No surprise with that either. That was also Lexie. But it didn’t mean hearing that from Julius didn’t feel really f**king good.
Julius studied him. Then he asked softly, “It that real for you?”
“Look around, Champ, everything you see is solid. How much more real can it get?”
Julius again studied him. Then he shook his head.
Then he muttered, “Jesus, brother,” he looked to the view and swallowed before he repeated a whispered, “Jesus.”
This was not a surprise either. His friend felt relief, overwhelmed by it. Julius had been worried. Walker’s state of mind the day he left prison, anyone who gave a shit would be. Julius walked out to three women, two children and a big family, all of whom gave a shit, they did it before he went down and they stuck by him while he did his time.
Walker walked in in chains for a crime he didn’t commit and walked out to none of that and he walked out with vengeance on his mind.
“I’m good, Champ,” Walker said quietly and got his friend’s eyes.
“You let her in?”
Walker nodded.
“How far in?” Julius went on.
“She’s in,” Walker replied.
“How far?” Julius pushed.
“She’s in,” he repeated.
“How far?” Julius repeated too.
Walker didn’t speak.
“You know what I’m askin’ you, Walk,” Julius told him and he did know.
“Her life has not been a fairytale either. You’ve spent time with her, I told you, you’d be shocked as shit what she’s been through. We’ve both got our demons. We’ve both shared.”
“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.