The Black Gate was always a mess, but now it was complete chaos.
The morning breeze used to be crisp and sweet... but this particular morning, the entire Murray family had lost their minds.
Ivanna burst into the kitchen, where Adelle was nursing a mug of black coffee. “Mom, what the hell is going on? What’s up with the Quinns and the Schultzes?”
Adelle looked up, clearly exhausted. “What now?”
Just hearing the names “Quinn” and “Schultz” seemed to suck the life out of her.
Ivanna slammed her hand on the counter. “My Bristle Bay—some woman named Yvonne just went in and took it. She freaking took it, Mom!”
She nearly spat the word “took.” As the princess of the Black Gate, she was used to people fearing her—she didn’t steal from others. Having someone steal from her? Unthinkable.
Adelle’s face drained of color. She stared at Ivanna, at a loss for words.
Ivanna pressed on, her own face pale with anger. “What’s going on?”
She’d been busy caring for Leanne, who was badly hurt, and had no idea the Black Gate was falling apart. When she’d gotten the call from Bristle Bay, she’d nearly lost her mind. Someone dared to steal from her—her!
Didn’t they know who that belonged to? Were they insane?
Adelle’s eyes narrowed. “What do you think? It’s all because of that little witch.”
She practically growled the words, grinding her teeth on “little witch” as if she wanted to chew the name Susanna into pieces and spit out the bones.
Ivanna frowned. “Who?”
“Who do you think? The one you tried to get rid of before.”
Adelle glared. “Apparently, she does.”
Ivanna clenched her fists. “So where the hell is she? Did Dan take her?”
Dan had been their main rival lately, power plays escalating by the day. He’d dragged Lacey back, and now Susanna was missing, and the whole Black Gate was in chaos. It had to be him, right?
Adelle shook her head. “Your father’s people checked everywhere. Odds are, she’s not even in Black Gate anymore.”
“What?”
Not in Black Gate?
Then what was all this for? Ivanna’s rage exploded all over again.

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