More Than A Game (The Kings of Kroydon Hills Book 2) by Bella Matthews (the best electronic book reader .TXT) 📗

He nips my ear. “Nope. Not happening. Come on. Time to deal with the evil queen.”

I feel the frustration bubbling up. I know he’s right, but I’m dreading this.

As we pull into the driveway of my parent’s home, my phone vibrates with an incoming text.

Penny: Sorry, Sabrina.

Sabrina: What’s up, Pen?

Penny:  . . .

Sabrina: What are you sorry for?

I see the little dots on the message stop and start multiple times.

Sabrina: What’s going on, Pen?

Penny:  . . .

Murphy turns off the car and pockets the keys. “What’s going on? Everything okay?”

“I don’t know. I just got a strange text from my sister.” I hand him the phone.

“Well, we’re here. Let’s go find out what she’s sorry for. No turning back now.”

Moments later, when we’re standing in the empty foyer of the home I grew up in, I’m completely confused. “Hello?” I call it out again before turning to Murphy. “I don’t think anyone’s home.”

“I think I smell dinner. Don’t you smell that? Why would your mom cook dinner then leave?”

A sardonic laugh leaves my throat. “She doesn’t cook, Aiden. That smell is takeout.”

My father’s office door opens, alerting us to his presence. He walks to me, kissing the crown of my head. “Sabrina, sweetheart. I’m sorry to keep you waiting. I was just finishing up an important phone call.”

He reaches out and shakes Aiden’s hand. “Good to see you, Aiden. I’m glad the two of you were able to join me tonight. We were so sorry to hear about your teammate’s passing. What a tragedy.” Dad steps back and looks around the empty room. “Why don’t you both follow me into my office. There’s no use in wasting time.”

My feet stay firmly planted on the tile floor. “Dad, where are Mom and Penny? I thought we were all having dinner tonight.”

My father’s eyes zone in on Aiden’s hand resting on the small of my back, then move back to my eyes. He has a predatory smile on his face that I’ve seen before. It’s usually there when he’s strategizing.

What is he thinking?

“We have a lot to discuss, Sabrina, and I’d rather we did it sitting down and preferably with two fingers of scotch.” He walks away, looking every bit the seasoned power player, used to getting exactly what he wants.

I turn to Murphy. “This can’t be good.”

“I’m following your lead.” He places both hands on my shoulders and turns me around. “I’ve got your back. Just say the word, and we leave. But remember, there was a reason we came tonight. Let’s hear him out first.”

On shaky feet, I walk across the shining marble floor, following my father through the heavy door of his office.

He’s not sitting behind his desk, instead choosing the armchair situated at the head of a conversation area that he uses when he needs to prepare for war.

The irony isn’t lost on me at the moment.

Murphy and I sit on the couch to his right. I lace my fingers through his, hoping to borrow some of his strength. “Alright, Dad. We’re here. Now tell us what’s going on. Where are Mom and Penny? How are we supposed to discuss what happened last weekend without Mom being here?”

“Sabrina, you’re right. We do need to discuss what happened at the fundraiser, but I want to hear what’s going on with you first.” Then his eyes move to Murphy. “And you too, Aiden. I owe you an apology. I am sorry for what was said.” Dad’s eyes come back to mine. “Believe it or not, your mother’s heart was in the right place.”

I hear his words but refuse to accept them. “Dad, I swear, some days I wonder if she has a heart. She should be saying this. Not you.”

“Sabrina, your mother has as much right to speak for this family as I have to speak for her. You’ll learn that to have any kind of a successful relationship, the partnership between you and that person has to command a certain level of trust. I trust your mother to always have the good of our family as her first priority.”

“How can you say that?” He can’t be serious. “I saw her slipping away with Senator DeFelice. How can you trust her when her actions can destroy our family?”

“Do you actually think I don’t know what’s going on? Or that your mother would risk the political dynasty that this family has been building for over a century? A dynasty you stand to inherit? We have an agreement. She is allowed her dalliances, and I am allowed mine. NDA’s are there to keep us safe.” My father pulls a cigar out of his pocket and spins it in his fingers. “You threatened that safety last weekend, my dear. Now, stop acting like a child and listen to me.”

I can’t believe what I’m hearing.

I can’t believe that my father is fine with this. I stand and cross my arms, allowing me to look down on my father. “This is absurd, Dad.”

“Sabrina, you’ve been groomed your entire life to put our family first. Not just our family, but our family name. You can’t possibly think our family has gotten where it is or will get where we are going by not protecting our image? Your mother thought she was doing that. She was attempting to protect both you and me.” He raises his brow, looking from me to the couch. I find he’s trained me so well, that I obey his nonverbal instruction. Once I’m seated, he offers a cigar to Aiden, who silently refuses. “Again, I am sorry for what was said to you, Aiden. You did not deserve to be spoken to in that manner. You will be an asset down the road. Elizabeth just didn’t see it then. She does now.”

Murphy swallows audibly. “Down the road, sir?”

“Yes. It’s too late for you to help with this campaign.”

Shifting in my seat, I cut my father off, but keep my eyes locked on his. “The next