Chapter 294
Damien
I remove my shoes and enter the apartment.
"Oh, Damien, you're here?" Gary says, playing his game. He's taller now, being a high school student. Still has that same mop of curly hair as his brother, just a lighter shade.
"Eli went to take a shower," he adds, eyes already back on the screen.
I walk over and ruffle his hair, earning a half-hearted protest. I pull out my wallet and hand him a few bills, more than enough for a nice dinner out, maybe a movie.
"Spend a night at one of your friends' houses," I say.
He stops his game immediately, counting the notes with the practiced speed of a teenager who knows exactly what this arrangement means. His grin is knowing but unbothered. He's been collecting these "payments" for years now.
"A pleasure doing business with you," he says, already grabbing his jacket. The door clicks shut behind him.
