Reign of Brayshaw (Brayshaw High #3)(39)

I offer a small smile, continuing, “It is exactly why Donley still wanted me after he found out I wasn’t a virgin. It’s why your dad brought me to you guys first instead of giving me to them directly. Maybe their reasons came from different places, but they both came to the same conclusion.”

“What conclusion?”

“That I’d walk through fire if it kept you guys from getting burnt. Your dad wanted me to grow close to you guys so when I was passed over, someone on the Donley side would be looking out for you three. Donley wanted me because, for the first time, he felt he was taking something of value from Brayshaw.

“In his eyes, having me meant he had power over all of you, over this town and the Brayshaw name. I mean, think about it, Cap. He wanted my mom as a virgin bride who loved her future husband, yet he was willing to take me used and force me to marry Collins if he had to?” I shake my head. “He only wanted me because he knew, if he dangled any of you in front of me, I could be played as his puppet, do whatever he asked when asked. Be his little doll.”

Captain steps closer. “You won’t be a doll, or trophy, or side fixture. You will be treated with nothing but respect from every person in every room everywhere no matter where we find ourselves through this, I promise you.”

“You don’t even have to say it, Cap. I know, and I trust you.”

Captain moves his hands to my biceps. “I don’t... what do we do about...”

Maddoc.

Pressure builds behind my eyes, an ache taking form in my chest, so I give a small shrug.

Captain’s face contorts, pain and affliction laced through every inch of him.

I’m sure his loss hurts as much as mine, maybe even worse if such a thing exists.

My mind won’t stop racing, and what it keeps leading me to both settles and stings in some way.

There’s no longer such a thing as a good move, only an easier one, and what I’m thinking is easier, but not for me.

For him. For Royce.

I drop my eyes to the concrete beneath me. “I’ve been thinking. I know we can’t do anything about what happens later, how we feel or react in situations, but ... I think we can save us all from a lot of unnecessary grief.” I meet his stare.

He studies me, and after a minute, agrees. “I think you’re right.” He hesitates a moment before saying, “I know someone who can help.”

“Now?”

His forehead tightens, but he nods.

“Make the call, Cap.”



I didn’t sleep, but when the sun refuses to be ignored any longer, I open my eyes, meeting Captain’s sleepy ones beside me.

He gives a small smile, tension lining his brow.

“Stop,” I whisper, reaching up to wipe it away.

He grips my hand, squeezing, unease taking over his eyes more and more by the second. “Are you okay?”

I nod, dropping mine to his chest.

With a heavy sigh, he slides from the bed, quietly disappearing into the bathroom.

And the first tear falls, followed by another, and before I know it, I’m covering my face with a pillow to muffle my own cries.

Pathetic.

My tears are pointless, if I didn’t hear myself and if the heat from each one falling didn’t warm my cheeks, I wouldn’t even know I was crying. I feel nothing, felt nothing last night. Not even regret, which might be the worst part.

A heaviness forms against my chest and I gasp, searching for air I can’t find. I rush over to the little sink, quickly splashing water on my face, and rubbing it across my neck.

I tie my hair back, pausing to stare at myself a moment.

Of course, Captain steps from the bathroom right then, frowning when he sees me.

After a moment he walks toward the bed and grabs my sleep shorts from the floor, bringing them to me.

He spins around so I can slip them on under my long shirt, then turns back reaching for my hand. I allow him to lead me to the balcony, but we don’t step out, instead sitting on the edge of a little chair.

“Raven—”

“Don’t, Cap. I’m fine, I promise.” I pull myself to my feet, turning to look him in the eyes.

He holds mine a minute before dropping his to the carpet at our feet.

With a heavy exhale, I tug his hand so he’s standing and move us into the sunlight more. I step into him, and he wraps his arms around me in a hug.

“We need to get dressed so we aren’t late.” Cap pulls back, tipping my chin up to look at him. “Or we can ditch?”

With a deep breath, I shake my head. “There’s no point. We only have a few months left. Finish strong, right?”

He gives a light chuckle, but it falls off. “All right, come on.”

We’re dressed and heading out the door within twenty minutes, and not ten after that, we’re pulling into the Brayshaw High parking lot.





“Is that your dad’s town car?”

Cap leans over to look. “Yeah.”

“Did he tell you he’d be here today?” I frown.

“Nope.” Cap’s expression mirrors mine.

I’m about to ask what he thinks it means when I spot Chloe perched against her car chatting with a few of her friends, so I tell Cap to stop.

“When I first got here, Chloe said she could make me go away with one phone call. What did she mean by that?” I turn to him.