He handed Darius

the phone without hesitation and watched him curiously.

Darius held the

phone up and said without preamble, “I’m sure you’ve already seen the news—one

of your owner’s not-so-loyal dogs, Felix, died after jumping from my window.

Yet I haven’t been punished in any way. In fact, I’m free to roam every corner

of Almiron City, whether it’s your company or home. I’m ten minutes away from

reaching the peak of my anger.” After that, he hung up.

Ansel gaped at

him. He was shocked by Darius’ words but more so by the board members’ actions.

He’d noticed that the second Darius started speaking, the booming music on the

other end of the line had disappeared. It made him wonder where they really

were.

“They’re at the

corner-most bar on 18th Avenue,” Darius said. Even if Ansel hadn’t asked, he

knew what he was wondering.

Ansel gaped even

more. “How’d you know, Mr. Reid? They didn’t tell us anything.”

Darius smiled. He

put the phone down and pushed it toward Ansel. At the same time,