"Dad..."

We were driving back home. It was a long drive, and we hadn't spoken a word in hours.

"Yeah?"

"Do you really think family always comes before anything else?"

He looked at me warmly.

"Of course! Why do you think you're living with me, James?"

I didn't exactly know, honestly.

"I'll tell you why. Because your father was in a lot of trouble and didn't think he could give you a good life. When your father asked me to take care of you, even though I was swamped as a full-time PI, I decided to cut my job and work part-time. I didn't care about being rich or famous. I cared that I should give my brother's son a good place to live."

"Do you think that any human being's life is more important than property, too?" I asked.

"No." He looked at the road ahead with a warm smile, still. "I think that any life is more important than property. That's why Bullet's living with us."

"Heh. I get that," I replied, "but why didn't you lock him in the kitchen before you left?"

My dad's smile faded as my words slowly set in.

"Wh... WHAT?!"

And suddenly we were flying at 100 mph down a 65 mph freeway.