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“Why did he take her onyou guy’sfirst date?”
“She found him more attractive.”
“Fortunately, Momma had a habit of writing verbatim the sweet shit and the fucked-up shit. Case in point, during a time you demeaned her, you said, ‘I told Charles to take you to dinner. He just got his heart broken, and I heard around town you wouldn’t fu—’”
“Luxury!”
“Fast forward years later, when you found out that they wereinlove, Dad, you tried to murder Uncle Red!”
“If you call that motherfucker your uncle one more time!” My father jumps to his feet, grimacing as his hand zips toward his side.
“Hmmm, you’re in pain. Uncle Red tried to kill you. The cold part about it is you tried toburnhim alive.”
“Yeah, I torched Everhart's lab. I would do it again. He should’ve died!”
Victor is in the room in seconds. His presence makes Jonah take a shaky, psychotic laugh. “What are you going to do? Lie to my child? Turn her into your little whore—”
My hands form fists at my sides. “Isn't that what you called my mom? After years of cheating on your part. You had theaudacity?”
39
Luxury
Dad lunges toward me.
Victor towers over my father, raising his chin. Without a word, Victor’s intimidating height speaks volumes. While my father’s eclipsed in a shadow of deceit, my man emanates light and the protective capacity that any woman would dream of.
Jonah places his hands up in frustration. “Luxury, you missed so many spankings as a child because of your mother. Now, listen here, you stupid girl. This book of yours is a lie.” He picks it up from the table and tosses it at my feet.
Although my stomach lurches at the thought of how vile and conniving he is, I shake my head. “It's not.”
“Where'd you get it then, huh?” Dad growls in frustration. “I gave you all your mother’s things.”
“You’re a genius. You know where I got it,Jonah.”
“Luxury, Charles is just as smart as I am.”
“I don’t think you believe that. Dumb as I am.” A tiny chuckle escapes my mouth. “I think that you believe yourself superior to everyone. Momma had an extensive list of the names you called her. Stupid, idiot, imbecile. You said you’denhance her vocabularyby referring to her with a newnicknameevery day.”
“I-I have no idea what you’re referring to. This is all a game to Charles. He never slept with your mom. Baby, it’s all a lie.” Dad tries to touch my shoulder, but I step back with Victor at my side.
Shut up, Luxxie, your dad has a grave to dig. Let him dig.
“Tell meyourside then.” My voice is tiny, poignant, complacent.
A reluctant hand pats the side of his Afro. “Charles wrote all those words. He forged that diary, Luxury. He . . . he had an unhealthy crush on Gina. She told me that he would always stare at her. Then Gina's molestation ate at me for a year. Fucking ate me alive that my beautiful wife was so afraid. That’s why she had that irrational fear—wouldn’t let you out of her sight.” Jonah laces together a supporting argument. “You remember that? Don’t you, Luxxie?”
Luxxie.
The nickname I call myself while striving for more gumption.
The nickname Uncle Redgaveme when he took me back outside to teach me to ride a bike, having the patience Dad lacked.
The nickname mymanipulative assfather uses sparingly—such as the day I found out he told Victor to leave me alone.
Working the lump in my throat, I nod.
Give this motherfucker ammunition to continue.
