Part 21 (1/2)

”Oh for G.o.d's sake, Kyle, can we just get this over with? What's this important thing you need to tell us?”

They both come into the room, and we all stand around the coffee table.

”Just tell me, Dad,” I say, growing more nervous by the pa.s.sing second.

He sighs, rubs his hands together. I've never seen him so nervous in his life.

”I'm in some trouble,” he begins. He holds up his hand when I go to interrupt. ”Just let me speak, Ca.s.sie. In Las Vegas last week, I lost some money. I borrowed some to win it back, but ended up losing that, too.”

I shake my head at him, palms facing the ceiling. What the h.e.l.l?

”It's bad,” he says.

Chance's mother holds her head in her hand. The disappointment in her voice silences the room for a moment. ”Oh, Kyle...”

Dad looks between us all, and then says, ”So I got a tip from a business a.s.sociate. I learned there was a big underground fight happening here in London, and that the favorite was going to tank the fight. Since we were coming out here anyway to see your campus, Ca.s.sie, I thought it would be a good way to win the money back. I took out another loan. The fight was tonight.”

I blink. ”Dad...?”

”He didn't throw the fight. So I lost that. I think that it would be best, Ca.s.sie, if you don't return home with me until I can sort this out. The people I borrowed from are bad people. And you, Deborah, I think we should go back separately.”

”You're d.a.m.n right we will, Kyle,” she says, voice shaking. ”And we're annulling the marriage.”

”What?”

”You heard me. It was stupid to begin with, and I'm not going down with you if you're in trouble.”

I look between the two. Chance's mother, my father. Somehow they got married, somehow they said the words 'I Do' to each other, and now they seem one step away from being at each other's throats.

They're certainly about to end the marriage.

What sacred covenant?

What cherished promise?

What a bunch of bulls.h.i.+t!

That's when it clicks. I widen my eyes at him, feel a terrible and sad rage inside me. ”That's why you froze up when I asked sarcastically if you worked with mobsters before you went to Vegas. Business a.s.sociate? What, do you launder money? Is that what you guys do?”

”Catherine-”

”Shut up, Dad!” I scream, falling into the sofa. ”I told you not to go to Vegas! You could have been with me at my graduation, and then none of us would be in this situation right now!”

I just close my eyes, try to stop my spinning reality. One moment, everything is fine, the next, my own idiot father has gotten all of us into life-threatening trouble?

It's too much to pa.r.s.e all at once. Should we run away? Should we go into hiding? Never return home to the United States?

Chance's mother speaks now. ”Is there any way out of this, Kyle? Can you borrow money against your house?”

”Don't borrow any more money!” I cry. ”Are you crazy?”

”Catherine-”

”There's a way out,” Chance says. He's been quiet the whole time, brooding in the corner, but now he steps forward. He plays with his zippo, clinking it open and closed. The metallic sound fills the room.

”Well?” Dad asks.

”I can fight, and you can put a bet on me. I went back, asked around. Kaminski's a regular here, and so the odds will be the same or maybe even worse as with the kid today. Total long shot odds.”

”You were there?” I cry.

Chance looks at me, then nods. ”I just stumbled on it. When I saw your Dad there-”

”Great! The both of you!”

”Listen,” he says. ”I've followed Kaminski's career. I know his every move. He's a grappler, and so am I, but I'm better than him, especially at this stage of his career. I can beat him.”

”He's got to have twenty pounds on you,” Dad says.

”He's slower than me. I can take him.”

Dad touches his lips. ”And we'd put in a bet on you?”

”A big bet,” Chance says. His deep voice is stony, flat. ”It's all or nothing right now. One last bet to get your idiot a.s.s out of this. To get us all out of this. Can you think of something better?”

I balk at Chance. ”You're suggesting we do the very same thing that got us into trouble in the first place?”

I don't even know what to make of it. Chance's mother storms out of the room. His eyes go to her, and then back to me.

”I can win this fight, Ca.s.s. I saw him in there. He goes too hard, too fast, too early. That's because his stamina is s.h.i.+t. I know his moves. He's tired, looking for easy money. He won't expect an opponent as well trained as me. My bet is that he only keeps track of the pros, not the pro-prospects like me. He won't suspect a thing.”

”But it's no sure thing?” Dad asks. I glare at him.

”No.”

”I can't ask you to do this,” Dad says. He slaps his thighs.

”I wouldn't be doing it for you, dips.h.i.+t.” Chance looks at me. ”I'd be doing it for her. And for my mother.”

I shake my head, look away. This is insanity. ”Can't we just call the police?”

”I owe money, Ca.s.sie,” Dad says. ”To some bad people. The police can't protect us.”

Tears blink out of my eyes. I'm heartbroken. ”Get out, Dad.”