Cross My Tigress Face the Wrath (Stella)

The word "payment" rolled off Hull's tongue thick and heavy. If you listened closely, you could hear the undertone in his voice—a sort of meaning that went beyond the obvious.

Too bad Susanna was too stunned to notice.

"Wait, you want... payment?" she blurted out, eyebrows knitting together in confusion.

This couldn't be right. She'd asked Star for help, hadn't she? Star must've gone to Mr. Quinn, and Mr. Quinn, in turn, probably asked Hull to handle it. So if Hull was now asking her for payment, wasn't he just pocketing something on the side?

Susanna's mind was spinning at a hundred miles an hour.noveldrama

"Does Mr. Quinn... know about this?" she whispered, glancing around as if someone might overhear.

This wasn't exactly something that would earn her a gold star. If word got to Mr. Quinn, Hull would be in hot water, right? Yet here he was, bold as brass.

Hull chuckled, a low, amused sound. "Are you threatening me?"

"What? No, no, not at all!" Susanna shook her head so fast she nearly got dizzy.

Who was she kidding? Threaten him? She wasn't that reckless. If Hull so much as hinted she'd crossed a line, even Star wouldn't be able to get her out of trouble.

"I swear, I'm not. I just..." Susanna trailed off, cheeks burning, then dropped her gaze to her shoes. She looked about as helpless as a stray kitten.

Hull smirked, watching her shrink into herself. "Just what?"

“I just... don't have any money." The words came out so quiet, they were barely more than a squeak.

It was true. She didn't have a dime to her name. When she'd left Portis City, she'd left everything behind, and by the time she got to Ferrowland, she'd lost her bag running from those guys who'd been chasing her. Luck hadn't exactly been on her side lately.

For a second, Hull's smirk faltered. But then he said, with a sly glint in his eyes, "Looks like you owe me quite a bit, then."

Susanna couldn't help but wince. Quite a bit? How was she ever going to pay him back? At this rate, she'd be in debt for life-assuming her mom even made it out of Black Gate alive. If this went south, she'd be heading back to Portis City with more debts than she could count. Negative inheritance, that's what they'd call it.

She'd already ruined Hull's reputation, and now she was asking for his help. The guilt gnawed at her.

Hull didn't seem to notice her inner panic. He leaned forward, voice low and meaningful. "Not all debts have to be paid in cash, you know."

Susanna's head shot up. "Then... how am I supposed to pay you? I literally have nothing."

Hull propped his chin on his fist, eyes glinting with mischief. There was something in his gaze Susanna couldn't quite read, but it made her squirm.

"Just think about what you have to offer. Whenever you figure it out, that's when you'll get to see your mom. How's that sound?"

"What? Can't I see her first?" Susanna pleaded. Her whole world was wrapped up

in the hope of seeing her mother again. This was just cruel.

Hull just smiled, slow and unyielding. "Sorry, sweetheart. No IOUS.”

Susanna's mouth dropped open in silent protest.

Meanwhile, on the other side of town, Stella was just about to drift off to sleep when her phone buzzed. Half-awake, she answered without checking the caller ID.

It was Yorick.

"Stella, I'm in Ferrowland. Can we meet?" His voice was familiar, but hearing it now, in this place, threw her off.

Stella froze, her mind racing. She'd figured that once she left Portis City and moved to Ferrowland, Yorick would be out of her life for good. Now he was here?

"Wait, what did you say?" she managed. "You're in Ferrowland?"

"Yeah," Yorick replied, "I landed about an hour ago. I want to see you."

Even through the phone, there was something in his voice-warmth, longing- that she'd never heard before, not back in Portis City. But that kind of sentiment, coming at the wrong time and in the wrong place, didn't exactly tug at her heartstrings. In fact, it gave her the creeps.

Any trace of sleep vanished. She sat straight up, let out a dry laugh, and said, "What, you here for my wedding or something?"