Four Flames for Angela

Thomas looked at the check and then back at Angie. “That’s all?” he asked in a small voice.

“Yes! That’s all that was left. I told you what happened. If you don’t believe me, you can call Mom and Dad’s attorney. I’m done.” Angie ran one

hand through her hair. This was going to be one hell of an adrenaline drop when Thomas left.

“It’s not enough,” Thomas said, looking at the check.

“I don’t care. That’s all there is.” Angie put her hands on her hips and stared at Thomas.

“They’re gonna kill me.” Thomas continued to look at the check.

Angie let out a long sigh and reached one hand out to Thomas. “Tell me about it.” She took him by the hand and led him to the yard. She didn’t owe Thomas anything, but he was her brother and although they hadn’t gotten along for years, her mother would have wanted her to try.

Thomas looked at her. “Why do you care?”

“Cause you’re my brother. I don’t want you dead most of the time. We’re the only family we have left.”

Rock, Sawyer, and Hunter had followed them to the porch and were standing close enough that if Angie needed them they were there, but not too close.

They sat in the chairs in the yard that had been moved off the porch when the men were working and started talking. Really talking.

“I’m in trouble, Angie,” Thomas said, still looking at the check.

“I figured that. Tell me about it. Maybe we can figure a way to get you out of it,” Angie said, squeezing his hand.

“I got out of jail a few months ago. Instead of going to the halfway house like my probation officer wanted me to, I got involved with the old gang again.” Thomas looked down at his hands.

“Are you on drugs?” Angie hated to ask the question, but she felt like she needed to know.

“Yes,” Thomas answered softly.

Well, that explained a lot of his behavior, Angie thought.

She took another deep breath. “We can get you help. Get you in a program. How much are you in for this time?”

“Over five hundred thousand dollars,” Thomas answered and looked down at the ground. “They’re gonna kill me.”

Angie gasped when she heard the amount.

“Yeah. They probably will,” Rock said, standing behind Angela.

“When did you move over here?” Angie asked, leaning her head back and looking up at him.

“You didn’t think we were going to leave you alone, did you?” River answered. He was standing beside Rock.

Thomas dropped his head into his hands. “I don’t know what to do. I was sure that once I got the money and paid them off everything would be fine. If I don’t give them that money, they will kill me.”

“How did you get in so deep?” Sawyer asked.

“Thomas, you know Mom and Dad never had that kind of money! What the hell were you thinking?” Angie reached up and covered Rock’s hand with hers. He was squeezing her shoulder in a show of support.

“It’s not my fault,” Thomas started.

“How can it be not your fault?” Angie asked, her voice shocked.

“I…I…I didn’t know. I didn’t know it was worth that much!” Thomas yelled and started to stand. Hunter was behind him and put a hand on each of his shoulders, holding him down.

“Tell me about it, Thomas,” Angie said with a sigh, and she looked around for Todd who was standing behind Rock’s legs, both arms wrapped around one of his thickly muscled thighs.