Page 13 of Brutal Kingdom

“Are you sure there’s no way the two of you can work things out and get back together?”

“Kassidy…”

“I’m asking a question. Just asking. I mean, have you really dealt with all this and thought it through, or are you still operating on pure anger and emotion?”

“I’ve thought about it and I’ve processed everything that happened. I can’t trust him, and he doesn’t trust me. That’s not what healthy relationships are based on.”

“Okay, I hear you, but after the year you had, you can’t possibly want to go back to all work and no play. Admit it. You had fun at those parties and waving your freak flag around.”

“Oh, I’m still partying. I have friends and I’m not gonna be a total hermit. But, no dating.”

“I was meaning to ask, have you seen Noel since everything that happened?”

“He called me a few times over the summer, but I was so busy with my mom and sister that I didn’t really have a chance to call him back.” Looking around the lake, I say, “I sort of expected to see him here tonight.”

“He might be lying low. He helped you pull one over on Logan and knows he’s not walking away from that.”

“The only thing Noel did was introduce me to people and let me use him to make Logan jealous. As well connected as he is, Logan would be stupid to go after him.”

“Going after each other is what they do. He’s expecting Logan to retaliate, and he’s not bulletproof. Or does he know what’s on those files too?”

Is she here for me? Or spying for them? “I already told you, nobody but me and the person the information belongs to, knows what’s in their file.” Not even my tech guy knows, but he will, if he can rebuild the folders. I’ll deal with that if and when it happens.

“Then, it’s open season on Noel, Jordanna. God, I hate that he put you in the middle of his war with Logan.”

“He didn’t put me in the middle of anything. I didn’t even know therewasa war. And now that you’re the second person who’s said something about it, I want to know what happened.”

“You really don’t know? After all this time, I would’ve thought either of those boys would’ve given you their version of events by now.”

“Well, they didn’t, and I’m not sure I’d trust their retellings. So, lay it out for me.”

She takes a deep breath before saying, “Logan stole Noel’s position as king our freshman year.”

“Seriously? That’s it? Okay. And now Bella has it. Sounds like that’s the risk you take for being in charge. Someone’s always gunning for the crown.”

“It’s not easy to dethrone someone, and it’s never been done by a freshman before. Sometimes there’s a power grab during the senior year vote, but even that’s a rare occurrence. The Hansens ran the school for nearly a hundred years. Noel’s cousin was supposed to take over.”

“I still don’t get the animosity between them. Logan made a play and got more votes. He’s charming and popular.” Chuckling, I say, “Lucifer always knows how to get people to do what he wants.”

“There was no vote on the table. Logan manipulated things to go his way and tricked Noel into making a bet he never stood a chance at winning.”

It’s usually all’s fair in dirt and destruction around here, but Logan crossed an imaginary line by taking over freshman year? I don’t buy it. “Unless there’s more to the story, then it still sounds like business as usual to me.”

She glances around before scooting closer. “I don’t know how true this is, but the rumor is this was personal, Jordanna. Logan bet Noel that he’d have proof of fucking his girlfriend before a lockdown was over.”

“Logan bet he could steal Noel’s girlfriend in twenty-four hours and made it happen?” He’s a cocky SOB when it comes to sex, but I know from personal experience that it’s all very well founded.

“That’s just it. It didn’t happen. He didn’t get her to cheat during the lockdown.”

“Okay, Kassidy. Now I’m confused.”

“This is where it’s important to read the fine print with these fools. Noel assumed Logan was gonna go after Sophie at the party, but they hooked up way before he took that bet.” She looks around again as if she’s spilling trade secrets. “I even heard there was a video and everything. That’s not the worst part.”

“What is?”

“Noel’s sister was in the video. Turns out she had a thing for Sophie and the three of them put on a good show.”

“Noel’s girlfriend and his sister? At the same time?” My stomach flips. Is it anger or nausea I feel? Has to be nausea, because why would I feel angry or jealous about Logan sleeping with other women now or before we ever met? Or am I offended because of what Logan did to my friend? I have no idea.

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