Derek''s face was stormy-like a thundercloud about to burst.

Meanwhile, Dan wore a smug, almost gleeful grin. "Especially, Mr. Miguel."

"Bet you didn''t see thating, huh? Lacey''s daughter is the apple of his eye. Of all the people you could mess with, you just had to mess with Hull''s favorite."

That is, Ronald''s sharpest de.

Being his woman? Now, that''s the kind of trouble that could bring the whole house down...

Derek red. "What are you getting at?"

"I''m saying, don''t try to pin your dirty work on me. Yvonne already turned my ce upside down looking for answers, so..."

So what?

The instant their eyes met, the air crackled with tension.

Dan chuckled lightly. "So, your mud''s not gonna stick to me this time."

Derek''s expression darkened. "I didn''t take her."

"Tell that to Mr. Miguel. Whether he believes you or not... Well, I don''t think you''ve got what it takes to convince him."

Derek fell silent.

A thick vein pulsed on his forehead as he clenched his jaw.

When he heard Hull wasing to Litamark in person, he hadn''t known the reason. But after Yvonne spread the word, he understood-ck Gate was in deep trouble now.

Dan stood up.

He leaned over the desk, looming over Derek, who sat in the executive chair.

"Was it your guy? Or Finch''s?" Dan asked, low and direct.

Who took Susanna? No matter whose side did it, Dan thought grimly, he was the one taking the heat for Yvonne again.

And this time, he nned to settle the score.

Derek snapped, "Shut your mouth."

But Derek''s heart was pounding. "It really wasn''t your people?"

A moment ago, blinded by rage, he''d been sure Dan''s crew snatched Susanna- and that Dan was ready to throw ck Gate under the bus, stirring up every rival gang in the city. That would be a disaster.

But now, looking at Dan''s face, it was obvious he wasn''t behind it...

Then who? Was it really Finch''s people?

Derek''s face shifted, growing darker and darker. Dan pressed on, "Or maybe Adelle''s people?"

Adelle.

That''s how Derek now referred to the woman who''d raised Dan for three years.fn1c0f This text is hosted at f?ndnovel/fn1c0f

Derek''s face twisted in anger. "She raised you for three years, and you''d suspect her?"

"Oh, right. She''s the perfect little saint in your eyes, couldn''t even hurt a fly, huh?"

The sarcasm in Dan''s voice was razor-sharp.

Derek exploded, "You ungrateful brat!”

"Of course I am. My mother ended up dead because of you. If I didn''t rebel, I''d be the real disappointment."

Derek sputtered, "You-!"

Before he could finish, Dan

Vol

straightened and turned away. "I don''t want the ck Gate throne anymore. The second walk

out, Em

naming Finch as my sessor."

s

"You wouldn''t dare!" Derek roared.

Announcing that now would be like

tossing Finch to the wo

crew, the Quinn family, all gunning for him

swhovels

Derek wasn''t stupid; he knew exactly how dangerous that would be.

Dan''s answer? The m of the office door.

Derek was so furious he nearly burst a blood vessel.

...

Meanwhile

Susanna and Hull were on a private jet.

She wasn''t suspicious about being taken; Hull had already told her, and Yvonne was in the loop. She had no idea the whole ck Gate was in chaos because of her.  s

She was too worried about her mom to eat a thing.

Hull slid an arm around her from behind, pulling her easily onto hisp. Susanna squirmed, annoyed. "Quit it."

She was stressed and frustrated her mom was missing, and she couldn''t focus on anything else.

Hull coaxed, "Come on, have something to eat. Be good."

Susanna shook her head. "Not hungry."

"If you don''t eat, how are you going to have the strength to go back and settle the score?"

She hesitated. She had to find her mom, had to get justice.

In one night, her fate was sealed-she and ck Gate were on opposite sides now, and there was no running away.

Not that she would run.

Hull scooped up a spoonful of creamy chicken soup and held it to her lips. "Open

up."

Susanna really had no appetite.

But with Hull''s gentle, yetmanding tone, she finally opened her mouth and let him feed her.

She wriggled. "Let me sit by myself, okay?"

What was his deal? Why did he have to hold her like this?

She squirmed and fidgeted.

Hull''s expression darkened. "Quit wriggling."