Ray and Frank met at a bar a few days after Ray's conversation with his mother. After shaking hands, they settled into a quiet corner.
"Glad to see you, buddy," said Frank. "I see you pretty often, but I still find it hard to believe how much you've changed."
Ray picked up the notepad and wrote:
"It's one of the side effects of the drugs I take, plus training with Mikie. It happened unexpectedly, but I'm glad. If I met those bastards now, they wouldn't stand a single chance."
He smiled sadly.
"And how are you feeling?" Frank asked. "I never thought one could survive a gunshot to the head practically without consequences."
"There are consequences, they're just almost invisible to me. The doctors partially restored my sight, but warned me: it will gradually worsen, and sooner or later I'll go blind again. Besides that, I can't take blows to the head. I constantly have a headache. There are pills that help, but if I start taking them, I risk losing my shape."
Hearing this, Frank turned pale. He remembered how often he himself had sparred against Ray. Gathering his thoughts, he finally asked:
"If it's such a risk, why do you even step into the sparring ring?"
"I already lost people dear to me once because I was weak. I won't let it happen again. Besides, honestly, I don't know why I'm living. The truth is, since the executors are dead, the chances of finding the client are below zero. Right now, I'm only concerned about my mother's future. I want to make sure she'll be alright."
"Speaking of which… We want to invite Amy on vacation with us. I know it might affect our relationship, but I still want you to know."
Frank paused, then continued:
"A long time ago, I used to drink a lot, and alcohol never brought out the best in me. Once, in a drunken stupor, I killed my wife. Jill came from an intellectual family. In her youth, she got pregnant by a guy who then disappeared. She wanted to keep the child, but her parents insisted on an abortion. After that, she couldn't have children anymore."
"For me, our BDSM games are a kind of punishment. And for her — a way to vent her hatred on that guy and on her father."
Ray listened attentively, then wrote:
"I understand you. And from your tone, it's clear: you truly repent. Not everyone deserves a second chance — only those who repent sincerely."
"Let me give you some advice. I understand you, but perhaps it would be better to take a child from an orphanage or find a surrogate mother. I have no doubt that you will be excellent parents. Just don't let the little one into the basement," he added with a slight smirk.
Frank chuckled in response, nodded thoughtfully, and said:
"That's not a bad idea. I'll definitely talk to Jill."
"So you don't mind if we take Amy on vacation with us?" he asked.
"No. It won't hurt her to relax. Besides, since you're with them, I can be at ease. How long are you planning to go?"
"Two to three months, but I haven't decided exactly yet. We'll leave next month."
"How do you feel about having a drink?" asked Frank.
Seeing Ray's skeptical look, he clarified:
"I know what you're thinking, but don't worry — I know my limit now. And let's be honest: you really need this. If you're worried about your mother seeing you drunk, you can stay at our place. I'll make sure you don't do anything stupid."
Frank was one of the few people Ray trusted. So, suppressing his doubts, he nodded in agreement.