Anders Lowry''s remark only seemed to deepen the scowl on Dan''s face.


    "What wouldn''t that son of a bitch Xander dare to do?" Dan growled, anger simmering in his voice.


    Hadn''t Xander pulled enough crazy stunts already? Especially when it involved Yvonne. Now Dan was the one shouldering the me for everything... It was infuriating.


    Anders let out a sigh. "Man, you really got the short end of the stick." He could only shake his head at Dan''s misfortune, genuinely thinking the guy had been set up. And honestly? Anders thought Yvonne was downright unreasonable. Dan hadn''t done a thing, yet he was the one getting the beating.


    Before Dan could vent any further, his phone started buzzing. Finch Murray.


    Dan answered gruffly, "What?"


    "Did you piss off that bitch Yvonne again?" Finch snapped, his tone sharp and annoyed. The way he said it, Dan didn''t have to guess-Yvonne must have kicked up trouble for ck Gate again.


    But Dan barely listened. The second he heard Finch call Yvonne a bitch, something snapped inside him. All his usual restraint went flying.


    "Look who''s talking. Takes one to know one-you''re no better than anyone you insult,” he shot back. "Maybe you should learn to know your ce before you start judging others."


    Finch was silent for a second. Dan could imagine his face freezing, eyes widening in shock. Itsted only a moment before Finch recovered, his voice cold. "What the hell are you even talking about?"


    Dan snorted. "Aren''t you always calling Lacey''s daughter a bastard?” he said, voice dripping with derision. “If Susanna Tucker really is a bastard, then what does that make you? Birds of a feather, aren''t you?"


    "Don''t cross the line, Dan!" Finch nearly yelled, his anger barely contained. He''d never cared to acknowledge Dan as his family, but Dan''s words hit home. Bastard? Did Dan know something he shouldn''t? No-impossible. It couldn''t be.


    Dan gave a mocking chuckle. "Cross the line? You lose a few things and suddenly your mouth runs foul," he shot back.


    Finch was shaking with rage, barely able to get his next words out. "A few things? Is that what you call it? Dan, you son of a bitch-did you tell that whore Yvonne to steal my stuff?"


    Dan sounded almost bored with the usation. Finch''s mind started spinning-was Dan actually working with Yvonne and her people?


    What set Dan off next was Finch calling Yvonne a whore again. His tone turned toy. "Sounds like your" face has healed up pretty well want me to slice your other cheek so they''ll match?"


    Finch''s jaw clenched. The doctor had said those wounds would scar deep; his


    handsome face was ruined. And now Dan was mocking him for it.


    Finch gritted out, "Are you working with Yvonne or not?"


    "Don''t bother denying it. Isn''t that why she came after me today? Everything she took from you before was just a distraction wasn'' bit the two of you pulling the strings together-a smokescreen," Finch used, ranting now.


    Forget the show of attacking ck


    Gate; the real target had always been him and his father. Dan was just ying his part, no wonder he seemed so unconcerned recently. Now it made sense: Dan offered to let him lead all so he could gut ck Gate with outside help-Seize it aff for himself, leaving everyone else with nothing. The more Finch thought about it, the more furious he became.


    "Dan, you''re disgusting!" he spat, convinced now that Dan and Yvonne were in it together.


    Dan justughed. "You sound more like a rabid dog every minute," he said coolly. And wasn''t that the truth-biting at anyone, facts be damned.


    "I''m telling you, Dan, if you think you''ll end up with ck Gate all to yourself, you''re dreaming," Finch hissed.


    Dan didn''t even bother responding. He hung up without a word.


    Finch erupted, hurling the ashtray and his ss to the ground. The movement tore


    at the gash on his face, making him wince from the sudden pain.


    That was how Adelle found him—a storm of agony and rage etched across his face. "What on earth are you doing?" she asked.


    "It''s Dan," Finch spat. "I''m starting to think he''s the one pulling in all these outside yers."


    Adelle stared at him, shocked. "What?"