Page 72 of King of Kings

It’s in this moment that I break down, sobbing in the shower as Knox washes me off. This one simple act has all of my walls crumbling down.

He drops the loofa and pulls me into his arms, stroking his fingers through my hair.

“It’s going to be okay. I promise,” he says, kissing my forehead.

Chapter 15

Knox

Watching Sophia break down is the hardest thing I’ve ever been through. I want to go find Bradley and put my hands around his neck.

I reluctantly pull away and put some shampoo in my hands, massaging it into her scalp. I’d love nothing more than to show her just how much she means to me right now, but I know this night isn’t about that.

Fifteen minutes later, we’re both out of the shower and dressed. She looks exhausted.

“Come on, let’s get some rest,” I say, pulling the blankets back so she can slip inside.

I pull her close to me, running my fingers through her hair until I hear her soft snores.

I need to get some sleep myself, because I’m sure I’m going to have to face the wrath of my dad tomorrow––the repercussions of what happened today.

I finally feel like I have something to start fighting for.

* * *

A poundingon my bedroom door wakes me up the next morning.

“Knox, I think someone is here,” Sophia says, sitting up in the bed.

“You stay here. I’ll take care of it,” I tell her.

I get up, throw on some clothes and take the stairs two at a time. I know it’s my father.

“Have you lost your fucking mind?” my dad says when I open the door.

I step around him, closing the door, trying to keep Sophia from hearing whatever he’s about to throw at me.

“What now, Dad?” I ask.

“What now? You must be joking?” he yells, following me towards the kitchen.

“Yeah, what did I do now?”

“I don’t know, maybe beat my new partner nearly to death.” He scoffs.

“Do you even care to know what your new partner did to deserve that?” I ask, pulling a coffee mug from the cabinet.

“No. I don’t. It’s none of our fucking business.”

“So you’re okay with the fact that your new partner had his hands on a woman when she told him many times to get his hands off her?” I ask.

“What happens between a husband and wife is none of my business. It’s none of yours either.”

“I’d hardly call what they have a marriage. She left him. She’s been trying to divorce him. He doesn’t take no for an answer,” I point out.

“That’s one side of the story, Knox.”

“Oh, and you have a different side?”