Page 52 of Brutal King

We finally arrived and I could feel the hairs at the back of my neck stiffen. It didn’t matter how much I told my body to keep calm; my fists clenched, and my jaw tightened at the prospect of seeing him again.

“There’s Trent,” Kat said, pointing to the front door. “Please, refrain from playing the antagonist in this scenario.”

“I will, but man. He sure does look a mess.”

“You’re right. He’s frantic,” she said as she hopped out of the car. “Trent,” she called out as she ran to him. “Is everything alright?”

I got out of the car and carefully made my way to them. “What’s up?”

“See for yourself.” He pushed open the door and gestured that we enter.

“Oh, my God,” Kat cried. “Oh, no.” She covered her mouth with her hands, her eyes filled with disbelief. “What happened?”

“I think someone doesn’t want us to open on time,” Trent said. “So, they trashed the place.”

Trashed hardly described the destruction. Most of the chairs were busted as were the tables. Broken plates and crushed glass covered the floor, and the door leading to the kitchen hung on one hinge.

Kat walked in, looking at the devastation as broken glass crunched under her feet. “Why? Who? Who would do this? My God, they even busted up our new pots. Those things cost a fortune.”

Her eyes filled with tears as she glanced at me then returned her gaze to the mess. “What do we do now?” she cried. “Do we call the police? Do you have any idea who could have done this?” She gasped suddenly. “Oh! Could it be the other team of students? Did they sabotage us so that they could win?”

“I don’t think so,” Trent said.

“Then who?Why?”

He pressed his lips tightly together, shot me a dirty glare then looked tenderly at Kat. “It pains me to say this,” he said as he took her hands in his. “Mr. Lee prides himself on being present to help get the next generation of top chefs ready for a bright career. He very much hoped to forge a positive partnership with the Academy. He hoped to show his goodwill and his willingness to work with... him. But apparently, Mr. Lee’s goodwill wasn’t enough.”

“Trent,” Kat said. “What are you saying?”

“Despite Mr. Lee’s goodwill, that cowardly and talentless bastard had to come out here and destroy this place.”

Confused, Kat looked at me then back at Trent. “You’re talking in riddles. Please, what are you talking about? Who? Who wants to destroy this place? Who is this talentless bastard that you accusing?”

Trent glared at me again and told Kat, “Why don’t you ask him?”

“Me?” I said. I had no idea what he was talking about. “What the hell do I know?”

“You are the son of Errol King, aren’t you?”

I nodded, suddenly getting a sense of where he was going. “Are you trying to say that my father had something to do with this? You have one hell of a nerve. Shit, man. You’re nuts.”

“Calm down, Kobe,” Kat said.

“Yeah, Kobe,” Trent echoed. “Calm down.”

“There’s no way my father is involved with this. No way. Why the hell would he? Errol King is a successful chef and restauranteur. This is bullshit. What possible reason could he have for doing this?”

“He’s right, Trent,” Kat said before Trent could answer. “I have no doubt Mr. King has better things to do than to fuss with this little place.”

“You’d think that, wouldn’t you,” Trent said as he led the way to his office. “But take a look at that.”

He pushed open the door to his office. Spray painted in large royal blue letters was the work KING.

Kat stared at the word for a long, long moment before finally turning her disgusted face to me. The disbelief and pain was clear on her face, just as clear as the accusation.

No, I wanted to say. Don’t believe it for a minute. Don’t.

Chapter 15

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