The call was picked up almost immediately. "Ste.”


    "Hey, sis."


    "You''re calling about Susie, right? Listen, don''t stress out. It''s going to be fine."


    Ste 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?"


    Ste 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 ck Gate situation is absolute bullshit, I swear. We''ve been turning the ce upside down and they still haven''t handed her over! Do they have a death wish?"


    Ste 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 ck Gate, but her tone was softer when she spoke to Ste, trying to keep her calm.<fnabb2> This update is avable on find·novel</fnabb2>


    Honestly, with everyone closing in, she couldn''t imagine ck Gate holding out much longer.


    Ste 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 Ste- Susanna was practically family.


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


    Ste 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 Ste just trying to calm her down because she was the one freaking out?


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


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


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


    Just then, Ronald walked in.


    He caught Ste 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.


    Ste pouted, lips trembling. "Ronald!"


    He nced 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.


    Ste 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, ck Gate is already a hot mess."


    From Ste''s perspective, ck Gate was basically falling apart. If they were nning 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 s


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


    "What?"


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


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


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


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


    "Stay out of the ck Gate mess for now, okay? Promise me." Ste 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 ck Gate was going to Yvonne anyway, maybe she really need to worry about it after all.  s


    adn''t