Page 30 of Brutal Kingdom

“It’s worth a shot. Besides, out of us all, you’re the only one who defended her and told me not to screw with her to begin with.”

Looking around, she says, “I can’t go against the group, Logan.”

“The group, meaning Bella, is not thinking about us. If she were, she wouldn’t have done this. So whatever you need to do to protect yourself. You do it. Even if that means pretending to befriend Jordanna all over again.”

“I wouldn’t be pretending anything. Either it’s real or it’s not, and if this is your first step towards revenge, leave me out of it.”

“It’s not. I’m in no position to go head to head with her right now.”

“You’re letting this go?”

“Don’t be ridiculous. I’m coming for Jordanna. I just have something else I need to deal with first.”

“This is gonna end so badly.”

“Trust me, Tabby. This time the war between Jordanna and I won’t spill over onto anyone else.”

I’m doing a walk-thru of The Dungeon because I’m hoping it’s not as bad as I remember. The piss rotted carpet when I round the landing on the fourth floor says it is. We’ve used this place for Halloween haunts, frat hazings and initiations and pranks. That’s all it’s good for, because it’s unfit for human occupancy.

The first and second floors have a modicum of upkeep. Enough that parents don’t defund the school, but not enough to make it palatable past a few days or weeks at most. That’s why it’s the perfect punishment. Two nights here will have anyone back on the right side of daddy’s wallet.

Jordanna’s in class, Bella’s off campus, and Frankie and Hal are wrapped up in their own shit and too far up Bella’s ass to pay me any attention, so I have time to scope out the dorm without raising suspicion.

Ratty drapes, busted windows, and I hear a constant drip, letting me know there’s a leaky pipe somewhere on this floor. Dundee is one of the older dorms, which also means Jordanna has to leave her room to shower and the only working wash room is on the first two floors.

I turn the knob and the door to Jordanna’s room opens. Stepping inside, I see the lock doesn’t even work. Her window doesn’t close, and there are blankets and a can of pepper spray on the floor. This is why she looked like the walking dead this morning. She made a blanket fort and slept like a sentry in front of her door.

“Fuck!”How did Bella make this happen without my help? She must’ve found someone else with connections to Lyndsey. But who? And what other back ups does she have stashed away? This is Bella, so I should probably ask, who did she screw over to get this done?

Our group chat buzzes with a message from Hal asking why he’s getting a call confirming a reservation at seven for him and Lyndsey at Monciello’s. I’d laugh, except her response tells him not to worry, because Frankie and I are riding shotgun and she promised Lyndsey we’d show her a real good time.

Now, Bella’s loaning us out like we’re a harem. Looking back at Jordanna’s door, I respond that I’m happy to help. Making Bella happy will give me time to think of a way to handle this before Jordanna strikes back.

I’m relegated to the role of back-up singer in Bella’s new band, but I’m the one still managing our image and protecting us from scandal and certain disaster.

I slip back into the hall. Pulling the door shut hard behind me. It rattles, and creaks, then swings right back open. I pull it again softly and it stays in place, although a good wind will open it again.

A couple of nights in this place is enough to crush anyone’s spirit. But I don’t want to win like this. I want Jordanna alert and fighting back, up until the end, when she has to admit to herself that she’s lost tomeand begs for mercy. I won’t let Bella steal my revenge from me, too.

Hurrying out of the building, I search my brain for a solution.

I came home to update mom on my decision. She’s been silently watching me for the last few minutes. The delay means she’s weighing her words and mine. I love that my mother isn’t one of those fly off the handle types. Unfortunately, I take after my dad. Sometimes I bypass the filter and consideration button and blurt out exactly what’s on my mind.

“This decision to pursue this inheritance. Is it for you or for what you think it means for me and Summer? Because I already told you I don’t want you doing this to help me. I’m fine. We’re fine. We have enough.”

“Mom, these people intentionally buried our history. Don’t you want to know who we are? Where we come from?”

“I understand how you could feel that way. But no, I don’t. I know who I am. I know where I come from, and you know your grandparents love you.”

“But, what about dad? He had this whole family out there that knows nothing about us, or pretend that they don’t. If I do this, they can’t ignore us anymore. They can’t continue to erase our history.”

“Blood doesn’t make you family, Jordanna. You know this. And as for history. I’m more concerned about the history of us. Your dad wasn’t perfect, but he was great to me. To us. I remember his laugh. His smile. His smart ass mouth. I remember the love and how rare it was. I remember how when all his friends were so excited about having sons, he broke down and cried tears of utter joy each time we learned we were having a girl, and I remember how much he adored you. That’s the history and legacy I want you to remember. The family tradition I want you and your sister to repeat.”

She gives me a sad smile. “Now, if you want to do this for you. I can’t stop you. You just have to be able to live with whatever decision you make and whatever consequences you’ll have to face for stepping forward. People like these who hide illegitimate children and affairs and exile family members, they’re not welcoming to anyone who doesn’t fit their mold. From everything you’ve told me about this girl, Bella, I doubt she’s going down without a fight.”

“I know. You’re right. I shouldn’t have done this. They’ll dig and try to hurt me, through you or Summer. We don’t need that.”

Mom scoffs. “Now I’m also not going to let you run from a fight because you think we need you to protect us. I can protect my damn self, and protecting you and Summer. That’smyjob. Everyone already knows about the skeletons in my closet. It’s on the news and in the paper. We’ll probably be added next to Murdoch’s name in the finance and ethics books.”

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