What kind of help is this supposed to be?


    But Ronald did have a point. Before Lacey went missing, the person she worried about most was Susanna.


    "So Susanna''s still with Hull, and they''re even suspecting her of being a mole or something? No way, I have to go get her out of there."


    Thinking about everything Lacey had done for her back in Portis City, Ste found herself agreeing with Ronald.


    Right now, the best thing she could do for Lacey was to look out for Susanna.


    Ronald had originally wanted to tell her that keeping Susanna safe was the biggest favor she could do for Lacey.


    But her reaction...


    He remembered how, back in Portis City, she and Susanna were always glued at the hip.


    If she really did bring Susanna here, they''d probably be inseparable 24/7.


    Ronald rubbed his temples, feeling a headacheing on. "You know you probably can''t just take her away, right?"


    "Huh?" Ste blinked.


    "Hull''s not gonna let her go."


    Ste fell silent.


    Was it because Susanna had already managed to pickpocket just about everything off Hull the second she met him?


    Just thinking about Susanna''s wild antics made Ste''s head hurt.


    She hadn''t been there to witness it herself, but knowing Susanna, it was probably something absolutely ridiculous.


    "Is it because Hull thinks she''s a spy or something? If that''s the case, I can promise you, there''s really no need to worry. Susie can barely keep up with her own lies, much less anyone else''s."


    When it came to Susanna, Ste would bet her life.


    If Susanna was truly that capable, Lacey wouldn''t have needed Ste''s help so much in the first ce.


    Ronald just sighed. "Hull likes her."


    Ste groaned. "Oh, not this again."


    Honestly, every time she heard that, she had to wonder if it was actually true.


    She wasn''t the only one with doubts-Susanna herself couldn''t believe it either.


    Right then, Susanna was sitting in her room, nervously clutching her phone.


    Normally, as long as she didn''t have to face Hull directly, she could keep her nerves in check...


    But now, things were different.


    Even when Hull wasn''t around, she felt like she was walking on thin ice.


    Peeking out her window, she watched as Hull climbed into his car, several guys with guns piling in after him. Susanna''s heart skipped a beat.


    With someone like Hull, it felt like it was only a matter of time before those gun barrels were pointed at her.


    She was honestly scared she''d end up full of holes, like a slice of Swiss cheese.


    "Susie? Susie?" Ste''s voice


    crackle


    through the phone,


    sounding concerned when Sel


    didn''t answer right away.


    Snapping out of her panic, Susanna replied, “Sorry, Ste."


    "What''s got you so distracted? I''ve called your name like three times."


    "I... I just saw Hull leave. He had a bunch of guys with him. I''m pretty sure one of them was a sniper."


    Ste sounded confused. "Wait, how do you even know what a sniper looks like?"


    "You know, the guy had this really long rifle. Like, from the movies."


    Ste just sighed. Figures Susanna would pick up all her intel from films.


    She didn''t know exactly what was going on, but ever since she could


    eaway Ronald always keperget


    her


    far away from any serious business.


    She''d only seen Ronald''s dark side once-and it had taken her ages to recover


    from it.


    After that, he made sure she was never involved.


    If Hull was going out in person even got himself hurt, things in Ferrond were clearly a lot messier than they looked on the surface.


    "Ste, I''m scared," Susanna admitted softly.


    "Want me toe get you?"


    Susanna froze.


    Get her out of here?


    Could she even leave? Deep down, she had a sinking feeling that she couldn''t.


    Even if she ran, she''d probably just end up right back here.


    She sniffled. "If I could, I''d want to run away to somece where nobody knows me. Somewhere Hull can''t find me."


    Hull was, hands down, the scariest man she''d ever met.


    Ste sighed. "I could help with that, but only for a little while. Your life''s never going to be simple again."


    It sounded harsh, but there was no denying it—Susanna''s world was never going back to normal.


    Hearing that, Susanna''s mind started to race. "What... what do you mean?"


    Especially that part about "only for a little while." Her heart sank.


    Did that mean her life was going to be on the run from now on?


    Whether with Hull or somewhere else...


    "Because your mother was the former head of the ck Gate Syndicate," Ste said, her voice heavy.


    And with those words, Susanna''s mind wentpletely nk, as if someone had just set off a bomb in her head.