Page 29 of Brutal Kingdom

When she does, she scrubs her hands across her face, rubs her eyes and shakes out her arms. This isn’t sex fatigue. I know how she acts when we’ve stayed up all night fucking. She showers, downs copious amounts of coffee and powers through. This level of funk and exhaustion is from something else.

Tabitha texts me to meet her in front of the Art and Humanities Building and to come alone. I let her know I’m on the other side of campus and will meet her in ten minutes. It takes closer to fifteen, because I stop twice to respond to texts from my dad.

I’m stopped in the middle of the sidewalk, rereading his last message, when a hand shoots out in front of me. “Could you walk any slower?” Tabitha asks, yanking my arm, pulling me into an alcove leading to the art building.

“Good morning to you too, Tabby. If you’ve suddenly decided to jump my bones, you’re about eight years too late.”

“Eew.”

“I’m just saying. Everyone knows that this is where I used to…”

“Okay, sicko. Keep it in your pants. I needed to get you alone and Bella and the bitch brigade avoid this side of campus.”

“Fair enough. What’s wrong?”

“I wanted to find out how you’re feeling about what happened.”

How does she know about the marriage contract? “How should I feel? I mean, it’s pretty fucked up that this was just sprung on me, but I’ll live.”

“Come on Logan. You said it yourself, that place is a shit hole. Jordanna won’t be safe there. And even though I’m mad about what she did, she doesn’t deserve that.”

Huh? “What are we talking about?”

“Bella got Jordanna moved to The Dungeon. What did you think we were talking about?”

“Never mind. Your thing trumps my thing. When did this happen?”

“Friday night.”

“She stayed in the dungeon Friday night?”

“No, she stayed with Kassidy. They couldn’t get her a room until this morning, but all her stuff was tossed onto the street Friday afternoon. Mr. Atkins let her put it in the old storage locker where they keep the holiday supplies.”

“What else? I can see there’s something you’re not telling me.”

“There are twenty-five students in the building. The elevator is broken, and she’s the only person on her floor.”

That means no RA. And security guards only walk the most heavily trafficked areas. Jordy’s an easy target.

“Dammit. There’s no way she won’t figure out this was because of Bella.”

“You’re right. She’s too smart not to put this together. So, are we prepared for her to retaliate?”

“We’ll be fine.”

“Logan, I can’t afford for what she has on me to become public knowledge.”

“Tabby, I promise that whatever Jordanna has on you will stay buried.”

“Really? I feel so much better now. We both know she’s so quick to forgive.” She says, sarcasm dripping from her lips.

“For starters, you’re gonna appeal to her inner good girl and ask for a reprieve.”

“For all of us?”

I’m not a fucking saint or a priest. I can’t save or absolve anyone for any of their shit. Just like I’m dealing with the consequences of my actions, they’ll have to deal with theirs. “No. Just yourself.”

“You really think she’ll give me a pass?”

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