"I'm not creating any mess." Drag. "I'm clean."
The words were matter-of-fact.
I looked straight at him. "So..." I exhaled slowly. "...be a good dog and tell it to your master."
For a second, Cyrus simply stared. Then he laughed.
"You think I didn't?" He reached for his drink, swirling the melting ice around before taking another sip. "I already did."
"And?"
"He doesn't buy it."
"Expected."
"He thinks you're planning something."
"I always am."
Cyrus rested his elbow on the table, studying me with that irritating expression that always made it feel like he knew one thought more than he should.
"You've been doing what you've always done." A pause. "But this time... inside the limits." He looked almost impressed. "I'll give you that."
His fingers tapped lazily against the crystal.
