"That's right, that's right! This ex-con barged in here looking for trouble and hurled insults at Assistant Weiss. We were just about to teach him a lesson!"

Fay froze for a beat, then frowned. The excitement that had been in her eyes moments ago was gone, replaced by something cold:

"Did you really hit him?"

I smiled and nodded.

"Yeah. I did."

My frank admission only made Fay angrier.

"Duke Gilbert, I truly underestimated you."

"Two years in prison, and you didn't learn to rein in that violent temper of yours? If anything, you've gotten worse."

"Toby is practically the little brother you raised. How could you bring yourself to do this to him?"

Toby chimed in with a show of false concern:

"Fay, don't be upset. I think Duke is probably still holding a grudge about us sending him to prison back then..."

Fay scoffed:

"Holding a grudge?!"

"When someone does something wrong, they deserve to be punished. Otherwise, everyone would go around committing murder and arson, and the whole world would descend into chaos."

"If you ask me, two years was far too lenient."

With that, Fay pulled out her phone and dialed a number.

"Chief Wang? It's Fay Galloway. There's an ex-convict causing trouble here at The Amethyst Grand. Would you mind sending a few officers over?"

Toby stared at me, gloating.

"Duke, you don't have to go back to prison. There is a way out."

"All you have to do is get on your knees, knock your head on the floor three times, and say 'I was wrong.' Then I'll forgive you."

Sending me back to prison wasn't enough for Toby. What he really craved was the thrill of grinding me into the dirt beneath his heel.

Fay let out a sigh, as if helpless against his kindness.

"You're always so soft-hearted."

Then her gaze cut to me, ice-cold.

"Did you hear that?"

"Kneel and apologize to Toby, and I'll let this go."

Toby was convinced he'd already won. The smugness radiated off him in waves.

"I'd hurry if I were you, Duke. The police will be here any minute."

"Unless you're looking forward to another stint making license plates behind bars."

I smiled. Cold and thin.

"You want me to kneel? Keep dreaming."

Fay's brows shot up, and a sharp scoff escaped her lips.

"You really do have a death wish."

"I gave you a chance. You chose not to take it."

"When the police drag you out of here, don't blame anyone but yourself."