Dan''s temples throbbed with anger. “I didn''t do anything to you."


    "Like hell you didn''t!" Yvonne cut him off coldly, eyes shing.


    She red daggers at Dan. "After the way you treated me, hitting ck Gate where


    it hurts is me going easy on you. Be grateful I am not out for blood."


    Dan''s lips curled in a sneer. "Oh, so I should thank you for sparing me, is that it?"


    "No need for gratitude." Her words were sharp, final.


    Dan snorted at that she could say there was no need.


    Yvonne had no interest in dragging this out. Clutching Xander''s arm, she moved to leave. "Come on, let''s go."


    Xander cast Dan a cool, warning nce-a look that spoke volumes.


    Dan''s knuckles went white as his hand shot out, seizing Yvonne''s wrist while she passed. The veins on his forehead stood out in rage. "You nning to keep this up?"


    Yvonne hesitated, guilt flickering in her eyes. Keeping up the attacks... Did she even want to? If she was honest with herself, all those previous fights-they''d about squared things between her and Dan personally. But this wasn''t about them anymore. This was about the factions.


    And she knew perfectly well whose side she was on-Hull''s, and more importantly, her brother Ronald''s. Ronald had told her that Hull had already dyed his grudge against ck Gate for years because of her old connection to Dan. That was more mercy than anyone else would''ve shown.


    "Let her go,” Xander bit out, his tone like ice.


    Dan''s grip on her wrist tightened. "Answer me!"


    Yvonne stared him in the eye. "You shouldn''t be asking me. Maybe try asking Hull."


    That shut Dan up. For a moment, something conflicted crossed his face. Yvonne''s words rattled around in his head, making the situation even murkier.


    "What''s that supposed to mean?"


    "Or you could always ask your father." Her tone was scathing. "After all, Hull''s problem with ck Gate is really about him and Derek isht? So ask one, ask the


    other-it''s the same answer."


    Dan just stared at her, at aplete loss. Suddenly it wasn''t between her and him anymore—now it was about Hull and Derek? "Why the hell would I ask them?"


    Yvonne rolled her eyes. "How should


    I know what skeletons your dad''s got in the closet? If you want


    answers, take it up with him." With


    that, she wrenched herself free and threaded her arm through Xander''s.


    Honestly, she didn''t know the details of the bad blood between Hull and ck Gate. All she did know was this: from the moment Hull started working with Ronald, they''d struck a dea Ronald would back Hutt against ck Gate, wherever that. showdown came. Hull had put things off for years out of consideration for her. That was a debt she could never repay.


    So now, whatever happened, she''d be in Hull''s corner. No question.


    As soon as they climbed into the car, Yvonne turned to Xander. "Double the manpower. Don''t let ck Gate catch their breath for a second."


    Xander arched an eyebrow, clearly surprised at her sudden resolve—especially after that face-off with Dan. He''d seen the guilt flicker across her face earlier, but


    now...


    He tilted her chin gently, turning her to face him. Their eyes met, searching.