Page 88 of Brutal Kingdom

“Graham insisted it was better for Rumi, and I wouldn’t let her leave without me.”

I understand how protective he is of his sister. I feel the same way about Summer. “Will she have to go back too?”

“Yes, and her future is even bleaker than mine.”

I’m afraid to ask, but I do, anyway. “Why?”

“Because of the animal she’s going to have to marry.”

“She doesn’t get a choice?”

“In our world, just like this one, choice is an illusion. Alliances are made when we’re in diapers. Girls are considered property. Of their fathers, then their husbands. Women have no power.”

“That’s bullshit. Women have all the power. Men just like to beat us over the head and try to make us believe we don’t.”

Thinking of just how much I’d hate living the life Rumi’s heading toward pisses me off. She’s a sweet girl and shouldn’t be worried about getting married and spitting out babies with a man her brother clearly detests. I think of Imogen refusing to marry the man her father picked and what happened to her. Something tells me being exiled isn’t an option for Rumi.

“Rumi at least has until she finishes grad school. Maybe your father will change his mind.”

Rocco looks at me with dead eyes. “Rumi has until her husband’s family decides its time. That could be six years from now, or two days.”

I look at her again. She’s still on the fringe of Bella’s group, hoping someone says something to her. Rumi reminds me ofmewhen I first got here. Not the part about wanting to fit in. I didn’t give a shit about that, but I was sweet and innocently naïve. I can see she’s desperate for friends. This world is gonna chew her up and spit her out, and it breaks my heart.

I get to my feet, walking over to where she stands. “Rumi, there you are. I was looking all over for you.”

Her eyes widen. “You were?”

“Yup. I was about to head into town to grab some paints from the craft store. You mentioned needing to get your watch fixed. I thought you might like to share an Uber with me.”

She fiddles with the broken timepiece on her arm. “You wanna go to town with me?”

“Sure. We can grab dinner while we’re there.”

“Um. I think…” She looks at Bella, wanting so badly for her approval. I don’t feel slighted. Bella’s queen and Rumi wants to be associated with a woman with power. I can respect that. But I also know that Bella will never acknowledge her as an equal and that Rumi will only feel empowered when she’s taking control of her own life.

“I know, I know. It’s last minute and you’ve probably already made other plans with some hot guy. I just thought I’d give it a shot.”

Bella, tired of our exchange, jumps in. “You think she has plans?” She and the plastic girl band snicker. “Who would she have plans with?”

Ah, dear Bella, if you only knew the number of people who would die to make plans with Rumi Fiore. Only problem is those guys literally face death with her brother and their guards around.

“Well, I mean. She could have plans with her brother. That’s obvious. But I saw Hugo and Stephen trying to work up the nerve to talk to her outside the dining hall, and Mario was circling her in the library. Then there was the kid from chess club at the newspaper mixer on Saturday, and I could’ve sworn Frankie and Hal were staring at her ass when I walked over here, so-”

Bella growls, cutting me off. She might not care about any of those other names I mentioned, because she doesn’t know who they are, but Frankie and Hal zoned in on Rumi instead of listening to whatever shit she was spewing definitely hit a nerve.

“There’s no way my guys were…” Her voice trails off when she looks over at Frankie, who I’m silently daring to say I’m wrong. I want him to call me a liar, so I can finally call him out on his pathetic attempt to pimp me out.

“She’s cute, Bella.” He shrugs, unbothered by her glare, and I turn my attention back to the girl who I’m really over here for.

“Well, if you change your mind, I’ll be waiting for my friend Kassidy to finish with her last class, so text me.”

She looks from Bella to me, and I turn to walk away. I only make it a few steps before I hear Rumi hurrying after me. “Jordanna, wait up. I think I will get my watch fixed today.”

* * *

This is it. My official coming out party. Only instead of balloons and streamers there’s an impending feeling of doom and despair hanging over my head. I’ve been running from this type of scrutiny since the beginning. Last year I catapulted myself into their world, but I was still on the outside, hiding in plain sight. This is different. This is me putting myself front and center, bringing the fight to them. I can’t expect the student body to stand with me if I don’t make a stand for myself.

Pushing my nerves aside, I step through the door alone and head to the middle of the room. Speaking and smiling at people I recognize. My destination is the same as everyone else’s. The bar, but I’m taking the route that leads me through the lion’s den. Sporting the pendant necklace Pepper gave me. The one with my family crest inside the silver circle. The long chain hits dead center, nestling the pendant between my breasts. It’s a statement. A bold one, and the looks I’m getting lets me know everyone knows what I’m saying.

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