Page 150 of Brutal Kingdom

“You heard me. I want you to take over the school.”

“But why me?”

“Because I know you’ll do right by the students here.”

“I’m only going to be a sophomore. Nobody’s gonna take me seriously.”

“I take you seriously, but you need to take yourself seriously. Believe you can do this. I know you’re used to men having all the power and making decisions for you. This is your chance to lead and make your thoughts and opinions known. Your voice, matters, Rumi.Youmatter.”

“Wouldn’t Rocco be a better choice?”

“No, he wouldn’t. You know what I was trying to do here, and you’ve been there every step of the way. Advising me, opening up the lines of communication with the younger students on my behalf. Hell, this last week, it’s been you keeping things afloat while I was off doing graduation stuff.”

“That’s because it was temporary.”

“Now it’s not.” I pull her into a hug. “You can do this.”

She sniffles against my shirt. “You’re the one who’s graduating. Shouldn’t I be giving you a gift?”

“Doing this, carrying on with all the stuff we talked about. Thatisa gift. And if anyone gives you any trouble, there are a ton of people here who have your back.” We break apart and I say. “This is your time. Enjoy it for however long it lasts.”

She walks off, head still in a daze, but I know I’ve made the right choice. I feel her brother staring at me.

“What’s on your mind Rocco?”

“Nobody’s ever told her she can lead. I mean I tell her she can do whatever she puts her mind to, and Graham tries to build up her confidence too, but nobody else has. None of the women we know have ever said she can lead. The way we’re raised, her mind isn’t nurtured. They’ve always told her that her greatest asset is her body, her ability to be a wife and have kids, and to cater to a man.”

“I’ve already told you how I feel about that.”

“You’ve also shown that you meant it. She wasn’t happy when we first came to school. I think it wasn’t anything like she expected. But you befriended her. You let her ask you questions that most people would think are silly. You let her help you run the school, and took her to your little town get-togethers, even though you had a lot going on with your case.”

A lot is an understatement. Bella and her mother continued to fight for the inheritance, even after Johnathan was arrested. They thought Donald Ruttledge would back them, but Penn had one more bargaining tool up his sleeve. Those bookies Donald mentioned weren’t low level guys in clubs taking bets on sports games and horses.

Donald learned fairly quickly that financially backing someone who owes money to the organization is a sure fire way to become a target yourself. Between that and the lawsuit the women’s guild filed about land recordings, he couldn’t help himself, let alone anyone else. He’s currently on an extended vacation out of the country. His lawyers, company, and charitable endowments are having a helluva time reevaluating and readjusting, aka unfucking his mess.

Bella walks by. She scowls at me, same as always, but scurries away like her hair is on fire, when she sees Rocco looking at her. I glance over at him and ask, “What was that all about?”

“That big payday her family was expecting isn’t happening.”

“And?”

“And people want answers about when repayment will be made.”

“People.”

He shakes his head, warning me not to ask any more questions. She’s a bitch. Always has been to me, but she’s family. Sort of. And a person. So I ask, just like I would ask about anyone. “Is she in danger?”

“Not right now. I believe they’re still willing to negotiate.”

I shut my mouth. I know he’s probably already told me too much. I hear arguing behind us, and turn to see Logan, Simon, Kassidy and Tabitha walking our way. “You guys are late.” I say, looking at my watch.

“Blame it on Logan here. His mom had about three dozen extra pictures she needed to take.”

I try my best to look sympathetic, even though I bailed on him, halfway through picture taking. Looking at Tabitha, I ask, “You all packed?”

“Yes, and I can’t wait to get on the road.”

Kassidy, Tabitha, Summer, Rumi and I are taking a girl’s trip. We’ll be staying at Logan’s beach house for two weeks, while the boys do… well I don’t know what Simon, Logan and Dixon are doing. I’ve warned the devil and the Man of Steel, that they better not teach my friend any bad habits.

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