Chris is the dumbest character
He used that line to trick his father about how the Bromigos have known James since he was 6, and were still willing to kill him. So he is fully aware of that, but he thinks it will end up differently for him somehow.
He's like a woman who keeps going after the "bad" boys because she thinks it will magically be different for her, and that she will finally be the one to change them. It's really quite pathetic.
I'm fine with him continuing to live, as long as it eventually builds up to his slow, torturous, agonizing death.