All For Me

Chapter 1

“Girl, I can’t believe I even got caught up in this mess.

The last thing I wanted to deal with was someone else’s child.

I have enough mouths to feed in this mothafucka.

Then I thought Jazz would come get her ass, but she’s been ducking and dodging my calls.

If it wasn’t for this check from the government, I would have dropped her ass off to the nearest shelter.

” Aunt Trina fussed on the phone as she moved around the kitchen.

My heart sank to my feet, but there was nothing I could do about the position I was in. At the end of the day, I had to stay here or be placed in foster care. I heard enough horror stories to know her house was the better option. Or at least that was what I believed.

“I always knew Keynauri’s ass would end up being a menace to society just like his no-good daddy.

If you ask me, they should have given him a life sentence.

If Tone can’t be around to enjoy his life, neither should Keynauri.

” She continued to talk about my brother and me as I sat in the living room.

There were no extra beds for me, so I had to sleep on the couch.

She had a spare room, but she claimed that she wasn’t going through all the trouble of cleaning it out for someone like me.

The cushions were sunken in, and the couch smelled like stale cigarettes, but beggars couldn’t be choosers.

It had been six months since my life was turned upside down. One moment, I was excited about being on the cheerleading squad, and the next, I was watching my brother be carted away to prison while my mother’s perverted husband was tossed into the back of a coroner’s van.

Everything happened so fast, and I still couldn’t shake the details from my head. In fact, I obsessed over them every single night, trying to figure out what I could have done differently.

I was sitting at my vanity, talking to my friends about what we were gonna wear to school. We always dressed up for spirit week. I only participated in the days I liked, but I wanted to make sure we were all on the same page.

“I don’t know. Delante wants to dress up as The Incredibles for Superhero Day, but I think that shit is stupid. I wanted to be Catwoman or Storm.” Annika huffed.

“Yeah, I already have an outfit to wear for most of the week. I just have to have my sister help me with my hair. I was thinking we could all dress up as WNBA players for Sports Day. My sister has a bunch of old hoop shorts and jerseys we can use.” Chantel offered.

“I like that idea. I have the perfect outfit for Nerd Day.” I squealed with excitement.

My brother had taken me shopping, and I was so excited to show off my new clothes.

We used to dress nicely when my daddy was still alive because he made a lot of money on the streets.

After he was killed, my momma moved us to Liberty Heights, and everything changed.

We went from designer clothes to hand-me-downs and thrift store finds.

I tried my best to make them look fashionable, but it wasn’t what we were accustomed to.

I heard a knock on the door and took a deep breath before saying goodbye to my friends. My brother was spending the night with his best friend, Naiari, and I wished I had gone with him. I went over Chantel’s house the night before, and her momma dropped me off at home on her way to work.

I hated being home when my brother wasn’t around.

My mother was always fussing, and my stepfather had recently started giving me the creeps.

He hadn’t done anything, but his energy was off.

I would catch him staring at me when he thought I wasn’t paying attention, and he had walked in on me while I was in the bathroom a few times.

The first time, I chalked it up to an accident, but after the third time, I started locking the door when it was time for me to take a shower.

They had their own bathroom on the other side of the house, so it made no sense for him to be near my bathroom at all.

Reluctantly, I got up to see who was at the door. When my eyes landed on Tone, I stood there awkwardly. I was dressed in a Razorback tee and some shorts, but for some reason, I felt underdressed in his presence.

“Hey, did you need something?” I asked as an uncomfortable silence loomed over us.

The scent of Newport 100s and Bud Light stung my nostrils, and I could tell by his red eyes that he had been drinking heavily.

Tone worked at a factory, but when he came home, he was always accompanied by a six-pack of beer and a box of his favorite cigarettes.

I guess it was his way of unwinding after a long day.

“Where is ya momma?” he asked, voice slurred.

“S-She went to the store. She said she needed to grab a few things to cook for dinner.” I don’t know why I was so nervous, but something seemed off with him.

“Oh, yeah? She been gone long?” he asked with a lustful glint in his eyes.

