Page 42 of Sinful Addiction
The moment he stops I vomit all over the shoes I just finished cleaning.
Warmth settles around my face.Darius is holding his lighter up to my hair singeing the ends, almost catching it on fire.The putrid smell makes me throw up again, which encourages Darius to continue his assault on me.
When I no longer struggle, he pulls out a cigarette—a real one this time—and lights the end.After taking a large puff, he turns my head and presses the hot tip behind my ear.My flesh burns as he puts pressure on the surface.I dare not scream, as that’s the reaction he’s looking for but, in the end, I can’t withhold the tears from the pain he is causing me.
“Darius,” A sweet voice sings through the house.“Where are you?I can’t reach the bread for my sandwich.”
Leona’s voice is my saving grace.Everyone in this family will do anything for her, including big, bad, Darius.She has him wrapped around her little finger better than any of them.
I don’t move from the bathroom.Not when he comes back to check I’m still in pain.Not when Leona comes to check on me—because she knows everything her oldest brother does.It’s only when our parents come home that I move and that’s because Dad’s throwing me on the back porch, under the dark night sky as punishment for upsetting their golden boy.
Any normal person can see I’m being beaten and abused by him, but our parents think I deserve the ‘punishment’ he dishes.Not to mention the beating Dad hides from Mom.
“I’m disappointed in you, Tony.We don’t do things like that to our own family.We treat each other with respect.Now, you can sit out here in the cold and think about what you’ve done.When you’re ready to come back inside, you apologize to your brother, then you can go to bed.”
He walks off without a care in the world, slamming the door in his wake.
I’ve had to sit outside many times before.
It got to the third night of being kicked out when Leona snuck outside and brought me some food and a blanket to keep me warm.Those young eyes shouldn’t witness a fraction of what goes on inside these walls.
Sometimes when our parents have fallen asleep from the drugs they consume and once Darius has gone out, she’ll stay outside to keep me company.
We’ve talked about leaving home and finding a fresh start.Changing our names and moving on in another state.But I have at least four years before I can legally do that unless we run away.
It’s thoughts of the future and becoming free that get me through times like these.Times where all I want to do is end it all and the bad thoughts sneak in; I won’t allow myself to become like them, though.I have my sister and that’s all that matters.Her future and finding a suitable man who can take care of her better than any of her family could.
“Are you stuck in your head again, Antonio?”She bumps my side, and I wince.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to hurt you.Here, I brought you ice and some water.I couldn’t get food this time.”
I take them both, putting the ice on my face and the glass of water to the side.
“Thanks, squirt.I’m sorry you had to see that.Darius should have closed the door at least.”I try to downplay the whole scene.
“No.He should have left you alone.When we get to leave, I’m going to make sure no one hurts you ever again.I’m going to protect my best brother.I’m going to wrap you in bubble wrap and never let any baddies near you.”
My chest tightens thinking of her.She had high ambitions as an adolescent, living in a world of hopes and dreams.If only she could see me now.
“You were hurt badly, weren’t you.”Lacey’s apprehension shakes me out of my memory as she comes back outside.
Her presence is soothing.I forgot what peace felt like.This woman has become my lifeline.If anyone, for one second, thinks they can lay their hands on her, or intimidate her for that matter, they will be dismembered, then burnt until they are dust beneath my shoes.My brother is no exception.
“Will he hurt you?”She’s trying to hide her concern as she looks up at me with her doe eyes.
“Let him try.”And I mean it.
I end the conversation by sealing my lips over hers.I need to rid the memories and the best way is to get lost in this woman before we need to leave.
I grab handfuls of her ass, molding her tight cheeks in my palms.In one swift movement I catch her off guard as I lift her up and start carrying her toward the bathroom.Her legs wrap around me like a vice while her pelvis grinds on my cock, making it extremely hard to stay in control.
“Are you still running that bath?”Her play at distraction is cute.
“I need to dirty you up first.”
“Fuck, yes.”
I chuckle at her eagerness, then slip on the demanding asshole mask she secretly loves as I set her on her feet.