✔Cupcakes to Kill For

36. Promises to Keep🧁

The police interrogations drained Casey, both mentally and physically.

Without concrete evidence of his involvement with the Voiceless Rebels, they had nothing to hold him on. They couldn't charge him with anything either, much to Casey's relief. But while confiding in the police had been nerve-wracking, nothing compared to the shame of telling his father what he'd done.

Gathered in the living room like some sort of intervention, Casey's head drooped low while his dad questioned his recklessness. Lani paced the living room and their father sat across from Casey, glaring daggers at both him and August on the loveseat. Casey was unable to look his father in the eye and see his disappointment. Not only did he put himself in danger, but he'd handed their family's business over to the Voiceless Rebels.

"Why didn't you just tell the police all this?" Lani asked. "Why did you have to make a deal with that slimy bastard?"

With a sharp breath, Casey inhaled then sighed. "The cops had their chance. If it weren't for Emmett, Wyatt and August would be dead. Maybe even trafficked."

Lani clamped a hand over her mouth, stifling her gasp. "You mean... That's why they kidnapped Wyatt?"

Casey nodded, raking a hand through his hair. "I wanted to do things by the book. I really did, but I couldn't risk Wyatt's safety. They took too damn long. Wyatt would've been long gone, and the police barely put in any effort. I know it sounds crazy, but I think Emmett can help our bakery."

"Are you serious?" Mr. Lockhart snapped. "After what I went through, don't you realize that we can't trust those gangs?"

"That was the Black Vipers. Emmett's about as trustworthy as a snake around mice, but I believe he can help us," Casey told him. "It benefits him. We just have to let him use our bakery for his own transactions, but in return, he'll make sure nobody messes with us again. It's a risky price to pay, but don't you think it's worth it? To make sure this never happens again."

"Casey's got a point," August spoke up, clearing his voice. "Had they not gotten to us when they did, it would've been bad for me and Wyatt. I'd be six feet under."

"Dad, please, you've gotta understand why I did this. I only did what I thought was best to protect Wyatt and August. Just like you did for mom."

Mr. Lockhart pinched the bridge of his nose. "I'm sorry, I do get it. Believe me, I do. But why didn't you let me help you? You just left us at the station like fools. We'll be stuck with the Voiceless Rebels forever now. They'll always loiter around our bakery, once they rebuild it. Do you really want that?"

"It's either that or let the Black Vipers kill us," Casey replied. "Dad, I did what was best for us. You have to understand that. The cops couldn't protect us. Not even you or mom could."

The painful expression his father conveyed hurt Casey, but he had to be blunt. He needed his dad to realize why he turned to the gang. They were their last hope.

"I'm just glad you guys are alright. That's all that matters to me now." Mr. Lockhart got up and pulled Casey in for a hug. "We'll figure this out."

"I know, Dad. We always do."

Later that night, Casey helped get Wyatt ready for bed after making sure he brushed his teeth. It was his son's first night home after the kidnapping, and Casey suspected that he'd be a little frightened. Even August stuck around, lying in Casey's bed while scrolling through something on his phone.

Clad in his Spiderman pajamas, Wyatt clambered into his bed and clutched his favorite teddy bear close to his chest. Before settling in for a bedtime story, he asked Casey to make sure the bedroom door and window were locked. He even had him check in the closet and under their beds, ensuring nobody hid in the room.