Early the next morning, I get another urgent call from Grace.

"Okay, I have the evidence that you need. When can you be here?" Grace whispers.

"If we make the plans today, tomorrow or the next day at the most."

"I can work with that."

"I'm sorry I failed you and Evan."

"You didn't fail us. You've basically been the one to raise us. You left to secure a new life; I don't fault you for that."

"The sooner I get off of the phone, the quicker EJ can make plans. I will call you when I know more."

"You're a great big brother, Dominic. Quit doubting yourself. I love you."

"I love you."

We catch a flight to Colorado, and I gear up for the battle that is going to happen. The plane taking off just seems to exacerbate my already rolling stomach.

"Are you nervous?" Ande asks from my left.

"Sure, this is going to be one of the most difficult situations I've had to face."

She reaches over and grabs my hand. "I'm here for you. We haven't known each other long, but it seems like it's been years."

"Thanks." I tell her and rest our hands on her lap.

The plane lands in Colorado Springs with my stomach still in my throat. We check into the hotel, and I borrow the rental car and head to my house. Taking a deep breath, I get out of the car and head to the front door. Knock or just go in? Just go in.

"Hello." I call out through the house.

"What are you doing here, Dominic?" My father questions.

"Hello to you too, Father. I've come to get my siblings."

"Grace can go anywhere she wants, but Evan isn't going anywhere."

"Why do you even want him here anyway? You don't love him."

"Do you still not see? You all were nothing but trophies on my shelf. You were a disappointment. Grace still has a chance to redeem herself."

"You don't even know what I do now." I bark back.

"It doesn't matter. You didn't go to college for it, you probably don't get a good salary, you probably don't have influential friends, you'll probably fail at this just like you've failed at everything else."

"You don't know anything about me."

"You're still the scared kid hiding behind my wife every time I come home. You're still the scared kid that has others do your work for you. You're still a scared kid."

"You don't know what you're talking about."

"Then tell me. What have you done in the last few weeks to bring yourself up to my standards?"

"I can't tell you." I mutter, looking down at the ground.

"Just like I thought. Nothing. You are doing nothing. You will accomplish nothing. You are and will always be nothing."

His taunts become too much to bear. I turn and stride out of the door, getting into the rental car and speeding off.

Is he right? Have I chosen the wrong path for my future? Can I succeed at training to become a Guardian and provide a future for my siblings? What if I become a Guardian, and it still isn't enough?

I drive to my favorite place, red rocks jut out of the ground, and I climb up on one and stare out into the distance.

My turbulent thoughts wrap their tentacles around my mind—starting to squeeze and suffocate me from the inside out. The fog is lifted when I hear a pair of footsteps right behind me. I should have heard them coming from a distance.

"You aren't going to jump, are you?" Sam tentatively asks.

I chuckle at the absurdity of the notion. "And let my adoptive father win? Not a chance! But I'm not sure how to get over this hurdle."

"Then what are you doing here - contemplating life."

"Basically."

"You can't let that man get the best of you."

"I'm trying, Sam. Believe me, I'm trying. But, when have I ever been a success?"

"Are you listening to yourself? You should like that bastard right now. Let me tell you what most people see. You've done so much in the little time I've known you. Most of all, you take care of your siblings. You don't have to, but you do. You've become their dad, their father, their protector and for most things, their provider. You didn't have to do that. But you did - willingly. You've sacrificed so much to do that for them - because you love them. I think that puts you pretty high on the list of people I admire."

My forehead tightens. "You admire me?"

"Yes, dummy, I do. You will put almost everything on hold if your siblings need you. You work hard to provide the things your adoptive father doesn't do, the most important things—love. You work to save money, for you and them, you don't date because it would distract from work and the time you have with them, your every thought is about how what you do will and won't may and might affect your siblings. That's real love. That is something to be admired."

"Thanks man, but how are we going to defeat my adoptive father?"

"Let's see what kind of plan we can come up with."

"Isn't Ande and EJ still with you?"

"Yeah, they're back at the hotel."

"Then let's go get them and talk through all of this bullshit your adoptive father is spewing."