My Stepfather Ruined The Car I Spent Three Hours Cleaning, Then Kicked Me And Told Me To Start Over.

The next week was tense.

The guards were everywhere.

The security system was on high alert.

My father was busy.

He was in meetings. He was on the phone. He was making plans.

But he always made time for me.

For us.

He came to my soccer game that weekend.

My mother came too.

We won.

I scored two goals.

After the game, we went out for ice cream.

Just the three of us.

It was nice.

Normal.

For a little while, I forgot about the enemies. About the danger.

I just felt like a normal kid with his parents.

But when we got home, the normalcy ended.

My father's second-in-command, Marco, was waiting for us.

He looked worried.

"Vincent," he said. "They've made contact. They want to meet. To negotiate."

My father's face hardened.

"Negotiate what?"

"A truce," Marco said. "They want to meet you at the old warehouse. Tomorrow night. Just you and a few men."

My mother's hand flew to my father's arm.

"Vincent, no," she said. "It's a trap."

"It probably is," my father said. "But I have to go. If I don't, they'll never stop coming. I need to end this. Once and for all."

"Then take more men," Marco said. "Take all of us. We'll be ready for them."

My father nodded.

"Good," he said. "Make the arrangements."

Marco left.

My mother turned to my father.

"Vincent, please," she said. "Don't go. It's too dangerous."

My father took her hands in his.

"I have to," he said. "For you. For our son. For our family. I can't live in fear forever. And I can't let them threaten us forever. I need to end this."

He looked into her eyes.

"Trust me," he said. "I'll come back. I promise."

My mother looked at him.

Tears filled her eyes.

She nodded.

"Okay," she whispered.

That night, I heard my parents talking.

I went to my mother's room.

The door was slightly open.

My father was sitting on the bed beside her.

He was holding her.

She was crying.

"I'm so scared," she said. "I don't want to lose you again."

"You won't," my father said. "I'm coming back. I promise. I have too much to live for now. You. Our son. A second chance. I'm not going to throw that away."

He kissed her forehead.

"I love you, Elena," he said. "I never stopped loving you. Not for a second."

My mother looked up at him.

"I love you too, Vincent," she whispered.

And then they kissed.

I quietly backed away.

I went back to my room.

I smiled.

They were going to be okay.