As soon as Dan''s name came up, Ste''s expression soured a little.


    That bastard. After everything he did to her sister, now he''s back in the picture?


    Ronald shook his head. "Hull''s got a lead. The real power behind ck Gate the one pulling the strings from the shadows—is most likely Dan."


    No wonder he''s been so damn mysterious all these years.


    Everyone knew he was the mayor of Sands City, but who could''ve guessed he had a whole other operation going on behind everyone''s backs?


    Still, you couldn''t really me them for not figuring it out sooner. Dan''s family name is a big deal in Ferrond-old money, old power.


    Ste muttered under her breath, "What a mess..."


    "I''m calling my sister," she said suddenly.


    This was Susanna''s business, and Ste took it seriously.


    She knew Susanna had entered a whole new phase, and whatever her next move was, it wasn''t going to be simple.


    That just made Ste want to help her more. Susanna had done so much for her back in Portis City; she owed her.


    And if Dan really was the kingpin behind ck Gate, then this whole thing was probably tangled up with Yvonne too.


    What a nightmare...


    Meanwhile, Susanna was suffering through Hull tending to her wounds. She had her face buried in theforter, gritting her teeth. Hull finished patching her up and left without a word, like he was the one escaping something.


    Susanna was the one hurting, but it was Hull who''d bolted.


    When Ste''s call came through, Susanna''s voice was scratchy as hell. “Star?”


    "You sound terrible," Ste said, frowning.


    And honestly, Susanna''s raspy voice sounded like she''d just... well, like she''d been up to something.


    "Don''t even start," Susanna groaned, too embarrassed to exin. The “negotiation” had run all night, and now she and Hull—well, what even were they?


    “What''s up?” Susanna tried to change the subject, fast. Ste usually only called thiste if Ronald wasn''t around.


    “Oh, I heard you spent all afternoon at the shooting range?” Ste asked.


    "You already know?"


    "Of course."


    “Star, I can''t just sit around and be useless." Susanna''s voice was tinged with something sad. "That''s just not an option for me anymore."


    Life, huh? You never know what''sing.


    Back in Portis City, things had been quiet. She''d only ever seen stories about international crime rings on TV. Who''d have thought she''d get caught up in one herself?


    "You''re right to think that way," Ste said gently.


    With Dan as the mastermind, things were getting moreplicated by the minute.


    And now, knowing who was really running ck Gate, Ste realized why Dan had faked his own death all those years ago.


    ck Gate and the Lugar family had


    always been at odds. If he wanted to leverage a marriage alliance, the Lugar family was a no-go-no wonder he''d gotten engaged to Aira instead.


    Ste was more convinced than ever: Dan had gone to Yvonne with an agenda from the start.


    "So yeah, I have to help Mom. You know that. And I have to be strong enough to do it," Susanna said quietly.


    She knew exactly what her mom was up against now, and it was way messier than some business deal. “Yeah,” Ste replied. “You don''t have much time."


    Susanna sighed, "Exactly."


    Ste was thinking the same thing. After all,st night one of those twins-ck Gate''s boss''s favorite sisters -had been hurt.


    Ste lowered her voice, "Honestly, that''s why I''m calling. You''re not going to learn what you need by sticking around Hull."