Page 73 of King of Kings

“I do. She was a cheater. A whore. He didn’t allow her to do the things she wanted to do, and she ran off, taking his money with her.”

I look at my dad like he’s grown two heads, because surely, he doesn’t believe any of that shit?

“That’s not the truth, and you know it,” Sophia says, stepping into the kitchen.

“Really, Knox?” my dad says, turning to look at me.

“Bradley Scott is a horrible person. You know that though, because you’d only have people working with you if they were the same as you, right?” Sophia says, crossing her arms over her chest.

“Are you seriously talking to me like this in my own home?” my dad asks, looking shocked.

“Please, this hasn’t been your home in years, and you know it,” I say.

“Are you going to tell Knox what you told me last night?” Sophia asks, and I look at her confused.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. You’re clearly mentally unstable,” my dad says.

“You mean he doesn’t know that you forced my dad to relocate to Chicago because you thought I was a distraction to him?” she says.

I see red. I think of all the years we lost. All the years we could have spent together.

“What the fuck, Dad?” I ask, putting my coffee mug on the counter.

He has the audacity to shrug.

“What? It’s true. She’d been a distraction to you ever since you realized you had a thing for her. It’s not like I could count on your brothers to take over the firm. I had to eliminate the only issue I saw. I needed to make sure you knew what was important in life. I mean, surely you see that women aren’t worth the trouble. Just look at the shit show she brought with her,” he says, gesturing towards Sophia.

“Get the fuck out,” I seethe.

“Are you kidding me? This is my house. Or have you forgotten?”

“I said, get the fuck out!” I yell.

“You’re going to regret this, Knox. You’re in a world of trouble, and I won’t be helping you get out of it,” he says before stalking out of the house and slamming the door.

I watch Sophia fall to the floor.

“Hey, it’s fine. Everything is fine,” I say, rushing over, wrapping my arms around her.

“But it’s not fine. What’s going to happen to you?” she asks, looking at me with tears in her eyes.

“Don’t worry about me. I’m smart enough to figure everything out. My dad underestimates me.”

She nods, and I help her up off the floor.

“Go get dressed, I’m going to make a few phone calls,” I tell her.

I pull my phone from my pocket when she leaves the room. I happen to be good friends with the police chief in town. I need to call and see what kind of charges Bradley is pressing.

“Knox, I’d like to say it’s good to hear from you, but given the circumstances, I know it’s not.

“Preston, what can you tell me?” I ask, not beating around the bush.

“Scott has pressed charges against you. He wants a restraining order. He’s also trying to have his wife committed to a psych ward,” he says, sighing.

I put my fingers to my face, pinching the bridge of my nose.

“Don’t you have any good news?”