Chapter 13

Somewhere in the city,

The TV blared with shouts and cheers. "Wow, isn’t that Silas Wales?”

“Damn, they're rubbing the floor with his guards. Damn, that ought to hurt," a voice exclaimed.

Click.

The screen went dark as someone tapped the remote. The room fell silent, save for the heavy breathing of Silas Wales, kneeling on the floor. Before him stood an imposing figure, his face was a mask of stern disappointment.

"Explain yourself, Silas," the man demanded. "Who is this man who beat you up?"

Silas, head bowed, barely whispered, "Patriarch, Tom was a boy I used to bully in college."

The patriarch's eyes narrowed. "Is that all? Just some boy? He managed to defeat the top guards I assigned to your security."

Silas swallowed hard, unable to meet the patriarch's gaze. "I... I don't know how he did it," he stammered.

“Which family?” The patriarch asked.

“The Diel family. From what I know, his grandfather is the patriarch. Tom’s father happened to be one of his many children and after his