Page 126 of Endless

“Evidently,” Walker replied.

Hell, I hadn’t known he was at the table. Then again, how would I have? Kinda figured they’d bring him in. At least he got an eyeful of me clumsily making my way in here no thanks to the guard. He was a sucky lead.

I swallowed down the fear threatening to choke me. Strength. I needed to show strength. I had a lot riding on this interaction.

“Fifteen minutes. Not a minute more,” the guard said.

“Don’t think we’ll even need that, Ryan.”

I turned in my seat as I folded Mr. Magic. “First name basis with the guards.”

“It’s who you know.”

“Yep.” I pulled the chair closer to the table and rested my elbows on top.

“I didn’t truly believe it until right this instant,” Walker said.

“Figured as much.” I cleared my throat. “Trust me, I didn’t want to believe it for a long time, either.”

“Blind.” He clicked his tongue against the roof of his mouth like he always had. “What a waste.”

“How they treating you in here?”

“Bunch of fucktards, that’s what they are.” He let out a long breath. “But fine. For the most part. You?”

Despite how much I hated Walker for some of the shit he did, he’d been a father to me for a long time.

“I’m blind, what doyouthink?”

“Never wanted that, man.”

“Just an inch of life, right?”

“You know the drill.”

“Jump in, jump out.” Gangs were violent.

“Could have been worse.”

“Probably should have been.” Okay, this was going way better than I’d thought. “I didn’t say a word.”

“I know. You were in a coma. That issue has been dealt with.”

“I heard. Drey won’t talk either.”

“He the only one who knows?” Meaning, the only one who knew Walker was responsible for Mom’s death, my coma, and blindness.

“Only one. Swear it with blood.”

“Already have, son.”

Son. He used to call me that once in a while. Strange he chosenowto do so.

“You fucked up holding onto your mom, no room for that with us. But I never wanted to see anyone dead.”

I swallowed hard.

“Let alone you.” He let out another long breath. I felt it against my face, and it reeked of cigarettes and ash. “What do you want, Damon?”