Ss: "Just drop it, will you?"


    Barnaby: "You didn''t see his face he looked so suspicious, ha! He actually thought Hull was just using Susie as a cover to go after ck Gate."


    "He got smacked around and still has no clue what he did wrong!"


    Ss: "..."


    Hull: "You know what he did wrong?"


    His tone was icy—but Barnaby didn''t notice.


    Barnaby: "Of course! All for love, man! Who can me a hero for falling for a pretty face?"


    Before he could finish, something unidentified came flying straight for Barnaby.


    Barnaby ducked just in time-whatever it was nailed Ss right in the forehead.<fnb9d4> This text is hosted at f?ndnovel</fnb9d4>


    Ss: "Ow..."


    Barnaby: "..."


    Hull: "...


    Barnaby stood there, totally baffled. Hull looked ready to explode.


    Barnaby: "Wait, what did I-?"


    Did he say something wrong again?


    Come on, is anyone allowed to talk anymore?


    Hull: "Out!"


    "Got it."


    Barnaby bolted from the room, not daring to stick around. All he could think about was Finley Yoder probably roasting to a crisp in the sun, and it freaked him out.


    But seriously, what did he say wrong this time?


    Barnaby racked his brain. Nope-nothing.


    Ss rubbed his sore forehead. "Well, that happened..."


    Hull: "Could you do me a favor and tape his mouth shut next time?"


    The guy could talk a mile a minute, but there were some things better left unsaid.


    Hull massaged his aching temples. Dealing with Barnaby was a special kind of headache.


    Ss nodded and headed out.


    Elsewhere, Susanna was still on the phone with Ste. She was clearly worried- mostly about Yvonne finding out and going ballistic.


    Ste tried to reassure her, "She won''t. And if she does, I''ll step in."


    "You think you can stop her?" Susanna sounded doubtful.


    Princess Yvonne had a temper-that was no joke. A word from Ste wasn''t going to stop her if she lost it.


    Ste: "Well, there''s always Hull, right?"


    "I''m worried she''lle after both me and Hull!"


    Uh... actually, that seemed pretty likely.


    Ste: "Um..."


    She went silent. Seriously, could someone exin what the heck was happening right now?


    Yvonne was tearing up the ce looking for ck Gate, mostly because she was worried Hull would snap.


    Meanwhile, Susanna''s bigger fear


    was that Yvonne would find out she''d been with Hull all along and


    then go after both of them


    Basically, everyone was terrified of getting chewed out by Yvonne.


    Ste: "Honestly, I don''t think you need to worry."


    "I''m still worried," Susanna muttered.


    Ste: “Don''t be. I have a feeling this whole thing is going to drag on for a while."


    ording to Ronald, Hull was


    ying the long game with ck


    Gate. He''d had this n for years,


    and now he was finally making his move there was no way this would be over quickly.


    But Susanna''s worry was valid. What if Yvonne found out before the game was


    up?


    If that happened, Yvonne might just forget about ck Gate and go after Hull instead.


    "Look, worst case, my brother will step in."


    There was no way Ronald would let Yvonne and Hull tear each other apart. Not happening.


    Ste''s words calmed Susanna a little.


    "Yeah, you''re right. There''s always Mr. Quinn."


    Ste might not be able to hold back


    Yvonne, but Mr. Quinn could.


    "Promise me, if things get crazy


    you''ll talk to Mr. Quinn and make sure he keeps Yvonne away from me-oh!"


    Susanna suddenly squealed.


    Ste: "What happened?"


    "N-nothing, Ste-I''ve got to go!"


    As Susanna spoke, she grabbed the hand that had suddenly slipped around her


    waist from behind.


    Hull.


    This man...