Page 33 of Brutal Kingdom

“Then I’m in the right place.” I say, taking a seat. I knew I was going to get weird looks when I decided to crash this meeting. It’s supposed to be open for all seniors to give inputs about this year’s trips, civic engagements and graduation activities. But historically, the BPs and whoever’s in charge run roughshod and plan what they want, without input from any outside sources.

Do I care about graduation committees and community outreach sponsored by this school? Fuck no. But Bella will be here, so I’m invested in it, if for no other reason than to piss her off. Cause you know, it’s the little things that show just how much you care.

I’m not front and center, but I’m door adjacent so anybody doing a cursory scan of the room when they come in will still see me. They file in, Bella at the head of the pack, her heels clacking on the floor, making sure you hear her coming. Her head’s high, shoulders back, her sleek ponytail lying stiffly across her shoulder like a starched shirt. She’s haughty and aloof, playing the part of the richest people under twenty-five, while I’m sitting here, fighting the urge to put my feet up on the table.

She takes in the room, making sure all eyes are on her and when her baby blues slide my way, I wink, and pucker my lips in a quick air kiss. That takes the wind right out of her sails. She recovers quickly, making her way over to her seat.

That’s right, Isabelle. Get used to me invading every corner of your life until the court makes a decision.

The meeting is rather dull, since it’s just Bella dictating what she expects from the group. Kiss her ass, smile in her face, tell her she’s right and perfect and pretty. There’s no solicitation of ideas for this year, or nominations for smaller sub committees. Just wompity-womp-womp-womp. When she finally asks if anyone has anything to add, I look to see if anyone will speak up. They don’t. Big surprise, so I take the lead, because the reporter in me has questions.

“Is there a senior theme?”

“A what?”

“A theme? A motto. Something the senior class is using to stab home the idea that we were here and made our mark.”

“Who does that?”

“Carryville does that. People who care about standing out do that.” She’s ready to dismiss my suggestion because Carryville isn’t elite enough. “And Worthington University does it.”

The guy on the far right sits up taller in his chair. Ah, so that got somebody’s attention.

Hal’s sneering at me when he asks, “How do you know what’s happening at Worthless U?”

Still mad, I know how many licks it takes to get him off. Got it. Instead of rubbing salt into his festering wounds, I ask, “How come you don’t?”

Getting to my feet, I head to the door, saying, “Well, this was informative.” Her bitches in waiting are glaring at me when I pass, telegraphing that I’m going against some sort of protocol. They expect all minions to wait until Bella dismisses them.

Sorry, cuz, you’ll never get to be dismissive of me again.

FIFTEEN

LOGAN

Bella’s circling the new kid on campus again. Today, she’s standing in front of him, but he’s looking over her shoulder at the students walking by, just as disinterested as before. I’m hearing every other word she says, right up until the point where she brags about making problems go away and making people’s lives miserable. “I even control where you stay on campus, which means I can put a prince in a penthouse suite and a rat in a room crawling with roaches and termites.”

“Rats, huh?” He says raising his brow.

She takes that as encouragement to continue. “If you want to see my handiwork, just look up the posts about Jordanna Felding.”

He pushes away from the tree in a move that says this meeting is over. I have to hand it to her. She lasted two minutes longer than the last time. Bella’s following, and having finally noticed she’s been dismissed, says, “Didn’t anyone ever tell you it’s rude to walk away from a woman when she’s talking business.”

He slips his sunglasses on his face, his guards falling into step behind him. “No, because in my world, we don’t include women in business.”

We all watch as he walks towards the library. I hold in my smile, enjoying Bella’s failed attempt. She stomps her foot and shrieks, “Can you believe this guy? We need to get some leverage on him before those families I brought in last semester get to missing their freedom and try to get out again.”

“Funny choice of words there, Bella. You do know who that is, don’t you?” Tabitha asks, scanning the street.

“Of course. I did my research. His name is Rocco, and he’s some newly minted rich kid.”

“That’s just what they want us to think, Bella.”

“Then who is he?” she asks, rolling her eyes.

“His name isRykerFiore. The girl he’s always with is his twin sister Rumi and their father Raphael Fiore the enforcer for the Moretti outfit.”

Enforcer? I’ve known Tabby long enough to know that’s the fancy name for hitman. No wonder this kid is unimpressed with what Bella’s offering. He doesn’t need power and prestige from a VDU cabal. He’s got direct ties to a power structure of his own. One I wouldn’t think of going up against.

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