"You can say that again, my man, fuck me. Believe in God but only 'bout two hours ago met my first angel walkin' on earth."

"Lexie's a lot of things, all of them good but don't think God makes angels like that."

Julius's midnight face split into a huge, white smile.

"I like that," he muttered.

"So do I. Wildcat," Walker replied and Julius's smile got bigger.

Then some of the white died before he remarked, "Good for you. Happy for you. You deserve a miracle."

Walker didn't respond.

Julius made an accurate guess. "This ain't play."

Walker shook his head.

Julius went on. "How long did it take you to maneuver that?"

"Too long, over a week."

Julius blinked. "That it?"

"Felt like fifty years."

Julius threw his head back and boomed with laughter. Walker grinned at him while he did.

Then, still chuckling, he caught Walker's eyes. "Pretty pussy, sweet pussy, classy pussy like that, ex-con, took you a week. Fuck me. I can work it, brother, but even me, it'd take at least a month."

Walker didn't reply.

Julius's gaze went intense. "How real is this?"

"Real," Walker answered firmly and Julius tipped up his chin.

"Real for her. That bitch in there is livin' the dream. I knocked on the door, fuckin' me, big black man, her a white woman in a sweet crib in the middle of fuckin' nowhere in the goddamn mountains. She took one look at me when she opened the door, knew exactly who I was and the bitch flipped. Acted like I just got home from bein' at war. She refused to call you, wanted me to be a surprise. Even made me go out and move my ride so you wouldn't see it when you got home."

No surprise. That was Lexie.

Julius carried on. "Spent two hours drinkin' beer with her and listenin' about all the shit you been doin'. She made it sound like, you got home from the gym, you'd do it flyin' through the air."

No surprise with that either. That was also Lexie. But it didn't mean hearing that from Julius didn't feel really fucking 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 fuckin' 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 fucked 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 fuckin' 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 fuck 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 fuckin' 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 Pena.

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.