Cross My Tigress Face the Wrath (Stella)

Just as Yvonne took down the last guy, thinking the night was finally over, two

more black SUVs rolled up at the mouth of the alley-and this time, even more

men piled out.

Yvonne muttered under her breath, "Oh, for crying out loud... Do these guys have

it out for me tonight or what?"

Skye shot her a look. "Well? What are you standing around for? Planning to fight

the whole city?"

Yvonne blinked in disbelief. "Wait, you mean... run?"

Skye raised an eyebrow. "You got energy left for another round?"

Yvonne huffed, trying to hide how winded she was. "You think I'm tapped out,

huh?"

Truth was, she was running on fumes. After last night's marathon with that guy-

plus sprinting through half the city chasing Skye, then brawling with a dozen

goons-her legs were jelly.

Skye just rolled her eyes and, without another word, nimbly vaulted up the iron

back gate behind them.

Yvonne gaped. "Are you kidding me? Unbelievable..."

Just then, Xander finally arrived-only to see Yvonne being chased down by a

mob.

A dangerous glint flashed in his eyes. He spun, popped open his trunk, and pulled

out a shotgun. Without hesitation, he let loose a barrage at the men swarming

Yvonne.

They never saw it coming. As Yvonne scrambled up the gate after Skye, Xander's

ambush sent the whole group sprawling to the pavement.

Only one guy was left conscious, and when he saw Xander coming, he shrank

back like he'd just seen the Grim Reaper.

Xander strode forward, each step heavy as a sledgehammer.

"Mr. Schultz!" the guy stammered, recognizing Xander, his voice trembling.

Xander pressed his boot to the man's chest. "Talk. Who sent you?"

"W-we... I..."

The thug hesitated, clamming up.

A second later, Xander jammed the shotgun's muzzle against his forehead. "Try

again. Was it Aira?"

The man's eyes went wide, panic written all over his face-but he stayed silent.

Xander smirked. "Dan, then?"

At the name, the man's eyes flickered-just a flash, but enough for Xander to

catch.

He gave a cold, humorless laugh. Before the guy could even beg, Xander sent

him on a one-way trip to the afterlife.noveldrama

He turned, glancing down the now-empty alley. No sign of Yvonne.

He remembered her fiery glare from a moment ago and couldn't help but crack

the faintest smile.

Dan didn't wake until well past midnight.

Aira had been sitting at his bedside

the whole time, eyes red from worry.

When his eyes finally fluttered open,

she let out a shaky sigh of relief.

"Dan, thank God. You scared me half

to death."

Her voice quivered with concern.

Dan, on the other hand, shot her a cold, almost imperceptible look of disgust-a

wall of ice between them.

"Why are you here?" he asked, his tone like frostbite.

Aira flinched at his words, her heart twisting. She forced the words out: "What, you

wish Yvonne was here instead?"

"She wouldn't come," Dan replied, his face even more closed off.

Aira lowered her gaze, swallowing hard.

"Were you with her last night?" she asked, pain leaking into her voice.

Before he could answer, she

suddenly broke, her voice raw and

desperate. "Why, Dan? After all these

years, have I meant nothing to you?"

Dan's eyes grew even colder.

"She's your past, Dan! Why can't you let her go?" Aira's voice cracked.

How many years had she loved him? She'd lost count-loved him so long, it felt

like even a dog would have been moved by now.

But Dan's heart... was it made of stone?

She looked up at him, voice breaking. "You've remembered everything, haven't

you?"

She could see it-the memory in his

eyes, the way he looked at her now.

Her heart sank with a despair she'd

never felt before.

Dan's gaze was arctic. "You're the one who messed with my memory, Aira."