Page 77 of Broken Princess

It wasn’t entirely a lie. She would be uncomfortable and so would I. We crossed an invisible barrier at the country club, but Jordy’s nowhere near ready for the level of craziness that happens on my birthday. I’ll be staying at the house this weekend. My friends will show up with the car at seven for dinner and drinks and then we’re swinging by The Rift to meet up with the rest of the guests before heading to a show. Usually we party so hard that we’re zombies dragging back in the next morning.

She’s thinking about me. Now more than ever, I wish I could skip the whole thing. If I do, it’ll raise suspicions so I have no choice but to play my part as the carefree birthday boy.

At least I know what to expect and unlike last weekend at the club, there will be no surprises.

Jordanna

The lies slide so easily off Logan’s tongue, I wonder if he knows he’s even doing it. An event that I’ll be uncomfortable with. Really? How stupid does he think I am? I know this birthday celebration is so much more than a boring obligation with family and friends. If it weren’t, then why is everyone meeting him at The Rift on swap night?

I’m dressed just like they are for cocktail hour and sneak inside, wondering if I’ll find them engaged in some super secret society ritual. Maybe that’s what this is. He’s getting tapped for some exclusive skull and bones type frat and doesn’t want me to know. Maybe that’s what all the games ultimately amount to. Being worthy of being in their group. If all he gets is a secret ring for the destruction he leaves behind, he’s more twisted in the head than I think.

A hand comes from behind, covering my mouth, muffling my yelp of surprise. A second hand wraps around my stomach, pulling me backward against a hard body. The press of lips on the back of my head has me on high alert as I’m pulled back into the shadows. Whoever’s holding me isn’t hurting me, but my heart’s still bouncing around in my chest.

A conversation drifts over to us from the other side of the bell tower. I crane my neck trying to see who it is, but it’s too dark to make out any features, and the voices are unfamiliar. The scent of cedar and spice permeate the air, creating a comforting fireplace aroma, but the music does the opposite of relaxing me. Haunting tones and brooding melodies swirl around me, reminding me of the playlist from that time in Logan’s studio. The hairs on my arm raise as if magnetized, and goose bumps dot my flesh.

“Is this…” The hand around my middle squeezes and I fall silent once again. He holds me firmly in place, which is preventing me from turning to see who he is. His hand disappears, then reappears in front of my eyes, holding a piece of fabric. I swallow past a lump in my throat as the material slips over my eyes. His fingers graze the back of my hair as he ties the blindfold in place, completely blocking out my surroundings.

Now, I’m moving forward, relying on this stranger to get me safely to our destination. We turn here and there, but I have no reference to where we are. We could have walked the entire length of the floor or in a circle.

We finally come to a stop and pressure on my shoulders, pushing down, clues me in that he’s telling me to sit. My butt hits sturdy thighs and my back is flush against someone’s chest. I ventured up here, knowing that it was probably a bad idea, so whatever situation I’ve found myself in is my own doing. Last semester, I would’ve vomited at the thought of someone touching me at a swap night party. Tonight, the nerves are there, but also a curiosity. I just hope the rules of decency apply and that they’ll stop if I say so.

Before I can ponder that thought, I’m being pulled to my feet and hoisted in the air. I let out a small yelp as I sail through the air, and another when I’m caught. Strong arms carry me, my body jostles and I get the impression that we’re descending stairs. A breeze drifts across my legs, and before I can work through that sensation, I’m placed on a softer surface. Leather. Am I in a car?

A door slams shut beside me. Yup, we’re definitely in a car. I don’t know where I’m going or who's taking me there, but I don’t dare move a muscle in case they realize I’ve crashed their little party and kick me out in the middle of the street.

We come to a stop maybe an hour later, and I’m dragged from the car, my heels scraping along the sidewalk as my kidnapper? Guide? Pulls me along. Once again I’m pushed to a seating position. That feeling of dread and disassociation hovers on the corner of my mind, but I’m still connected to my body and sense movement around me. It’s not a panic attack, but it’s close. I take deep breathes trying to calm the nerves in my stomach.

“I’m going to leave this blindfold on. The choice is yours whether to leave it or take it off. If you do, whatever you see, whatever you hear, it goes no further than these walls tonight.”

Those are the only words spoken before the person walks away, asCloserby Nine Inch Nails blares through the speakers. My senses are hyper aware of the sounds around me. More so than they were at the party, where Simon stopped me from venturing closer to the couples in the upstairs game room. But this time is different. The only person preventing me from seeing anything is me.

The part of me that has clear-cut boundaries says keep the blindfold on. The researcher in me says rip it off and take it all in. This might be the last push I need to shed my good girl persona. Because even though I’m collecting information on each of the BP’s I’m not sure I can ultimately go through with my plan.

Okay, Jordanna. Treat this like a life study class, I say to myself as my hands reach up to slip the cloth away from my eyes, letting it dangle around my neck.

I’m sitting on a settee with a coffee table beside me. The soft glow from a series of tea light candles flickers just enough so I can see what’s happening in front of me.Strippers?This is the big reveal? I’m processing the big letdown when the track changes again and the men sitting in the chairs closest to the strippers stand to their feet.

It’s then that I realize they’re dancers too. They couple up, forming a line and walk down what I think is a hall. Once they’re out of sight, I realize I’m out here alone. I spring to my feet, going the way they did, and find a door that’s ajar on my left. Peeking my head inside, I conclude we’re at the theater. Slipping quietly through the door, I take a seat close to the rail of the upper balcony. Looking down, I ca see the orchestra seating and first six rows are full. Who the hell rents out a theater for their birthday, you ask? Logan McKay and his friends, that’s who.

The lights dim and nervous chatter ripples through the air. The dancers from earlier take the stage performing a burlesque show. It’s gaudy and bold and sexy and the singing and dancing transports me to another time and place.

Intermission is announced, and the guests head towards the hall to stretch their legs and refresh their drinks. I stay in place, not wanting anyone to know I’ve crashed the party. I check the time on my phone. Ten minutes to midnight.

“You shouldn’t have come here, Jordy.” Logan says, slipping into the seat next to me. There’s no way he could have seen me in the dark, so that means one of the people tossing me around earlier must’ve told him I was here.

“Why because one of the girls you used to fuck is here?” I recognized Claire when she stepped closer to the stage to talk to the dancers. “I hope you at least took time to shower during transitions from one bed to the other last weekend. And for the record, you could’ve just told me that the idea of a foursome was a lot hotter than plain old sex with me, instead of using your friends as the excuse for why you sent me home.”

“Things with Claire were over before you and I ever got together.”

“According to her, there’s some overlap, and even if that’s not true, she’s here hanging onto your every word, even after she watched you pound into me at brunch.” I gnaw my bottom lip, watching him out the corner of my eye. “And if it’s so over with her, then why is she here with you, when you said I couldn’t be?”

“She knows what’s about to happen tonight, and thought I might need someone to hang out with.”

The lights flicker again and everyone returns to their seats for the second half of the show. “All these people in here and she was worried you’d be sitting alone? I don’t buy that.”

The theater goes completely dark. The spotlight tracks the curtain as it goes up.

“It’s not always about whose around. It’s more a question of what they’re willing to do.”

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