Page 4 of Broken Promises

“Here, she needs formula, right?” he asked his friend, and I blew out a breath.

“Let’s get walking. I’ll help your sister until Beckett gets back,” I stated, encouraging the boys to start walking. I had no idea where this kid lived, and I knew he wasn’t happy to tell me his address, but did it anyway.

His house was similar to mine, rundown and dirty, an old car parked on the front lawn with grass growing higher than the roof of it.

I watched my step as I eyed trash all over the lawn and sidewalk, heading up the front steps and into the house, hearing the screaming baby before we even opened the door.

I stepped inside, the dim room making me realize the poor kids didn’t have the power on, finding the living room lit up, thanks to a flashlight. The house was a mess, and I could smell dirty diapers and old food, making me wonder when an adult had been here last.

Gregory’s friend, who was named Frank, talked loudly over the baby’s crying as he led me along the hallway to the bedroom.

“I can’t make her stop! I tried everything!”

The bedroom stunk, and I winced when I peered into the crib to find the screaming baby clinging to the side as she stood to try and escape. The bed was wet and Frank sighed, noticing it too.

“I can’t change her for another three hours or I’ll run out of diapers. I have to space out her changes,” he explained, and I reached down to lift her, feeling the wet diaper start to dampen my shirt as I held her against my chest to try patting her back.

She was choking on her own screams, her poor throat probably hurting, and I carefully carried her back to the living room so I could sit on the couch with her.

I texted Beckett the address before I could forget, trying to soothe the baby but failing.

“When did she eat last?” I asked over the noise, and Frank’s sad eyes glanced away from me.

“This morning. I have two bottles left for her. She hasn’t had any of that baby food in a couple of weeks though, it’s too expensive. I’ve been trying to space her bottles out too, so she at least gets some food each day.”

“That’s smart,” I promised, hoping the poor kid knew he was doing a good job.

The baby screamed until Beckett arrived, the boys on full alert as other people followed her inside. I wasn’t surprised to find that Lukas was one of them, he was good with kids, but I was a little surprised to see Marco. He seemed to be more about murder and mayhem than babysitting duties.

Him and Hunter ran the Devil’s Armada crew, both of them also being Beckett’s dads.

All of Beckett’s dads were good parents, some were just more gentle and patient than others.

Marco walked over and squatted in front of the young boys, holding his hand out to shake.

“Hey. I’m Mark. I heard your sister’s sick. Can I look at her?” he asked in a soft tone that didn’t match him at all, Frank hesitating before shaking his hand.

“Frank. She’s my sister, yes. She’s really hot.”

Marco turned to me, reaching out to place the back of his hand against her cheek. “She’s burning up a little, definitely.”

“She’s hungry and needs changing, but Frank’s had to ration her things to make it last,” I said, knowing he was going to ask. “She’s soaked.”

“We brought some stuff,” Lukas stated as he walked closer, placing a bag on the floor that I hadn’t noticed. He pulled out some wet wipes and I handed the screaming baby over to Marco, my shirt feeling cold where the wet material was.

Frank glued himself to her, not letting Marco and Lukas take her too far from him, and I took the opportunity to speak to Gregory, who was standing by me out of the way as he watched.

“They’re good people. Do any of your siblings need us to look at them too?”

“Maybe my sister’s baby. She’s coughing a bit,” he said slowly, holding my gaze. “They won’t call CPS, right?”

I looked at Beckett, who shook her head, and relief filled me. The kids needed help, but the system would split them up. The babies always got adopted out into nice families, leaving the older kids in group homes or abused in shitty placements.

“No. They just want to help. They help lots of people,” I answered just as Beckett joined the conversation.

“Is your sister home right now? Is she watching the kids?”

“She took off two days ago. She’s got an older boyfriend, but he doesn’t like us being around, so she stays at his place. He buys her drugs,” he mumbled, making her frown.

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