Page 63 of Brutal Kingdom

“I know I can, because I’ve learned something.”

“What’s that?”

“People go along with what you say because you bully and blackmail them into it. But nobody at this school actually likes you.”

“They like the power I have. That’s good enough.”

“Right, and you and I both know you won’t be wielding that power for much longer.” Shouldering past her I say, “Enjoy it while it lasts.”

“Watch your back, Jordanna.”

“No,cousin. Watch yours.”

I see Logan when I turn the corner. I can tell he heard our exchange, not that I would’ve bitten my tongue if I’d known we had an audience. No one will take me seriously if I hide and remain silent like a timid little mouse. I’ve got just as much right as anyone else to be at these meetings and make suggestions, with or without a fat wad of cash, to prop me up.

I meet his gaze, daring him to say something. He doesn’t, but I feel his eyes following me until I’m out the door.

When Jordanna lets her bitch off the leash, she’s really off the leash. I heard everything she said and in my mind, I was giving her a standing ovation. Nobody ruffles Bella’s feathers the way she does. I step into the empty classroom they were using for their meeting.

“What was that all about?”

Bella’s still seething, biting out “Nothing.” As she texts on her phone.

“It didn’t sound like nothing. Maybe I can help.”

“We already tried letting you help, remember? And look where that got us.”

Typical. Now she wants to take her anger out on me. Wrong day for it. “If you’re mad at Jordanna, just say that, but I can do without the bitchy attitude. Besides,wecreated the Jordanna problem by placing that bet, and I was handling it until you made a run for control of the school. That’s just the way these things go. She’s your problem now.”

“She’s worse than she was last year. Interrupting meetings, trying to gather people to her side. She’s trying to make me look bad and I won’t have it.” I watch her pacing the floor. Damn, Jordy’s really got her worked up. I decide to add fuel to the fire.

“Shit, I thought she’d backed off.”

“Backed off? Her? She wants to destroy me and take everything I’ve worked for because she can’t take a little joke. I don’t care who she thinks she is. I’m the one who planned all this out and put in all the time and the work to pull it off.” Now she’s muttering to herself. “She’s not gonna just walk in here and change it. I’m the one that deserves this. All she had to do was leave school.”

“What is it that she’s trying to take from you, Bella?”

She finally stops ranting and looks at me. I’m wary of the look in her eyes. “Why don’t you tell me what this rivalry with Jordanna is really about.”

“You know already. She’s trying to change the way we do things, and that’s unacceptable.”

“You’ve said that, and we’ve tried to put her in her place, but she doesn’t like it there. In fact, she carries herself as if she deserves a seat at the table. So tell me what’s really your end game here, and why is Jordanna such a threat to you?”

“Not just me. To all of us.”

“Really? Because I heard what she said. She’s coming for you. None of the rest of us are having any issues with her. We’re honoring our agreement, but you keep finding ways to go around it. So either you can tell me what the hell is really going on here, or I can start looking into it myself, and if I find something that doesn’t add up…”

She pulls out the smile and voice she uses to get her way. “Logan, there’s nothing to uncover. Jordanna’s an annoyance and she’s trying to turn my senior planning committee against me.”

“That’s what’s happening now. I wanna know why you’ve hated her from the beginning.”

“I didn’t. It was a game. And yes, I took it too far. But it was a game. Then, eventually I really started disliking her holier than thou attitude.”

“Is that all?”

“Of course.”

She steps closer, putting her hand on my arm. “Logan, I know you and I are conditioned to question the motives about everyone and everything, but we’re going to be married. I think it’s time you start trusting me.”

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