Derek shot Hull a hard, cold re-pure anger shing in his eyes-but finally he


    stood up.


    He stalked toward the door, every inch of him radiating frost...


    After just a couple steps, something seemed to ur to him. He turned back to Hull. "So, do we even need to hand over Susanna to them now?"


    Susanna.


    At first, this whole mess had started because of her. Or so it seemed. But now, after Derek''s sharp analysis, it was clear: Susanna was just an excuse. The real target was ck Gate. Why should they bother with her anymore?


    Hull just looked at him. "Do you think your daughter''s safe right now?"


    He didn''t answer Derek''s question directly.


    Because, truth be told, this wasn''t all about Susanna anyway. Was Hull saying they could forget about her? Even if her fate was still up in the air, was Derek- her own father-just going to let it slide?


    Derek fell silent, jaw clenched.


    Hull''s voice was icy. "So if I say I don''t want her, you just give up? She means that little to you?"


    Derek didn''t respond.


    His silence said it all.


    Hull let out a coldugh. "Guess the rumors were true. You only care about the kids you had with Adelle."


    Other women''s children? To Derek, they might as well not exist.


    Derek''s eyes grew even colder.


    Hull pressed on. "We''re going to need her, regardless. She''s the reason we''reing after ck Gate, isn''t she?"


    "If you hand her over, maybe just maybe we''ll let ck Gate off the hook."


    That "maybe" was dripping with uncertainty.


    Derek could feel his temple throbbing. For the first time, he realized what it meant to go up against true schemers.


    He was done talking. With a cold grunt, he made for the door.


    Just as he reached it, Hull called after him: "Really don''t remember?"


    Derek paused.


    Don''t remember?


    He turned, meeting Hull''s eyes-there was an odd sense of familiarity, like they''d crossed paths before, but he just couldn''t ce it.


    "Have we met before?" Derek asked.


    "No," Hull replied tly.


    Derek hesitated. "Are you sure?"


    Hull''s answer was certain. "We haven''t met. But the grudge between us started long before now."


    Derek left.


    Elsewhere, Susanna was in a room on the phone with Ste-her go-to lifeline. She always called Star when things got rough.


    Outside, only Hull and Barnaby remained.


    Barnaby scrolled through some photos, unable to help himself. "How many kids does Derek even have?"


    Hull just sighed.


    Barnaby whistled. "Guy doesn''t even recognize his own daughter. Shows up and asks Hull which woman this


    is suppose to be. Like, does he


    even think it through? Our boss Hull has never even had a girlfriend, let alone a wife..."  s


    Ss walked in just in time to catch the tail end of Barnaby''s rant.


    He coughed loudly, trying to get Barnaby to zip it, but Barnaby just barreled on, waving the photo at on


    Ss, "Look, anyone can see that''s


    Susie. Even from the back, it''s obvious."  s


    Unless Derek never really knew his own daughter.


    His own flesh and blood.


    Ss cut him off. "That''s enough."<fn4c21> Readplete version only at f?ndnovel</fn4c21>


    Hull''s expression was thunderous.


    Barnaby, oblivious, just shrugged. "Hey, I''m just telling the truth. Our boss has never even had a date-how''s he supposed to know what women are like Now Dereks acting like Hull''s some kind of yboy, thinking he''s got Susie and a whole parade of other women!"  s