“Umm, maybe twenty minutes or so. I can’t really remember.”

“Where is your brother? Did he ever come home?”

His question caught me off guard. Tone couldn’t stand my brother, Keynauri, so it made no sense for him to even be asking about him. The two of them were always getting into it, and Tone made his ill feelings toward my brother known.

“He spent the night with his friends, but he should be coming home soon. We have plans to go to the movies.” It was a lie, but something in my gut told me to make it seem like Keynauri would be home soon.

“Hmm. So you’re here all alone, huh?” His beady eyes swept over my frame, but there was nothing fatherly about it. Before I could respond, he pushed himself into my room. I jumped back with my arms folded across my breasts while my heart beat wildly in my chest.

“You know, I work really hard to take care of this family, and I don’t ask for much. A simple meal when I come home, some peace and quiet, and my dick drained. It’s all a man really needs in life, but for some reason, I can’t seem to get the bare minimum,” he complained.

We were rarely alone and certainly never spoke one-on-one unless he was telling me to clean up or bring him something. I wasn’t exactly sure what he wanted me to say. Instead of responding, I stood there and waited for him to finish. My prayer was that my momma would walk in the door at any minute.

“Your momma has been snorting that powder more than usual, and she’s been neglecting her duties around the house.

As a man, I can’t keep taking care of this household without getting what I need in return,” Tone vented, stepping deeper into my personal space.

“You’re getting older, and it’s about time you start pulling your own weight around here. ”

“Umm, I help Momma cook all the time. I’ve been watching cooking videos too. I can start cooking dinner by myself.” I volunteered. Little did he know that my mother rarely cooked the meals he ate for dinner. She would force me to do it and then take the credit.

“Naw, your momma has it handled in the kitchen, but there’s something else you could help with.” The devilish smirk on his face sent shivers down my spine. Before I could react, Tone lunged at me, pushing me back onto the bed. I tried to lift back up, but he slapped me across the face.

“Listen here, you little bitch. I am not about to fight with you. Either you’re gonna cooperate, or you, your momma, and that worthless ass brother of yours will be out on the streets by nightfall.

I pay the bills in this bitch, and the rest of you mothafuckas are gonna fall in line. ” Tone hissed through gritted teeth.

Tears ran down the sides of my face and into my ears as I lay there helpless. I thought about fighting back, but there was no point. No one was home to hear me or help. Instead, I decided to just get it over with.

Tone eagerly unzipped his pants before removing his thing. There was a foul odor emanating from his skin, and it made my stomach twist. I closed my eyes tightly, hoping he would be done quickly.

“Mmm, I’ve been thinking about this sweet little pussy for a long time now, and I finally get to have a taste.

” Tone grunted as his body hovered over mine.

His prickly beard scratched my face as he attempted to kiss me.

I turned my head in disgust, but he forcefully gripped my face and turned it back to him.

“What did I say? You’d better act like you’ve got some sense, or things are gonna get really ugly around here.

” When he kissed me, I wanted to throw up.

His lips were dry and cracked, and I could tell he hadn’t brushed his teeth in days.

I whimpered, praying someone would come home and rescue me, even though I knew the likelihood of it was slim to none.

God must have heard my prayers because my mother barged into my room, fussing about the dishes not being done.

“What the hell is going on?” she yelled, looking between the two of us. I thought Tone would start panicking and trying to explain himself, but instead, he lifted off me and said something that left me stunned.

“You see I’m busy, don’t you? I told you that if you weren’t gonna satisfy me the way I needed, someone else would.

You and your bastards have been living a good life off my dime, and it’s time for me to recoup something back for all of my sacrifices.

Now get your ass in the kitchen and go cook my dinner.

After I bust this nut, I’m gonna need something on my stomach,” he spat heatedly.

I expected my mother to go off on him and tell him to get the hell out, but those words never left her mouth. Instead, she glared at me jealously and then pouted with her arms folded.

“Can you at least turn on some music or something? I don’t want to hear what you’re doing,” she requested before she left the room. I couldn’t even form the words to express how hurt and betrayed I felt.