Moth to a Flame Read Online Free PDF Page A

We’re having a fish fry for our youngest daughter’s birthday.”
    Mizan nodded, and winked at a blushing Raven, while Benjamin turned to look at his wife like she was insane.
    Justine grabbed her husband’s hand and led him into the house as Raven followed close behind.
    “What were you doing in the inner city?” Benjamin calmly asked his daughter once they were inside. He didn’t have to raise his voice in order to express his anger. Raven could see his temple throbbing, and his red, worried eyes made a streak of guilt run through her.
    “I was just chilling, Daddy ... I knew you wouldn’t have let me go if I had asked you,” Raven said in a baby’s voice. She was a daddy’s girl and hated for him to be upset with her. The look of disappointment he gave her made her want to cry.
    “Then you come in here with that grown-ass nigga. You’re seventeen, Raven. You’re still my baby girl. A nigga like that shouldn’t even know where you rest your head. I taught you better than that!” he said. He had to stop himself from speaking because he was too angry with her to control his emotions. She didn’t understand the magnitude of her irresponsible actions. He had done a lot of dirt over the years. The makings of a boss required a lot of work, and he knew that he was the perfect target for a young nigga looking to come up. Having two daughters and a wife made it that much easier for him to be touched. They were his weakness, especially his beloved Raven. She was his firstborn and he would catch a body if anything ever happened to her. He rubbed his stubby facial hair as he paced back and forth in the foyer. Raven stood before him with tears building in her eyes. He walked over to her and hugged her tightly, kissing the top of her head.
    “I love you, Rae. I need you to understand that I’m just trying to keep you safe. There is no point to us living out here in the suburbs if you insist on going back to the hood every chance you get. I’m trying to save you from a lifestyle you can’t handle. I want better for you than what I am. That li’l nigga you brought here tonight is too familiar. Twenty years ago that was me and you deserve better than that. You deserve the world, Rae. Go and get some sleep. We’ve got a busy day tomorrow. I want you up early to help your mama get ready for the party tomorrow.”
    Raven nodded and ascended the stairs. When she reached the top she turned and said, “Daddy, what’s my punishment?
    Benjamin shook his head and sighed. He knew the day would come when a young nigga would come knocking at his door for his firstborn, but he hoped it would never be a nigga like Mizan. He wanted to lock her away and hide the key. If he could he would keep her away from the world. He had never reprimanded her a day in her life, and although he wanted to, he wasn’t going to today. As he looked up at her in disappointment, he said, “You don’t punish the ones you love, Rae. Remember that. Just don’t let it happen again. Go to bed, princess.”
    Raven gave her father a smile and headed to her room. When she passed her parentsbedroom, she noticed that her mother’s light was still on.
    “Hey, Mommy,” she said as she peeked inside the room.
    “You like that boy, huh?” Justine asked as she patted the empty spot beside her. Raven sat down on the bed. Her infectious smile revealed her true feelings about Mizan. “He’s cute, her mother said. “How old did you tell him you were?”
    Raven didn’t respond and her mother continued, “Raven, he’s not one of these little boys you got chasing behind you at your high school. He looks like he’s at least three years older than you. I know what it’s like to be your age and have all the older guys checking for you. It feels good to have the attention, but this boy has got a lot more game than you do, Rae. I’m not going to try to tell you who you can and cannot see. In a few months you will be eighteen, so I’ll leave the decision up to