Page 43 of Brutal Kingdom

What the hell does that mean? Is she already in with this guy? “It’s still my school. It doesn’t matter who’s in charge. We protect our own.”

“Your protection is bullshit. Jordanna’s alone and being threatened by every single person you call a friend. Seems to me like a man taking care of his…schoolwouldn’t let that happen.”

“Everything’s under control, and there’s no reason for you to concern yourself with VDU business.”

“Is that right?” He stands and goes to his wet bar, pouring himself a drink. I decline when he offers me one. I’m not crazy enough to drink with him, when he might slip something in it.

When he closes the decanter, he turns and says, “So correct me if I get any of the details wrong. You’re telling me that this is your school and everyone in it is toeing the line.”

“We have no issues that concern you.”

“What about the girl who thinks she’s running the school. Bella? Is she an issue of concern? Does she agree that every student in attendance is under VDU’s magical protection just because their parent’s bank accounts can afford it? From her place on the throne, does everyone get a fair shake?”

I repeat. “We take care of our own.”

“And punish your own too.”

He waits for me to answer, but I’ve got nothing to say about that. As far as the outside world is concerned, we all get along at school.

“Okay, how about you answer this, and we’ll keep your answer between us.”

I don’t agree, but he’s going to ask his question, anyway.

“Are you okay with Jordanna’s living arrangements? Do you sleep well at night knowing she has a late class and has to walk across a dark campus to a building that looks like it’s one good wind storm away from falling down?”

I don’t want to answer this question, but I know he’ll take my silence as indifference, and that will be the thing he uses against me. “We’ve had a higher enrollment this year requiring us to activate our overflow dorm.”

“And lemme guess. That’s being worked on too.”

I watch him, watching me, while he sips his drink. Nodding, he smiles. It’s all teeth. “I wouldn’t want you to, uh, break a nail or anything, Lo-gan. So, I’ll take care of Jordanna and her living arrangements, myself.”

He’s taunting me, but I know better than to take the bait. “The school will happily accept your charitable gift.”

“Fuck your school’s charity. I don’t do that third party bullshit. I make sure the money goes exactly where it’s intended.” He’s smirking, daring me to say something. When I don’t, he switches gears. “What can you tell me about Noel Hansen and Sterling Embry?”

That question is out of left field. “Why are you interested in them?”

“I’m interested in everyone Jordanna comes into contact with. I have people looking into them for me, but I think it’ll be faster and more colorful if you tell me.”

Graham Holt is the exiled son of the Moretti crime family. He’s a playboy, ranked in the top 25 under 30 and has graced the pages of the sexiest man alive edition three times. But that doesn’t mean he’s not still connected or dangerous. He’s the absolute last person I’d want looking into me, and he’s taken an interest in Jordy. I need to figure out a way to break this shit up.

“I don’t have anything to tell you about Noel or Sterling.” I can’t believe the words coming out of my mouth. Never thought I’d see the day when Ididn’ttake an opportunity to make their lives hell, but people like Graham aren’t like us. The people involved with the organization, loved or hated, always seem to wind up dead.

“Is that really the way you want to start our acquaintance, Logan? With a lie?”

“I don’t know you, and I don’t owe you. I didn’t come here to make your acquaintance. As you stated in the beginning, I came to tell you to stay off my campus, stay away from my friends, and stay away from Jordy.”

He smiles again. This one all predatory glee. “Good. You’ve finally found your balls. Now, I’ll bite. Stay away from her, or what?”

I’m done being civil and polite. “Or you’ll get a firsthand look at how far I go to protect what’s mine.”

“Yours?” He stands to his feet, leaning forward, supporting his hands on his desk. “I’ll fast forward to the end of this story and save you the suspense. Until Jordanna tells me to go away. I’ll be in her life. Doing all the things your demoted status, twisted sense of loyalty, and family bullshit won’t let you do.”

Family rolls off his tongue in a mocking tone. One that lets me know Graham’s already researched each and every one of us, and is using this Q&A session to amuse himself.

Still, I play it cool, pretending not to know there’s a deeper meaning behind his words. “You of all people should understand the importance of family and loyalty.”

My hand is on the doorknob when he says, “What I understand is that loyalty isn’t always owed to the family you’re born into.”

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