Craving Temptation by Deborah Fletcher Mello Read Free Book Online

bad behavior embarrass this family.”
    â€œShut up, Basil,” Amina snapped back. “Shut up and mind your own business and not mine. You are not the boss of me!”
    If looks could kill, Amina imagined she would have been standing dead in her low-heeled pumps from the look her brother was giving her. Hostility rained from his pale eyes and in that brief moment Amina couldn’t imagine them ever having a healthy relationship. Tears suddenly burned hot behind her eyelashes.
    Basil muttered something under his breath and Amina knew the words were nothing but ugly. He pointed a finger toward her, shaking it vehemently as he suddenly moved too quickly in her direction. Rasheeda jumped to her feet, moving between the two of them, her hands raised as if in surrender.
    She shook her head. “Stop, Basil! Father would not like this!” Rasheeda exclaimed. Her voice was a loud whisper as she repeated herself, urging him to calm down.
    Basil looked from Rasheeda to Amina, his eyes skating back and forth from one to the other. “School your sister,” he finally spat. “She better learn her place and she better learn it quick.”
    Amina bristled. “If there’s something you think I need to learn, Big Brother, then educate me yourself. Rasheeda doesn’t need to run interference between us.”
    He stepped toward her a second time, Rasheeda pushing against him with both palms.
    â€œYou can act like a fool if you want, Basil, but you don’t scare me,” Amina said, both hands falling to her lean hips in defiance.
    Still glaring, Basil hesitated for a brief moment before finally taking a step back. He shook his head from side to side. Turning back toward the door, he paused in the entranceway. “You need to be scared,” he said emphatically.
    Amina’s two hands clenched into tight fists, her gaze narrowed. “You should be, too, Big Brother. You should be, too!”
    The door slammed harshly behind their brother. His footsteps vibrated across the hardwood floors toward the front door. When Amina heard it slam as well she let go of the breath she’d been holding. She dropped down onto the leather sofa, her body shaking from the adrenaline.
    Rasheeda was still standing, her head waving. “You should not taunt him, Amina,” she said, turning to face her sister.
    â€œHe shouldn’t be such a bully,” Amina responded. She shifted forward in her seat. “Why do you let him treat you like that, Rasheeda?”
    â€œHe’s really not so bad.”
    â€œYes, he is. He has no right to talk to either of us that way. I’m going to speak to Father about him.”
    â€œPlease, leave it alone, Amina. You don’t understand him and you really have no right to come into our lives now and cause trouble.”
    â€œI wasn’t trying to cause trouble, Rasheeda.”
    Rasheeda shrugged. “Just do what you’re asked, please. Work on Father’s campaign and let Basil be the man Father wants him to be. Had Mother raised you properly we wouldn’t be having any of these problems.”
    Amina bristled. “Don’t you dare talk about her like that! Those are Father’s words and he has no right to bash her. Our mother raised me well and she’s been proud of all of my accomplishments. Had you made any effort to have a relationship with her you’d know that.”
    The two women stood staring at each other, a wave of emotion billowing between them. Eventually Rasheeda turned and headed toward the door. “It’s time for our evening prayers,” she said, tossing a quick glance over her shoulder. “You do still pray?”
    Amina’s head waved ever so slightly. “Don’t be a bitch, Rasheeda,” she said softly. “I really don’t need that from you.”
    Without saying another word Rasheeda turned and made her exit. Minutes passed before Amina made any effort to move. Her tears had