They looked so in, there wasn''t a trace of simrity between them and either Derek or Adelle.


    Adelle, still sulking, turned her head away, making it clear she wanted nothing to do with Derek. For once, Derek tried to cate her with a gentle, "Come on, don''t be mad, alright?"


    Lately, the constant chaos at ck Gate had stretched his patience to the breaking point. Even so, at this moment-


    "So, what did Susanna say to you?" Adelle demanded, her anger ring again.


    That little brat. Once she got back to cktower, Adelle would set her straight. Surely a young upstart like Susanna wouldn''t be able to stir up any real trouble under her watch.


    Derek, for his part, wanted nothing to do with the whole Susanna debacle. “I didn''t even see her,” he muttered. “Forget it, let''s just get some sleep.” He was running on empty-sleep-deprived and worn out. Susanna might be his daughter, but after all that had unfolded, he couldn''t see her as anything but a disaster for ck Gate.


    Susanna, meanwhile, hadn''t stirred until ten the next morning, thanks to Hull keeping her up till dawn. Hull had stayed in with her as well. Whatever needed doing, his men would handle it; they all knew how to get things done, especially when it came to ck Gate.


    Hull was radiating heat, making Susanna squirm in his arms, too hot and ufortable to settle. But even her soft, half-awake movements were enough to set him off all over again. Before she could fully wake, Hull had already pulled her beneath him.


    Derek, who hadn''t managed to fall asleep until four in the morning, showed up early that day. He''d been waiting for three hours, yet there was still no sign of Susanna or Hull. His mood steadily worsened.


    Barnaby and Ss-Hull''s right-hand men-hadn''t even bothered to offer him a simple cup of tea, the most basic courtesy. Having rushed over straight from bed without so much as a sip of water, his mouth was parched and his stomach was beginning toin.


    Time dragged on until half past eleven.


    Atst, Hull emerged from the bedroom, robe loosely draped over his shoulders and faint scratches visible across his chest—signs that only deepened Derek''s disapproval of his daughter.


    What was Susanna ying at? Seducing a man into helping her go against ck Gate? The very thought made Derek''s face flush with embarrassment.


    Caught off guard by Hull''s


    appearance, Derek stood up, albeit begrudgingly. Barnaby stepped forward "Boss Mr. Murray''s been insisting on meeting with you and Susanna. He''s been waiting here all morning."


    Hull shot an indifferent nce at Barnaby, then looked over at Derek.


    Though fuming inside, Derek still managed a stiff greeting. "Mr. Miguel."


    Hull nced at his watch. "Susie won''t be up before two this afternoon. You won''t see her."


    Derek stared in disbelief. Not see her? She''d be asleep until two? Just howzy could she possibly be? After making him wait a morning? What kind of daughter leaves her elders hanging like this? Was this really how Lacey had raised her all these years?


    Derek''s expression soured.


    Hull had no interest in prolonging the conversation. He turned to Barnaby. "Get


    some breakfast ready. Something light—milk, soup.”


    “Right away,” Barnaby replied.


    All soft foods Hull was clearly thinking ahead. After days of restraint, he''d certainly pushed Susanna''s limitsst night and into the morning. But fasting wouldn''t de her any good-she''d need


    something gentle, and he''d have to coax her to eat.


    Once he''d given his instructions, Hull strolled over and sank into the sofa across from Derek.


    Derek wasted no time. “So Susanna''s been with you this whole time?" He didn''t bother hiding his irritation.


    If Susanna really had been with Hull the entire time, then all those so-called emergencies—the resources ck Gate had lost searching for her—what exactly were they supposed to mean now?