Dom's Ascension (Mariani Crime Family Book 0) by Amanda Washington

Author:Amanda Washington [Washington, Amanda]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Published: 2016-07-15T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Annetta

THE TELEVISION WAS blaring. I could hear it from the front porch before I even opened the door. Dominico kissed me good-bye and I let myself into the house, closing the door on my incredible dream date and running smack dab into reality. And it smelled like vomit.

Papa was passed out in the recliner, work clothes and shoes still on. An almost-empty fifth of bourbon sat on the coffee table next to him, and a glass balanced on his thigh. Pressed against his chest was a framed photograph of my mother in her wedding gown, and a mixing bowl of vomit lay at his feet. At least this time he’d remembered to grab a container.

Oh, Papa.

Tears stung my eyes as I remembered what day it was—four days prior to the fourth anniversary of Mom’s death. Papa’s drinking had steadily been increasing since Mom passed, but every year around this time he indulged in about a week-long drinking binge. No matter how much I yelled and complained, it was like he couldn’t force himself to stay sober. I kept expecting the anniversary to get easier on him, but each year seemed to get worse.

After checking to make sure he was still breathing, I took the glass and the photo and set them both on the coffee table, dumped and rinsed the bowl at his feet, and tried to rouse him.

“Papa, come on, let’s get you to bed,” I said, swatting his thigh.

He didn’t even stir, which told me how messed up he was. Even though I knew it wouldn’t deter him, I put the lid on the last of the bourbon and put it in the kitchen cabinet. At least he’d have to sober up enough to stumble in and find it if he wanted more.

Since I couldn’t get him to bed, I grabbed one of his blankets and spread it over him, removing his glasses and kissing his forehead. This time of year I always felt more like the parent than the child. Still, there was something so beautifully heartbreaking about the way he still loved and missed my mom that I could never stay angry at him for too long. I wanted a love like that someday…hopefully without the tragedy, though.

With Papa taken care of, I locked up, grabbed the cordless phone, and headed to my bedroom. I’d just had the most incredible night of my life and knew Adona would want all the juicy details.

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