Broken Prince: A Novel (The Royals Book 2) by Erin Watt

blinking back tears.
    I have Val, I remind myself, and she’s the only person in Astor Park whose opinion matters. And Easton, I guess. He’s barely left my side since I got back to Bayview, so I think I have no choice but to consider him a friend. Even if I do despise his brother.
    After class, I head back to my locker to exchange textbooks because they don’t all fit in my bag. Easton disappears down the hall, but not before squeezing my arm when we encounter yet another flurry of nasty whispers.
    “So today’s Easton’s day?”
    I tense up at the sound of Jordan Carrington’s voice. I was wondering how long it would take for that bitch to roll out the unwelcome mat.
    Rather than answer, I grab my World History text off the top shelf and replace it with my chem book.
    “That’s the arrangement, right? You alternate between Reed and Easton? Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, you do Reed. Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, you do East.” Jordan cocks her head. “What about Sundays? Is that reserved for one or both of the twins?”
    I slam the locker door and turn to smile at her. “Nah, on Sundays I bone your boyfriend. Except for the times he’s busy—then I do your dad.”
    Her eyes flash with anger. “Watch your mouth, bitch.”
    Keeping my smile in place becomes a strain. “Watch yours, Jordan. Unless you want me to smack you again?” I prompt, reminding her of the beatdown I gave her in the gym last month.
    She releases a throaty laugh. “Go ahead and try. Let’s see how far you get when you don’t have Reed to protect you.”
    I take a step closer, but she doesn’t even flinch. “I don’t need Reed’s protection. I never did.”
    “Oh, really?”
    “Yeah, really.” I jam one finger in the center of her chest, right between her perky boobs. “I’m capable of taking you down all by myself, Jordan.”
    “It’s a whole new era here at Astor Park, Ella . The Royals don’t call the shots anymore. I do. One word from me, and every single student at this school will be happy to make your life miserable.”
    “Gee, I’m terrified.”
    Her lips curve. “You should be.”
    “Whatever.” I’m sick to death of this chick’s power trips. “Get the hell out of my way.”
    She tosses her shiny brown hair over one shoulder. “What if I don’t feel like it?”
    “Everything okay here?” a male voice asks.
    We both turn to see Sawyer standing there. His redheaded girlfriend, Lauren, is with him. She glances uneasily at Jordan, then me.
    “This doesn’t concern you, little Royal.” Jordan doesn’t even look at him, but she does take the time to sneer at Lauren. “Doesn’t concern you either, Donovan, so why don’t you and Sawyer get out of my face. Or is it Sebastian? I can never tell those two apart.” An evil gleam lights her face. “What about you, sweetie? Can you tell them apart? Or do you keep your eyes closed when they’re doing you?”
    I’d wondered if Lauren knew about the twin switches Sawyer and Sebastian were pulling on her, and the expression on her face right now answers that question. Instead of shocked, she looks embarrassed and indignant.
    But the girl has bigger balls than I thought, because she faces Jordan’s mocking gaze and says, “Fuck off, Jordan.” Then she clasps Sawyer’s hand and drags him away from us.
    Jordan laughs again. “That whole family is twisted, huh? But I bet you get off on that, just like that slut Lauren. Right, Ella? A dirty stripper like you probably enjoys getting tag-teamed by two Royals.”
    “Are we done here?” I ask tightly.
    She winks at me. “Oh, sweetie, no. We’re never going to be done. In fact, we’re just getting started.” She flutters her fingers in a dainty wave, then strolls down the hall without a backward look.
    I watch her go, wondering what the hell kind of chaos I’ve come back to.

    * * *
    A t lunch , Valerie and I sit at a table in the corner of the room, where I try to pretend that we’re the only two people