Page 67 of Brutal King

Trent shrugged. “Collateral damage. His insurance will pay for everything anyways. What difference does it make? By pinning the crime on the Kings, your reputation will be tarnished, and the rivalry with the Lees will continue.”

Mr. King took another step closer. “A man with half a brain and any sense of decency would have come straight to me.”

Trent snickered in return. “Yeah, but fanning the flames of this idiotic feud between you two added to the fun.”

“Take him away,” my father told the police officers.

They each grabbed an elbow and turned to escort him out.

“Oh,” Trent called over his shoulder. “And dear, lovely Katrina...”

The police allowed him to turn around to address me.

“You were the cherry on top, dear,” he said. “Here I was thinking I have a lovely little toy to play with... but to learn that you’re his daughter.” He pointed to my father. “Yeah... that sure was the cherry...maybe get you knocked up with my kid. Yeah, what’s the ultimate revenge in the culinary world but...”

He smirked and I wanted to throw up.

“And to think that I almost got that cherry...” He glared at Kobe, then back at me as he licked his lips. “This close. I came this close.”

My breaths came in short, hard burst and I thought my heart was going to pound its way out of my chest. I felt like such a fool.

Trent looked at my father. “Quite a girl you have there. Soft skin, warm thighs...”

“You bastard!” I shouted as I rushed to him, my outstretched hand aching to land on his arrogant cheek.

“He’s not worth it,” Kobe said as he held me back.

But no one held my father back. He marched up to Trent and slapped him.“You damage my restaurant? Okay. You fuel the feud? Okay. But you talk of my daughter...? No!”

“I want him charged with assault,” Trent spit out as the police turned him back to the door.

“That’s enough,” one of the officers said as he opened the door.

“I would have had that cherry,” Trent called over his shoulder. “If it hadn’t been for loverboy over there who can’t mind his own fucking business.”

“I could charge you, Trent, with sexual harassment. You came unto me, as my supervisor, for my school project. I have evidence to prove it too,” I finally said.

“Like father like son,” Kobe said. “I’d suggest you keep your mouth shut or we will dig deeper. Maybe your father put you up to this?”

Trent’s mouth dropped and shook his head.

The officers shoved him out and escorted him to their patrol car.

My body went numb. I was numb with shame, with embarrassment and with more shame. I could still feel the heat of his hands on my skin and the taste of his kiss on my lips.

Damn. I desperately wanted a shower to wash it all away.

I turned away, unable to face my father.

“You okay?” Kobe said, setting his comforting hand on my shoulder.

I nodded, shook my head then nodded again. I didn’t know how I felt.

“Kat?” He turned me to face him.

“I feel so stupid... so damned stupid.” I wanted to gag. “I fell for him. He’s precisely the type of man my father warmed me about, and I fell for him.”

“Don’t be too hard on yourself,” Kobe said. “The guy was really laying it thick... I don’t know many girls who could have resisted.”

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