Page 89 of Brutal Kingdom

Bella rises from the sofa and comes to stand in front of me, greedily eyeing the pendant. The one lost to our family for all these years. “Where the hell did you get that?”

I force myself not to fidget with it. “It was a gift. From a friend.”

“It doesn’t belong to you.” She reaches out to grab it. I snatch her wrist, pushing it away.

“We both know that’s not true.”

“It’s the Bendevire crest, handed down to members of the family. That’s not you.”

“I’ve filed paperwork that says otherwise, and it’s up to the courts to disprove it.”

“My father assures me, they will.”

“Then you have nothing to worry about it.” Dixon’s staring at me. He’s standing beside the window with two champagne flutes in his hand. Sidestepping Bella, I say. “Enjoy your night IsabelleLance.”

I pull Dixon into a hug before taking my drink from him. “How’s it going?” I ask, genuinely happy to see him.

“I could ask you the same question. It’s all over campus.”

“What is?”

“That there’s a new heir in town.”

I haven’t come out and said the words to anyone. I knew people would find out eventually, but Bella’s the one spreading the gossip trying to disprove my claim in the court of public opinion. Hoping the scrutiny will make me back down. It won’t. I’ve talked to Mr. Kellett. He said once the judge opens the docket, there are interviews to be had, records to be found, and secret vaults to unseal. Several someones went through a lot of trouble to hide Imogen’s relation to Elijah. Pepper has her best PI on it and says we have to do our part. That means I have to attend various events around Kingsley Hollow.

People were already talking about me. The scholarship kid. Now Pepper and her friends are changing the narrative. I thought great aunt Georgianne was a hermit, but it turns out Pepper’s ladies guild liked her. These women are helping out of their fondness for her, and not just Pepper’s barking commands. The rumor mill is always going. This time I hope it works in my favor.

I answer Dixon’s unspoken questions. “Let’s just say I’ve recently become interested in my ancestry, and instead of finding an easy-to-read family tree, it looks like a tangled ball of yarn.” Looking at the crowd, I say, “I was in Ridgeland Crest a few weeks ago. It’s beautiful, and I’m in love with your library.”

He smiles at my mention of the library. “I used to spend hours in that place. But don’t let the beauty fool you. Kingsley Hollow isn’t the only place with complicated family dynamics or social norms.”

Our topic turns to school and I listen to him explain the paper he’s writing on international trade agreements and diplomacy. I like the normalcy of our interactions. It’s a lifeline, keeping me from succumbing to the urge to run out of this room.

He squeezes my hand when a group of girls close to our age walks by, and says loud enough for me to hear, “She’s the one from the art symposium last year. You know, the one who posed forthosepictures.”

“I heard she’s claiming to be a descendent from one of the founding families.”

“I heard the same thing. But it’s really Bella Lance that’s the descendent. I’m not surprised that girl is lying. She is Penn Waldorf’s step daughter.”

“My daddy was saying the same thing. His trial is coming up and they’re desperate for money, so she’s trying to steal Bella’s.”

“She’ll learn soon enough what happens around here to liars and thieves.”

The girls aren’t the worst of it. The wives sneer at me, and drag their sons or husbands closer to them when I walk by. As if I’m an escort about to proposition them to take me in the middle of the floor.

As much as I want to react, I can’t. Pepper told me what to expect and said I have to remain poised and in control. Tonight is my first taste of having a spotlight thrown on me by the people who control this town. So I smile and mingle and pretend like I’m excited to be here, because I know it’s all one big test.

I’m wired and feeling anxious and unsettled. The charity party was tougher than I thought. I wasn’t expecting a warm welcome, but the looks of anger, and the snide comments, were hard to ignore. Then there’s Penn’s lawyers calling me every day, trying to convince me to hear him out. I understand advocating for your client, but these calls border on harassment.

Painting’s not giving me the catharsis I need. There are too many thoughts going through my mind and my life feels like it’s spinning out of control. The more I try to organize and make sense of things, the less clear they get. I drop my brush in the cup of acetone, letting my hair down as I walk towards the bathroom.

I’m in and out of the shower in ten minutes, standing in front of my closet, trying to find something to wear. I settle on a puff sleeved mini dress and nude shoes. I won’t need a wallet tonight, so I grab a small wristlet just to have somewhere to put my key.

The last time I was here, I was herded like cattle in a dark and twisted game. Tonight I’m here because I need to quell the chaos inside me, and this is the only place I feel safe to do it. The freedom of The Rift lies in the fact that anything goes here. That includes me indulging in my dangerous attraction to Logan McKay. He’s been respectful of my boundaries, but I see the way he looks at me when no one’s watching. How tense he is whenever a guy comes close to me. I know he’s on edge, fighting the urge to force me into his bed. To convince me to let him back into my life. We both need this.

I don’t waste time pretending to mingle. I know exactly where I’m going. I just hope I get there before anyone else does, because I’m not sure I have the energy to explain myself if I’m caught. The room is empty, but the seats are already facing the glass. I press myself into the corner, obscured by the Roman pillar that’s part of the archway framing the room. I’ll see him when he comes in, but I should go unnoticed.

The couples enter and I push myself further into the shadows. This is a holding area for most people. They’ll be leaving as soon as the doors to the interior rooms open.

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