"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?"

"I mean, aren't you worried that if we push too hard, they'll just... well, do something drastic to the hostage?"

But Hull didn't seem worried at all.

The more Yvonne thought about it, the crazier it seemed. Susanna's own relatives were the ones who'd gotten her into this mess, and yet here they were, more worried about what Black Gate might do to her.

What on earth did that girl do in her past life to end up with family like this?

Seeing Yvonne so anxious, Xander knocked back his glass of wine, then said with meaning, "Black Gate won't kill her."

Mainly because they couldn't. There was nothing left for them to do.

"They... won't? Are you sure? I'm telling you, people like that-when they get desperate, they do crazy things. Sometimes, they'll even turn on their own family!"

That was why she kept telling Adelle and the others, if they just handed Susanna back over, she'd return what she'd taken-no questions asked.

If they kept fighting tooth and nail, if she made it clear there was no chance of getting anything back, she really did worry Black Gate would...

***

Meanwhile, things at Black Gate were in total chaos.

Xander and Hull had joined forces, and they weren't holding back.

Since yesterday, Black Gate's main strongholds had been thrown into disarray. And Lottie? She was even more ruthless-she'd all but stormed Slatepeak Miles, taking whatever she wanted. FindNovels

Derek was seething, and by the time Dan came home, Finch had already arrived.

Adelle was waiting for him in the living room, blocking his way. Derek and Finch were in the study, but she needed a moment alone with Dan first.

Most of her assets were being dragged into this mess-she couldn't hide her anxiety.

Black Gate's people were taking heavy losses, and their grip on their territory was slipping fast.

But Dan didn't even look at Adelle.

She felt her chest tighten. "Whatever you want, Dan-Finch and I will give it to

you. Please, just give Susanna back to Mr. Miguel, okay?"

At the words "whatever you want," Dan finally looked her way, but there was only cold amusement in his eyes.

Adelle's breath caught. "This whole

power struggle between you and Finch-shouldn't it stay in the

family? No matter who wins, Black

Gate Would still be

in Mands,

But now, you've let outsiderson. You

know what that means!"

belongs to FindNovels

Dan let out a low, bitter laugh. "So, you want to settle this privately? How much

are you willing to give him, then, to make that happen?"

Adelle was silent.

Dan's voice was sharp. "Now you want to keep it in the family? That's funny-did you forget those little chats you had with Mervin Burton? What did you say to him behind our backs?"

FindNovels

Adelle paled instantly, staring at him in disbelief. "You..."

Dan gave a dry, humorless chuckle and turned away, heading upstairs toward the

study, leaving her frozen in the hallway.