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

Yvonne's heart softened. "Stella, I promise I'm getting Susanna back."

"Really, there's no need to hurry," Stella replied.

Yvonne's guilt was obvious even over the phone, which made Stella feel even worse. She was almost bursting to tell her the truth about Susanna.

Just then, Ronald walked in.

He caught Stella saying, "Sis" into the phone. Ronald's brow furrowed when he saw who she was talking to.

He strode over and gently took the phone from her hand.

Stella pouted, lips trembling. "Ronald!"

He glanced at the screen, confirming it was Yvonne. Into the phone, he said, "You find her yet?"

"No!" Yvonne snapped.

"Then get back out there and look," Ronald replied coldly.

"Ronald-" Yvonne started.

"I'm hanging up now," he said, then ended the call without another word.

Stella was speechless, jaw dropped in outrage. "What the heck?!"

Ronald looked down at her, his expression unreadable. "What's the matter?"

"Why didn't you let me talk to Yvonne? What are you all up to, huh? If you ask me, Black Gate is already a hot mess."

From Stella's perspective, Black Gate was basically falling apart. If they were planning to make a move, now was the time.

Watching her little tantrum,

sat on

pulle

edge of the bed and

her into his arms t his chip

into his arms tucking her

head under

belongs to FindNovels

"Half of Black Gate already belongs to your sister."

"What?"

"Right now, she's just taking back what's hers."

Stella's eyes went wide. Take back what's hers? Wait, what?

She peeked up from Ronald's arms. "You guys are really splitting up Black Gate?"

Ronald pinched her cheek, then leaned down and kissed her softly. She tasted sweet-she'd just had some honey, and the flavor lingered on her lips. FindNovels

"Stay out of the Black Gate mess for now, okay? Promise me." Stella was quiet.

Really, though... she hadn't meant to get involved. She just felt bad seeing Yvonne so stressed out about Susanna. But if Ronald said half of Black Gate was going to Yvonne anyway, maybe she really need to worry about it after all. FindNovels

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