Knox by Ladew Lisa

Author:Ladew, Lisa [Ladew, Lisa]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: General Fiction
Published: 2015-10-18T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Five

Jonathan

My father pours us each another glass, taps mine and suggests we raise our glasses in a toast.

“What for?” I ask.

“Here’s to loyalty. Loyalty and family.”

I repeat his toast suggestion and he says, “Together, they enable freedom. It’s the American way. Right, son?”

I’m losing my patience now, so I come right out and ask him what he wants me to do. He is more apprehensive than I’ve seen him in a long time.

“Let’s play some pool while we talk it over.”

He walks over to the pool table at the opposite end of his large office.

“What are we doing, Dad?”

“Playing a quick game of eight-ball.”

“No, Dad. I mean what’s going on?”

“Just humor your old man for a minute. Go on, rack them up.”

I realize he needs some kind of familiarity to get him to tell me why he called me over. Playing pool is like meditation for him. I set up the balls with the rack. I take my jacket off and roll up my sleeves. Now he knows I mean business.

“Okay Dad. Game play it is. I call open break shot.”

“Fine.”

“Promise me one thing, though.”

“What’s that?”

“No matter who wins, before this game is over, you’re telling me what you want from me. Deal?”

“Deal.”

Picking up my cue stick, I stand at the side of the table. Like any other game, I play to win. I lean down and poise myself for the shot. Today, I have an extra helping of fury in me. I take the shot and transfer some of that emotion through my arms. The break ball ends up hitting the rack balls so hard the other balls go flying everywhere. I end up with a scratch. My father laughs and takes the cue ball out of the pocket.

“You call this a game? I think I’m going to have to kick your ass.” He looks at the cue ball as if it’s his new woman, kisses it, and sets it down on the opposite corner. “Maybe we should put money on this game, like old times. I feel like a winner already.”

He takes his shot. It’s good. He stands up and walks around the table, studying which balls to tackle next.

“Son, we’ve come a long way, haven’t we?”

“Yes, Dad. We have.”

“Do you know what I’m most proud of?”

“No, Dad. I don’t.”

“The way you and I have stuck together.”

He looks at me and doesn’t move until I nod. He goes in for another shot—he makes that one too.

“The Sloan businesses have seen its share of competition and drama. Sometimes I’m surrounded by people I can’t trust in this business, but I can tell you one thing. You’re not one of them. I’ve never once questioned your loyalty to me.”

“That’s because I’ve never once betrayed it, Dad. Not once.”

“I know, Jonathan. I know.”

He’s talking to me, and there’s more to the message. At the same time, the man is laser focused. He makes the next shot—he gets three more balls in.

“It’s the people you give your trust to who can do you in, isn’t that right, son?”

“You taught me that, Dad.

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