Page 54 of Dark Endures

That went sideways fast.

“Maddox isn’t like that,” Everett speaks for the first time.

“Why should I believe you? You’re probably just like him.”

“Because it’s the truth,” Jordan answers. “I lived on Willow Street and talked to dozens of kids they’ve saved. Some of them were adults who moved out on their own but came back to visit and see friends. Maddox and the Deathadders haven’t ever mistreated a kid.”

“The Deathadders,” Jordan’s brother whispers. “They aren’t real. They can’t be. It’s an urban legend.”

“We’re real.”

“I’m going to be one of them.” Jordan looks down at the floor. “If I live long enough to join.”

“So, you’ll help save Jordan.”

Don’t give up on me now. “Do you want to die?”

“You stupid? Of course, I don’t wanna die.” The kid folds his arms across his chest.

Those tattoos of his had to have been done by a kid… a blind one at that. Tattoos can be fixed. “Then let me help you.”

“How are you going to do that? You going to go buy drugs for me?”

“No.” That would be the opposite of help. “But I’ll get you into rehab.”

“Rehab.” He snorts. “Those places are filled with more drugs than you find on the street. How do you think I got into thehard stuff? One of our foster homes found weed in the pocket of my backpack, so they sent me to rehab. I came out doing dope.”

The system fails so many children. “This one is different.”

“Really, how?”

“First, it isn’t government-run. Second, it only accepts people who want help. No one can force you to stay in this rehab center. You can leave anytime you want. There are no guards. No locks on the doors.” It helps that it’s in the middle desert miles away from anything resembling civilization, but I won’t mention that fact right now.

“Sounds expensive.”

Frightfully. But they have some of the best results. “It’s free for you.”

“No strings?”

“Not one. You try it out and can’t hack it, then you’re free to leave.” A few have. Most of them ended up dead within a couple of years. “This won’t be easy. But if you’re willing to try, the opportunity is there.”

“No strings?” He repeats.

“No strings.”

“And you’ll pay off Crawley?”

“Crawley will never bother you again.” Or anyone else.

“I’ll go to rehab.”

***

Rogue and Havoc lead us back to the car in silence.

“Hop in. I’ll be one minute.” They clearly want to have a conversation with me.

After the boys are in with the doors closed, I turn back to the bikers. “Thanks.”

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