Page 7 of Gin & Jewels
My parents were dead.
Since Keith was nineteen, the courts gave him guardianship rights over me. The judge figured it was for the best since I’d lived in Vegas my entire life and because I wasn’t close with our family that lived out of state. They also assumed that the life insurance money would provide for us both. They assumed wrong because my brother was selfish.
It provided for him. And only him.
Our house was paid for with the life insurance money, and the rest of Keith’s half went to whatever Keith wanted to spend it on: strippers, hookers, drugs. We had to wait until I was eighteen to get the remaining money. In the meantime, I was left to fend for myself.
Since I didn’t want to turn out like him, and I needed to survive, I got a job at a sandwich shop after school and on weekends. It was enough to feed me and keep the lights on in the house and put food on the table for us. I didn’t have to worry about gas money or car insurance because I never got my license. How could I? A car had killed my parents, and the thought of getting behind the wheel again made me sick—literally sick and puking. So, I took the bus everywhere, even to school. Thankfully, I was graduating in a few weeks, and I’d already planned on starting classes online for hospitality management in the fall. Plus, once I turned eighteen, I’d finally get my cut of the life insurance money.
There was a knock on my bedroom door. “What?” I called out, looking up from my laptop as I sat in the middle of my bed.
The door opened, and Keith stood in the doorway. “We need to talk.”
“Talk about what?”
“Money.”
I rolled my blue eyes. “I don’t have any.”
He crossed his arms over his lean chest. “But you will.”
I glared at him. “You’re not taking my part of the life insurance money.”
“Yes, I am.”
“No, you’re not.”
“Yes, I am. I’ve let you live here for two years and provided for you—”
“Provided for me?” I got off my bed in a huff.
“Yes, I—”
“You’re fucking delusional, Keith. You’ve never paid for anything in this house.”
“I have, and it’s time you paid me back.”
“Pay you back? You’ve never given me a dime.”
“You eat the pizza I order and the Chinese food that’s delivered, right?”
I snorted. “Sometimes, but I’m usually at work or at school.”
“And it’s time you paid me back.”
“Fine. I’ll give you like a thousand bucks.” That was more than enough. I paid every single electricity bill, cable bill, water bill, and I did all the grocery shopping while he was out doing God knows what.
Keith chuckled. “You’re cute, but I’m taking it all.”
“Bullshit!” I pushed him, but he barely budged. “It’s my money. I have college to pay for.”
“Look, Little Dove,” he said, using the nickname my parents gave me. Dad had always said I was the pure heart of our family. “I’m on your bank account, and once the money is deposited on your birthday, I will take it. There’s no stopping me, and it’s better if you don’t fight me on this.”
“I need that money,” I cried.
“And that’s why you work.” He turned to leave and then called over his shoulder, “Don’t forget to get Hot Cheetos when you go to the store.”
I slammed my door and groaned loudly. How was I going to stop him from taking my money?
