Felix let out a deep sigh. "Really? Do we have to go this far?"

Clarence just stood there with a smug smile, not saying a word. Chester, though, piped up with a grin.

"Don't blame me, Felix. Mr. Harrell's cutting you a break here. Otherwise, you might already be a dead man."

Felix slowly looked up. "I hate to break it to you, but you can't lay a finger on me."

This cracked Clarence up, and he laughed. "What, you think someone is going to come and save you? Just brace yourself for the pain train that's coming."

Out of nowhere, several loud thuds echoed through the alley. Clarence and Chester watched in shock as the thugs sneaking up behind Felix dropped like flies without any warning.

After they hit the ground, a deep voice cut through the air. "I won't allow you to touch this young man."

Chester turned toward the person who'd just flattened his men and felt his blood run cold. "Mr. Newman?"

Arlo Newman ran the underground circles of East District—even Chester had to for