Page 65 of Brutal Kingdom

It is, but my father doesn’t control me. He never has, and he’d be very disappointed if I let another woman make a fool of me, again.

TWENTY-SEVEN

LOGAN

“Iwasn’t expecting to see you here today,” I say, walking into the newsroom.

Jordanna glances at me before turning back to what she’s doing. “I had a study group that ran late yesterday, so I needed to come download these pictures today, to make deadline. Don’t worry, I’m almost done.”

Standing over her shoulder, I watch her drag the photos to the Sharepoint folder, then click through the ones she wants to submit for the article. I lean down for a better look. “These are incredible.”

“Thanks.”

My dad’s right. She has an amazing eye and isn’t afraid to try different angles to get the best shot. Some people are good at painting or photography, but Jordanna is an artist who focuses on delivering one product no matter what. Raw, beauty.

Grabbing the mouse, I add another photo to the submission pile.

“That one? No.”

I put my hand on hers, stopping her from clicking the little red X. “Keep it. Trust me.”

“You’re helping me and pretending to be nice. That must mean you need something. Lemme guess, I need to cover a hotdog eating contest happening at the park on Saturday and the photos are due by four.”

That is the type of assignments I’ve been giving her, but I’m being nice because I need information. “I heard what you said to Bella a few days ago.”

“So?”

“So, I thought you wanted to keep things quiet.”

She pushes print and stands, walking over to the printer to retrieve the picture. “I am keeping it quiet. What you heard were veiled threats and pettiness. That’s Bella’s love language.”

“She admits to knowing she’s a descendent of the Bendevire line, and about Bartholemew’s will. My dad says he’s known about it for years. But I’ve been looking into your claim too, and there’s a lot of compelling information there.”

“I know what’s there. What’s the point of this?”

“The point is, you can’t both be right.”

“Sure we can. But one of us is more right than the other. The question is, who do you believe?” She asks, returning to her seat. “It’s a rhetorical question because I know you’re gonna side with your leader.”

She’s got this idea that I can’t make decisions on my own, and I hate it. I’ve been operating outside of what Bella knows or wants for weeks. “I’m not a puppet, letting Bella lead me from one place to the other. Icanthink for myself.”

“Can you? Because I’m still waiting for you to do something.Anythingto show me that. After everything that happened last year, you’re still stuck in the same place you were when we met. God Logan, since the beginning, everything you’ve done has been influenced by Bella in one way or another. You’re still just too damn stubborn to admit it, or too blind to see it.”

“Just blame Bella for everything? Is that your plan?”

“Why not? That’s what she’s been doing this whole time. Scapegoating me. But you’re right. It’s not all her fault. It’s mine too. I should’ve transferred out of here the minute that bullshit with you went down, instead allowing myself to become so consumed with revenge that I barely recognized myself when it was over.” The look that crosses her face pierces my heart. I still fucking hate what I did. She closes her eyes and when she opens them, the look is gone, replaced by steely resolve. “But now it’s too late. I’m still here and I’m still in this mess. And the only way I can come out on the other side is to finish what I started.”

She logs off the computer and stands. “I don’t know what you hoped to gain with this little talk, but what you’ve done is pissed me off. I don’t need you to believe my story, or to even like it. In fact, just stay out of it.”

“I can’t do that.”

“Then for fuck’s sake, Logan, pick a side. I’m not even saying it has to be mine. Just pick one and buckle the fuck up for whatever happens next.”

Fire and determination flash in her eyes. The look hits me straight in the gut. Fuck, she looks beautiful all worked up. How Bella could ever convince someone that Jordy’s weak and pathetic is a testament to just how far people will go to be liked. How much they’re willing to pretend to believe a lie just for a moment of validation and an outside chance to be deemed worthy.

Bella has an army of lawyers at her disposal. They won’t make this easy on Jordanna. There’s only so much I can do if she’s not willing to accept my help.

“It’s gonna take more than a piece of paper for Bella to give up her throne.”

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