Tempting BAD: VIP Spin Off by M. Robinson Read Free Book Online Page A

anything, so maybe it was just me.
    We played for a while and then we ate dinner at the table. Dad said I had to eat all of my broccoli before I was allowed to leave the table. I hated broccoli, but I ate it anyway. I helped mom clean up and dad walked Mark out to his police car. He thanked my mom for dinner and patted me on the head again before he left.
    I was being really careful with the dishes, but one got away from me and hit the floor with a crash.
    “Oh no…” Mom remarked.
    “It’s okay, Mommy, I fix it.”
    “You little shit!”
    I looked up at my dad, who looked angry, and my mom stepped out in front of me.
    “It was an accident, honey. Don’t worry, I’ll clean it up.”
    “You bet your ass you will, and while you’re at it, why don’t you go fix yourself up. Is that what my money is paying for? Huh? For you to dress like a goddamn whore and turn on my partner?”
    “What? No… never… I swear—”
    “Shut the fuck up, you stupid bitch. The house looks like shit, you’re dressed like you should be on the fucking street corner, and dinner wasn’t even ready when I got home. Do you know how embarrassing that is for me? I swear, Jasmine, you do it to provoke me.”
    She shook her head and I hid behind her. I didn’t like hearing him say all those mean words. My mommy looked beautiful; she always looked beautiful and the house was clean. I helped her all day.
    “Devon,” he roared and I wanted to cover my ears because I didn’t like his voice.
    It scared me like in the bad parts of my Disney movies.
    “Devon, I’m not going to ask you again. Come here.”
    My mom looked down at me with a face I didn’t recognize and it scared me more.
    “It’s okay, honey; I can clean it. Devon needs to get ready for his bath. Let me—”
    “Shut the fuck up; I’m talking to my son, and if he knows what’s good for him, he will come to me, NOW!”
    I would not cry… I would not cry… I am a big boy… I repeated to myself as I walked over to him. He grabbed my shoulder and brought me down to my knees. He wasn’t hurting me, but I didn’t like him grasping me like that, either.
    “You will clean this mess up. Your mother has other responsibilities to take care of. Do you understand me?”
    I nodded. “Yes, Daddy, I can do it.”
    “Rick, he’s too small, he’s—”
    “Did I ask for your fucking opinion? He can do it. You’re turning him into a goddamn pussy; that’s what you’re doing, Jasmine. He’s a man, let him act like one.”
    “I can do it, Mommy, I’m a man,” I repeated.
    I started picking up the glass pieces and throwing them away in the garbage. I wanted to make my dad proud, and while I was rushing to finish, I slipped on one of the pieces and fell to the floor, face first into a pile of glass. I didn’t want to cry, but my belly hurt.
    “Devon!” Mom shouted, coming over to me, but my dad was over to her in a flash. I swear, I blinked and his hand was around her neck, pushing her up against the wall.
    My eyes widened, I had never seen him do that before.
    “You stupid fucking cunt. Look at him; he can’t even pick up a mess he makes. Is this what you’re doing to my children, huh? Turning them into pussies, who can’t fend for themselves? Answer ME!” he yelled, shoving into her throat harder.
    “He’s just a small boy, honey. He’s bleeding, please—”
    He started squeezing her neck harder up against the wall and her face started paling. Her eyes were closing and her body was getting sluggish…
     
    “MOM!” I screamed, sitting straight up in bed and gasping for air. I breathed in and out rapidly. I couldn’t catch my breath fast enough and my heart was beating out of my chest.
    “Fuck!” I yelled again.
    I pulled the sheets off my body and quickly got out of bed; I was drenched in sweat. I looked over at the clock—four AM. I wiped at the sweat on my forehead and then my face, trying to calm myself down to no avail. The dreams were getting worse and