Titanium Promises

Seventeen

We're going to see Luke's father. No matter what happens, we're going, and nothing can stop us. Luke threw away the burner phone, and the two of us are focusing on nothing but getting there. Last night we practiced basic self defense, and I'm proud to say I landed a solid punch on Luke. He was surprised by the force, since I guess he forgot my boxing experience.

I made sure to make up for hurting him, though.

The houses lined on the road we drive on slowly get bigger and bigger until they're fancy enough that the front of the property is nothing but an iron gate with a path leading into the property.

Luke drives until the road stops at a dead end. Or at least I thought it did until Luke pulled the car up to a speaker that had previously been hidden by a bush.

The speaker crackles to life. "You're not welcome here," a voice says. I'm taken aback by how young it sounds, like it's someone not too older than Luke and me.

How young are these people?

Luke smiles unexpectedly. "Ben, you son of a bitch."

The person on the other end laughs. "I hope you realize that's your aunt you're talking about." His voice turns serious. "You better know what you're doing, Luke, showing up here. Things can only go downhill from here on out."

"It's about time," Luke says as the gates guide their way open, "my father learns a lesson."

Luke drives up the gravel driveway and the house finally comes into view.

I'm surprised I couldn't see it from the street, it's the biggest house I've ever seen. I would've mistaken it for a grand hotel if I didn't know any better. There's a fountain in the center of the circular driveway, and the front entrance of the house has a grand archway. Two men stand on either side of it, both of them looking at us as we get out of the car, and both of them carry some type of machine gun.

"Mr. Lastra's been expecting you," the man on the left says, adjusting the way he's standing.

"Good," Luke says. "But let me settle in first, will you?"

The man rolls his eyes and, to my surprise, opens the doors for the two of us. We walk into a grand entrance with two wide staircases leading upstairs, and a grand, golden chandelier hanging from the ceiling. Everything is tinted with gold, like the entire purpose of this house is to flash how rich the family is.

A woman comes up to us and bows her head. "Should I escort you to your room, Mr. Luke?" she asks.

"For someone who's been disowned," I whisper, "you sure do seem welcomed."

"I never said I lost all of my perks," he whispers back before looking at the lady. "Yes. Thank you."

She nods. "You will wait to meet your father there."

I look around for the "Ben" Luke was talking to, but no young person stands out to me.

The woman leads us up the marble staircase, which dumps us into a tall hallway with paintings hanging on either side. I can't help but to stop and admire the closest one. It's an ocean view with a cliff, a tiny house on the edge of it. I jerk back, startled, when I feel Luke's hand on my shoulder.

"Sorry," he says, "but we have to keep going."

I nod and keep walking with him. We finally stop in front of a dark brown door, and the woman leaves us and disappears down the hall. Luke pulls on the golden handle and the door slides open.

I didn't know what to expect in Luke's room, but it definitely wasn't this. There's a king sized bed with black covers shoved into the back corner, and a desk on the right side of the room, completely void of any clutter. It must have been routinely cleaned even after he left because every surface is completely clear of dust.