Chapter 21 #3
My cousin was eager to say some fly shit until Mona exhaled sharply.
When the bastard plopped on my bed, causing me to bounce, Mona said, “You stumbled in the room, mumbling to yourself. I hadn’t seen your face when I told you to stop moving so you could have a cold bath.
You didn’t respond to me, just mumbled and grumbled.
When I saw you, angry eyes narrowed, you spat, ‘I was nothin’ but a dick suckin’ gobblin’ an’ needed to learn my place.
’ I knew I needed to leave you. You had your gun on you, and I was nowhere near mine.
I talked calmly to settle you down, but that only riled you up.
I stopped talking, just kept my eyes on you.
I was all types of useless bitches, hoes, and good-for-nothing jackguh.
You expressed deeply that you understood why Momma whooped the skin off my ass because I don’t know how to stay in my place.
That’s when I knew it was time to get away from a drunk man fucking with a wound that was closing.
I tried to walk around you; you upped the pistol and told me to sit.
You just didn’t up it, August; you put it to my head.
We always have one in the head. I sat and looked at you.
You spat in my face and told me that I could’ve gotten us killed, and you would make sure I never open my mouth to X again.
You put your gun up, kneeled in front of me, and read the way I was reading before I started reading better.
Hurt got the best of me, so I punched you in the face, kicked you out of my presence, and eyed your gun.
I couldn’t shoot you. So, I kicked you in the nuts to keep you down long enough for me to get to the door.
I made it to the door, August, but my forehead kissed the fuck out of it.
You slammed my head into the door, wrapped your hands around my neck and choked me.
I didn’t know who to protect myself or the twins.
Not knowing who to protect the most caused my eyelids to descend as you dragged me to the balcony door.
When consciousness found me, you were leaning on the balcony door with your foot on my stomach.
You applied pressure and told me that you could end their lives.
I was stark still and scared for them and me.
I barely blinked as tears slid down my face.
I couldn’t say anything to you. You were an erupting volcano that I set off.
While pressing your boot on my stomach, I felt it more intensely than before.
You started mumbling and grumbling. You started softening and removed your foot.
You looked at me briefly before walking away.
I didn’t move. I watched you pick up your gun and plop on the sofa.
Two hours and thirty minutes went by as I lay on that cement, watching you, afraid of you.
Scared to holler for King to come get you.
One shot was all it would’ve taken for me to no longer breathe.
I had to pee. I wanted to piss on myself, just not to pass you.
But I didn’t. I kept my eyes down when I got up.
My back was on fire, which led me to believe that skin was missing.
My neck burned too. I concluded you dug your nails into my neck.
When I neared you, I didn’t recognize you …
you were there but not really. Distant. Mumbling.
Fingers twitching. When I got in the bathroom, I was relieved that you didn’t say or do anything to me, that relief went away when I lifted the toilet seat.
The water was turned on. I didn’t have time to face you.
You grabbed my hair and snatched me to you.
Still mumbling the same thing, but with more words added.
‘I love my son more than I’ll ever love you.
’ You slammed my back against the tub and shoved my head under the fast-running water.
You squeezed my jaw, ensuring water went into my mouth and nose.
You counted to three and flipped my head to the left.
You kept shoving me under the waterspout and turning my head to the left.
After the sixth time of doing that, you choked me out.
I woke up against the tub. You were snoring lightly.
I wrapped myself up in a towel and ran out of the room.
I knocked on King and Min’s door. Min shouted for whoever to leave, and if they didn’t, she would be an angry motherfucka.
I told her it was urgent, but she said she didn’t care because she was sleepy.
She would talk to me later. I went to Kingsley and Ryan’s room.
Both were having fun and told me they couldn’t talk.
They’ll get with me later. I told them it was urgent.
Kingsley nastily said she didn’t give a fuck.
So, I left. I went to Momma Thea’s room.
I didn’t knock, just stood at the door. A lot of minutes passed.
