Page 5 of Broken Promises

“How old is he?”

This conversation was sickening because I knew the situation already, and it was unfortunately very common around here.

“I don’t know. He has a car,” the kid shrugged.

“He’s twenty-three. He was a year ahead of Josh at school,” I mumbled, turning my gaze to Beckett. “Greg’s sister is fourteen.”

You could see the disgust flicker across Beckett’s face, but she didn’t let her thoughts out.

“She has a baby with this guy?”

“He’s not the dad. The dad was one of the men that paid to fuck her,” Gregory said casually, my stomach twisting at how normal the kid seemed to think that was. “He went to prison and got killed in there. Which is a good thing. He used to smack my sister around.”

Marco joined us, letting Lukas try to feed a bottle to the baby.

“Where are your parents?”

“Mom works nights. My dad’s dead. The only one of my siblings who speaks to their dad is my oldest brother, but his dad’s in prison,” Gregory explained, motioning to Frank, who was still glued to his sister across the room. “Frank’s Mom ODed last year, and his dad is currently at Raven’s. He’s been there all week, I think.”

Marco turned his eyes to me, frowning. “Why’s he been at your house?”

“My dad’s back. They’ve been partying non-stop,” I replied. “I don’t know who his dad is, the kid just said he knows he’s been there. Dad’s had a few friends over this week.”

He hummed, thankfully dropping it. “Maybe you can take Beckett and Raven to your house while we finish helping Frank. Just to make sure they’re in bed.”

Gregory tensed, not liking the idea of leaving his friend alone with these strange men, and I tried to look convincing as I smiled.

“Marco and Lukas are really good people. I trust them.”

“I don’t,” he answered bluntly, just like I’d expected. “We’ll wait. They’re fine.”

Marco didn’t argue with the kid, simply nodding. “We can wait.”

It took over an hour to settle the baby and get her to sleep, Frank looking ready to fall asleep himself as Lukas wrote down the medicine instructions to simplify it for him. Once Frank thanked us, we left and headed to Gregory’s house.

Beckett went in the car with her dads, while I walked with Gregory, his eyes darting around for danger the entire short walk.

We passed my house on the way, and I cringed at the loud laughter and music coming from inside.

“It doesn’t get better when you get older, does it?” Gregory asked absently as he glanced in that direction too. I could’ve lied to him, but kids like him preferred the truth.

“Nope. The only thing that changes is CPS can’t take you away anymore,” I replied, eyeing Beckett’s car up ahead as it waited on the side of the road. “Make sure you hide the money Beckett gave you. Beckett’s family bought me food, and Dadcame back and sold it all. I don’t know what your family’s like, but I assume they’re like mine.”

“Does your dad try to get you to use your body for money? My sister said Mom didn’t make her, but I heard them arguing one night,” he admitted.

“Mine probably would’ve if he’d been around. Luckily, I had Josh and the guys to look after me. You’re a good brother, and I hope one day you can all get out of here and have a better life.”

“Me too,” he mumbled, clamming up when we joined Beckett and her dads. He trusted me because I was Heights, but it would take a lot for him to trust outsiders.

He led us into the house, which was mostly quiet, other than a little boy sitting on the couch watching TV. I was pretty sure it was Joseph, Gregory’s four-year-old brother.

He grinned as Gregory walked over to him, not minding us in the slightest.

At least the house didn’t smell too bad.

Gregory grabbed a blanket and made sure the kid was comfortable before motioning for us to follow along the hallway, and I was suddenly grateful for the bigger house I’d grown up in.

Mattresses covered the bedroom floor as small bodies slept, and Gregory snuck in and carefully plucked the baby from one, rubbing her back as he carried her out to us.

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