She shot Dan a murderous re. "Out of my way!"


    Dan stood firm, voice t. "Getting involved with ck Gate won''t do you any good, Yvonne."


    She scoffed. “Oh,e off it. And all those choice assets we''ve scored recently don''t count as ''good''? Please."


    In truth, ck Gate had thrived off the shadows for years, quietly reaping the rewards. The resource sites alone were goldmines, the raw materials she''d seen— don''t even get her started. And the mines? The ore from those was nearly pure; a fortune in anyone''s book. If there was no benefit, who in their right mind would risk it all? If anything, there was too much to gain.


    At the word "scored," Dan gave her a sidelong look, jaw clenched so tight he looked ready to spit nails. If looks could kill, Yvonne would have been history.


    But she wasn''t fazed. In fact, she squared up, snapping, "Move!"


    "Yvonne, I don''t want to fight with you," Dan grated.


    "Well, I love a good fight with you. What''re you gonna do about it?" she shot back. After all the games he''d yed with her over the years, it was about time she took a little back—no shame in collecting interest.


    Dan''s eyes narrowed menacingly.


    Just then Yvonne''s phone rang, breaking the standoff. She nced at the caller ID -Ronald. She answered with a curt, "Hey, Ronald."


    "Why''d you run out of the hospital?” Ronald''s tone was soft, gentle even.


    She let out a grumble. "Let me guess-Xander ratted me out?"


    Ronald made a sound of agreement.


    She rolled her eyes. "Don''t listen to a word out of that bastard''s mouth. I''m fine. He wanted me to get a endoscopy! Forget it. I''ll just buy some medicine, see how it goes."


    The truth was, she''d been choking down some bitter herbal remedy for the past few days, but it was so revolting she''d barely managed a sip. The thought of actual medicine was more appealing now than the idea of another trip to the hospital.


    "Don''t just go popping pills," Ronald said suddenly. "You might be pregnant."


    Yvonne froze. "Excuse me?"


    Did he just say-pregnant? Was he out of his mind?


    Her jaw tensed, and her neck turned stiffly toward Dan, eyes zing like hellfire.


    Dan broke out in a cold sweat under her re. He could tell she was about to lose


    it.


    This time, he was dead right.


    Ronald continued, "You have the same symptoms Star did. Remember? She couldn''t keep anything down when she was pregnant."


    "But-that made sense for her. You and Star?well, you and Star were at it all the time." Yvonne faltered, her voice trailing off, but shot Dan


    another look sharp enough to out ss.


    On the other end, Ronald''s expression darkened at her bluntness. His sister''s


    mouth always had a mind of its own.


    "What the hell, Yvonne?" he snapped.


    "I''m just telling it like it is! I..." She fell silent, frustrated.


    Ines


    "Just let a doctor check. You''ve been throwing up for ages-it''s pretty much a sure thing," Ronald pressed. "If this isn''t pregnancy, what else Could it be?"


    Yvonne''s grip on her phone tightened, knuckles white. "So what you''re telling me is... I actually... am?"


    Ronald gave another quiet confirmation.


    It was as if a hurricane ripped through her world. Yvonne ended the call, her eyes


    sliding back to Dan, rage swirling dark and ominous.


    Dan frowned, wary. "Why are you looking at me like that?"


    Barely had the question left his mouth when Yvonne finally fed up with sitting in the car-shoved her door open. On her way out, she snatched a water bottle.


    Dan didn''t have a chance to react. Yvonne mmed the bottle into his forehead, hard.


    He reeled, stunned speechless.


    So were the bodyguards.


    In the next instant, the atmosphere turned electric-taut and dangerous. Several of Dan''s men reached for theirguns, traming cold steelin Yvonne''s


    e''s direction.  fo