“That woman takes one look at you, brother, she’ll know you can wrestle her demons. You give her the opportunity to do the same for you?”

Fuck. Not this shit again.

“It hasn’t been two months,” he evaded.

“You of all brothers know there is no f**kin’ time like the present.”

This was true but he was done so he shared because, as he knew, if he didn’t, Julius wouldn’t let up.

“She’s in,” he said low. “She knows what was done to me. She was waitin’ for me outside of prison and we started on a deal. She had bad shit in her life, under a piece of shit’s thumb. I get her outta that, she gives me what I need. A week later, I gave it all to her and gave her the choice to walk out the door. She didn’t take it. She took my back. Her decision. Thirty K in diamonds, fifty K in cash I was offerin’ her for the time she spent with me and that time was just over a week. She didn’t take that shot. She stayed then made a new deal. Deck furniture out of her fifty K, the rest she donates to the cause. Is that in enough for you?”

Instantly, Julius grinned.

Then he replied, “Yeah.”

“Thrilled, Champ,” Walker muttered, looking to the view and suddenly needing a beer.

Julius chuckled.

Then he spoke again and Walker looked back to him. “Now, a brief.”

“Only got so much good luck,” Walker replied, saying it all in six words, Julius got it and Julius nodded.

“Your brother f**ked you,” he guessed accurately, knowing the entirety of Walker’s plan, knowing his first move was Dewey, having heard all about Dewey.

“Just found out tonight,” Walker confirmed.

“Not unexpected,” Julius muttered, turning his head to the view.

“Still f**kin’ frustrating,” Walker replied, also looking at the view but shifting his body to it, bending and resting on his crossed forearms on the railing.

“You know, got no contacts in Colorado,” Julius stated, also shifting and assuming Walker’s position at the railing. “That don’t mean I didn’t ask around when I got out.”

“You connect?” Walker asked quietly.

“Fuck yeah.”

“You mobilize?”

“Why you think I’m here?” Julius asked back. “Had no idea the pretty face who’d keep me company and sure as f**k didn’t haul my ass across three states to see your face.”

That was bullshit, so much of it, Walker had to fight back a smile.

Then he nodded.

Then he asked, “How long you stayin’?”

“Long enough to network and get my ass back before my parole officer knows I’m in Colorado.”

Walker nodded again and whispered, “Grateful, man. Dewey f**kin’ me, need a new avenue.”

“Well you got it.”

Walker drew in breath and held it. Then he let it go. He didn’t say anything and Julius didn’t expect him to say anything. Julius wasn’t doing anything that Walker would not do for Julius if he needed it. It was just that Walker needed it.

Still, that didn’t mean he wasn’t grateful. He just didn’t have to say it.

Julius knew.

Time passed as they studied the landscape.

Then Walker remarked, “Had an interesting development tonight.”

“Yeah?”

He straightened and turned, hip to the railing, eyes sliding into the house. Lexie was heading out to the back deck carrying plates on top of which was cutlery. They were close to dinner.

So he talked, low and swift as Julius listened, eyes to the view, forearms to the railing, telling his friend about Detective Angel Peña.

When he was done, he looked back into the house to see Lexie filling serving plates. Family style. As big of an event as she could make it without time to prepare. None of that business of the men filling their plates from pots and skillets. They were going to sit down and spend awhile, telling Julius, as best she could, he was welcome company, his visit an event to celebrate.

Pure Lexie.

Walker looked down at his leaning friend noting the silence had lingered.

Then Julius ended it.

“That is an interesting development.”

“Yep.”

“You trust this guy?” Julius asked.

“Known him ten minutes, know he wants in my wife’s pants and he wants that bad. Those two things are not conducive to me trusting him.” He paused then went on, “Still, I do.”

“Different,” Julius muttered. “Name clear. Restitution.”

“Don’t give a shit about that.”

Julius turned his head and looked up at Walker. “You should.”

“Doesn’t bring back five years.”

“No,” Julius agreed. “But the real you got that’s solid and races to you practically the minute you get home, presses close even though you’re still wet with sweat from the gym like she don’t even notice, your name clear, restitution is a gift for her. Gives back a little of what she’s givin’ you.”

“She didn’t do five years,” Walker replied.

“No,” Julius again agreed and looked back to the view.

“She’s with me on this, brother,” Walker stated quietly.

“So am I,” Julius returned just as quietly. “Whatever you do, I’m with you. You don’t wanna sit back and hope this brown boy from Texas can make another miracle for you, I don’t blame you. I’m just sayin’.”

“I hear you,” Walker whispered.

He’d just said the last word when they heard, “All right boys, soup’s on,” and they both turned to see Lexie standing in the opened door. “Give me drink orders and head out to the back deck. Serve it up, it’s waiting.”

Walker pushed away from the railing, feeling Julius follow him.

“Beer, babe,” he said, moving to her.

She nodded on a grin up at him then her eyes moved beyond him to Julius. “You need a refresh?”

“Yeah, woman,” Julius replied.

She grinned at him, turned and lifted her face when Walker got close, he gave her what she didn’t verbally ask for but he knew she wanted, bent and touched his mouth to hers.

Then he moved beyond her into the house.

Julius followed.

When he hit kitchen, he looked back to see she was returning to the house after collecting his cup and Julius’s empty.

And seeing that, Julius’s words hit his brain.

Gives back a little of what she’s givin’ you.