Broken Promises

Chapter Twenty-One

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

The next day, my parents finally came home. I was watching T.V in my room when the front door slammed shut. At first, I thought my brother or Oliver was being stupid and leaving, but when I made it to the bottom of the steps and saw my parents standing in the foyer, I sighed in relief. I was getting worried about them because they didn't call or text. I thought they were running away.

My dad had two suitcases in his hands. Was one his and the other Mom's? did they come back to pack their stuff and leaving us to fend for ourselves? I felt like my world was spinning.

"Where did you guys go?"

My brother popped up beside me, and I nodded my head in agreement to his question. Oliver was probably upstairs in my brother's room, and I couldn't help but wonder why. Mom gave us a look and motioned for us to go into the living room. She called for Oliver, and not even five seconds later, he was coming down the stairs.

"We all need to talk."

The way my dad said it didn't sit right in my stomach. What did they have to tell all of us, including Oliver? Did they come up with a plan to get Rodney off our backs? My unspoken question was answered when we all sat down at the kitchen table and my dad unlocked both suitcases. When he opened them, my eyes widened.

They were both full of stacks of hundred dollars bills. They were actually going to give him the money? For a while, none of said a word. I mean, what was there to say? Just because they were giving the money to Rodney, didn't guarantee this was going to end. Rodney made that clear to Adam and me, and I even told my parents this the day we got home.

My dad closed the suitcases and locked them again. Then he averted his attention to Adam, who was still staring at the suitcases. "I never thought we'd have to get into our savings to get this money, son. But you put your entire family in danger, and now we have to fix your mistakes. As your parents, we're obliged to be there for you kids whenever you get yourself into a sticky situation, but your mother and I never thought it would be this kind of mess.

"When this is over and the moment you turn eighteen, I want you out of the house." I couldn't help but gasp. My parents once told us that we were allowed to live under their roof so long as we go to college and graduate. I never thought they'd kick my brother out. Then again, this was all Adam's fault.

Drugs were a dangerous thing.

"But dad-"

My dad's gaze hardened. "Don't you dare speak." This time, my eyes widened in shock.

All throughout my childhood and my parent's marriage, my dad was always the reserved one. My mother wore the pants in their marriage. He had his opinions and voiced them occasionally, but I didn't think he had this type of anger in him. My dad wasn't playing any games.

"I am so disappointed in you, and I'm ashamed to call you my son." I flinched at the words even though they were directed at me. "Your sister is only sixteen and you almost got her killed. Now, you call that Rodney guy up and tell him you have his money. There's two hundred thousand dollars there. Twice the amount you need."

"You're actually giving him the money?" I asked. My parents looked at me, and I sighed. "But Rodney said that even if he got the money, he was still going to kill us."

My mom gave me a sympathetic look and patted my shoulder. "Sweetheart, we're not actually giving him the money."

I went to ask her what she meant, but my dad spoke up before I had the chance to say anything. "While we were gone, we went to see a few people. With your mother being a corporate lawyer, she has many ties in law enforcement. We know some people who work for the FBI, and they'll be here in the morning to discuss what the plan of action will be."