Page 63 of Agony

Mikey gazed up at him through bright blue eyes, and curly dark hair fell over his forehead.

Fisher couldn’t help but reach down and hug the little munchkin before gesturing to Boston.

“He’s busy. This is Boston, he’s a friend.”

“Hi!” Mikey said.

“Where’s Ryan?” Fisher said.

“Eating! Come on.” Mikey tugged at his hand, pulling him through the backdoor. “We found a can of spaghetti!”

Fisher entered the room and Boston came inside but hovered by the door.

Ryan sat at the small rickety table in the equally small kitchen and smiled when he stepped inside. The man was thin, his face all angles, and he sported a scraggly-looking beard on his youthful face.

Noise from the living room swept into the tiny kitchen from the television. Canned spaghetti filled the air.

Ryan’s smile died when he spotted Boston.

“You shouldn’t let Mikey run outside like that,” Fisher told Ryan, taking a seat at the table. The chair beneath him wobbled.

When Fisher pointed to another chair for Boston, the young man stayed where he was, leaning against the closed back door.

Mikey climbed up onto a stool that sat between the table and the wall and picked up his spoon. At nine years old, the boy was small for his age, but super fucking smart.

“He has a mind of his own,” Ryan complained. “I didn’t sign up to be a babysitter.”

“It’s just until I can figure something else out,” Fisher said and ruffled Mikey’s dark curly hair before he pulled out an envelope and slid it across the table to Ryan.

“Who’s he?” Ryan stared at Boston.

Boston tipped his head and the fall of dark hair swept forward, shielding his face from the prying look.

“Boston, he’s the same,” Fisher said.

“From?” Ryan said, and Fisher knew what the young man was asking.

“Tanis.”

“What? I th…th…thought he was dead.” Ryan blanched, his knuckles turning white when he gripped his fork.

“He’s not.”

Ryan looked Boston over from head to toe. He and Ryan both knew the hell that Tanis could inflict.

“How long do you think we can stay hidden from him?” Ryan mumbled, turning his attention from Boston to him.

“As long as it takes. I’m going to kill Tanis and Blue.”

“I thought Blue left town after Tanis died.”

“Tanis never died, they just slunk into their rat holes and waited. They’ve probably been feeding Solomon’s boys without us knowing. I need to talk to Rogue,” Fisher said, holding Ryan’s troubled gaze.

“Crow found me at the rec center a few days ago,” Ryan said, twirling his fork in the noodles.

Fisher frowned. “That’s not good. I heard that Crow is just as bad as Blue. Tell me you didn’t lead him back to this place?”

“I didn’t.” Ryan sounded defensive.

---