Momma Thea stepped up to me with an ice bucket.
In a low, hysterical voice, asked what happened.
I told her as much as I could. King’s voice from the elevator had her pushing me toward her door and telling me that if King saw me …
he would kill you. I shook my head about going into her room because I heard Momma Orthella talking to Azaria.
So, I ran as fast as I could toward the stairwell.
I knew I needed to leave Kentucky with Azaria, but I didn’t have my wallet nor was I wearing clothes.
So, I went back to the room. Before I could make it across the threshold, you stepped out of the bathroom, looking like you had just thrown up.
You extended your hand to me, and I shook my head.
You got angry and launched at me. I popped your ass six times in the face.
You dropped and punched the fuck out of my right knee continuously.
You got the best of me again. When I woke up, I was in bed with you, and a gun was pointed at my head.
I had to endure everything that came out of your mouth.
Especially, I love my son mo’ than I’ll ever love you.
I looked at your scary, distant eyes and asked you, ‘What about Azaria?’ You looked at me as if I was stupid and said, ‘bitch who is that?’ I replied, ‘Our daughter. You said ‘Hoe, I only got one kid. August Junior.’ That’s when I knew to shut the fuck up for the rest of the day and plot my escape from you.
For life. You fell asleep with your arms around me, tight.
When you got up, shame cradled you. You apologized for talking to me roughly, but not for the assault.
It was as if you didn’t know it happened.
I left that hotel room knowing that not one person who claimed they loved me came to my aid, but one person.
I couldn’t seek refuge because our daughter was in her care.
Wide awake. I left Louisville, Kentucky, knowing that I was surrounded by motherfuckas who will never answer a door for me because I’m not you, King, or Kingdon.
I rode back to Alabama with only one person knowing I was battered and tortured for hours.
I was well-aware the others were pissed at me for questioning X; that’s why conversations were nonexistent.
Not a grown-up soul, besides Momma Thea, saw the purple marks on my neck.
How could they? They had to actually be in my face to see it.
I left the state of Kentucky knowing I was on my own, even when it came down to my kin, and she would forever kiss my ass …
just like the rest of the Abbotts, minus the kids and Kingdon.
If Kingdon were there, I bet he would’ve opened his and Aleana’s room door for me.
So, August Senior, heal from that because I’m on the right path of doing so. Do you have any questions for me?”
“My god,” Momma held out, moving my head from her lap.
“Jesus, Min,” King said sadly, producing his phone.
“I’m sorry, Mona,” I cried, hating the fucking demon that was buried deep in me.
“Do you have any more questions for me?” she asked dryly.
“How’s the pregnancy?” I choked up.
“It’s clear you didn’t hear me when I said full custody of the two we made. Twin B doesn’t exist anymore.” She exhaled sharply as King dropped his head and wiped his face.
“Any more questions?” Mona asked.
“Will you ever forgive me?”
“I didn’t kill you. Meaning, I’ve already forgiven you. But I know to keep a lot of distance between us. You are deadly and don’t know it, Enforcer.” She giggled sarcastically as my head swam.
“We have to co-parent, Mona. When I’m extremely mentally healthy, can we go to counselin’ fo’ however long you see fit?” I cried, aching from what I did and said to her.
“As long as we are going to counseling to co-exist in our kids’ lives, yes. Anything other than that, fuck no. You’ve destroyed a building that was to become the mightiest building as a man and wife. Do you have any more questions?” she asked as the TV in her background was loud as hell.
“No,” I sobbed, needing everybody out of my house, including Momma.
“Good. Call our daughter or don’t. The more you shun her out of your life, the more I’m not going to give a fuck and resume the roughest jackguh. Meaning, I’m still over your life insurance policy, bitch,” she hissed before ending the call, leaving me in tears.
“King, it sound like I was stuck on the past but knew who was befo’ me. An’ I still hurt her … them,” I cried, looking at my shaking cousin staring at his phone.