Cross My Tigress Face the Wrath (Stella) novel Chapter 1043

Back in Litamark.

After Anders Lowry hung up the phone, Dan spiraled—he was so angry he practically shut down.

“He didn’t hit Xander. He didn’t hit Shawn. And he calls that punishment?” Dan fumed, half talking to himself and half to the room. “What kind of punishment is that? Does she honestly think Xander and Shawn are on her side now? Calling that ‘punishment!’”

Punishment was for people you cared about. If you didn’t care, it was just straight-up revenge.

Dan replayed Yvonne’s frosty tone from the call in his mind. “And she said I was the crazy one!” he snapped. “She’s the one who plays favorites, but I’m the one with the problem. She’s out of her mind, not me.”

The more he spoke, the more he worked himself up.

“She took things from me, hijacked a ton from Black Gate, and won’t bother returning a thing! If we’re done with those past grievances, why isn’t she giving it all back?”

Anders Lowry was getting heated now too. It had started as Dan drinking alone, but the more he ranted, the more Anders joined in, grabbing his own glass. He’d tried to placate Dan at first, but that went out the window quick.

“Right! She’s got her double standards and won’t let anyone call her out!” Anders agreed, nodding drunkenly.

Carroll looked at the pair, both getting absolutely hammered, and felt a headache bloom behind his eyes. Leroy kept calling Dan, who ignored the phone every time, wanting nothing to do with Black Gate business just now.

Eventually Leroy tried Carroll’s number. Carroll took the call, then walked over and addressed Dan respectfully. “Sir, Leroy says you need to return right away.”

“What for?” Dan mumbled, his words slurred.

“Derek… he’s collapsed.”

Dan stared for a beat. Collapsed? Derek?

He was so foggy with drink he needed a moment to register it. His thoughts drifted dizzily back to the chaos at Blacktower that day. “Didn’t everything get sorted out? What’s he collapsing for?”

Carroll could only sigh inwardly. It was because it had all gotten sorted out that Derek had snapped—the anger was enough to give anyone a stroke.

The two devolved into rambling complaints, their bitterness about Yvonne growing by the minute—especially Dan, now nearly foaming at the mouth with jealousy and wounded pride.

At last, Carroll tried to bring things to a close: “Maybe Ms. Quinn’s just waiting until she’s had the baby before she deals with Mr. Schultz.”

Both Dan and Anders stopped short, staring at Carroll.

“Is that what it is?” Anders pressed.

Carroll nodded, “Most likely. She’s pregnant at the moment—it’d be tough to get into a real fight.”

Just when he thought he’d ended the discussion, Dan erupted again.

“She still intends to have that baby?” Dan bellowed, voice raw with disbelief.