Reign of Brayshaw (Brayshaw High #3)(42)

“Wanna get high?” she asks.

“Not really.”

“Drink?”

“Nope.”

She sits up, looking down at me. “Wanna go sit by the pool and do absolutely nothing like we are now, but with a better view?”

I start to say no when she adds, “There’s a train track behind the property. You can see it from the upper deck. You’re a rich girl now, you can get us up there.”

I turn my head to look at her, a small smile on my lips.

She pushes to her feet, so I let her pull me up, and the two of us do just that.

We don’t even have to say a word to anyone, and the rope leading to the top deck is held open for us.

We find a seat closest to the large glass window that allows us to look over the ledge, and not two minutes after we’re seated, fresh ice waters and a tray full of grapes, weird little slices of meat, and cheese is set before us.

The man says nothing, sets them down and walks away.

“It’s no wonder rich people stay rich.” Victoria pops a piece of funky colored cheese in her mouth, only to drop it into her palm with a small gag, making me laugh. “They get tons of shit for free.”

I play it safe and pick up what looks like salami only lighter. “They probably give it to you, then charge your room for it later.”

She chuckles, wiping her hands.

A train starts by right then and we shift to look at it.

“Where’d the boys go again?”

To visit Zoey, but I can’t say that to her, so I give a look that says don’t ask so I don’t have to lie.

She changes the subject easy enough and we spend the rest of the day swapping stories about the funny shit we’ve seen and anything else we can think of that’s worth a solid laugh.

It’s a less than shitty day.



This is the worst day I’ve had since I forced myself to walk back into Brayshaw high, all twisted and fucked and wrong in every way.

Raven at Cap’s side, the Graven bitch at mine. Not that I bother talking to her, looking at her, or acknowledging her presence at all. She couldn’t care less, though. All she wanted in return for her few days spent was for word to get back to Graven Prep of how she sat comfortably at the Brayshaw table. Doubt she was any kind of comfortable, but it didn’t matter, it was all for show.

Shit, my entire life, my brothers, and my girls, is nothing but a fucking show right now. One I was done playing a role in, so I stopped fucking going. Again.

Now, here I am, wanting to enjoy my niece like my brothers are, but finding every excuse I can to walk away.

First it was to check the electrical fence, next to walk the property line and make sure there were no signs of forced entry or prep for it. After that, I went inside and checked all the windows, reset the alarm system and looked in the attic.

I couldn’t fucking think of anything else, so now my face is in my phone, but only for a second before little feet land in front of mine, big blue eyes looking up at me.

“Cheese!” she says, smiling, staring at my phone.

A laugh leaves me, and I take a small step back and take her picture like she wanted.

“I wanna see!” She reaches for it, so I bend down and turn the screen toward her.

She laughs at herself, pulls the phone from my hand, and then drops onto my bent knee.

I quickly adjust my balance so we don’t fall back, and her feet start to swing in front of me. She pushes a bunch of buttons, but when nothing happens, she hands it back and stands.

“Hu-mon!” she says, waving over her shoulder as she makes her way back to Captain and Royce, both who stare at me from only feet away.

I take a step forward, only to freeze the second Cap bends down to pick her up and hugs her close.

My mind places Raven at his side, his smile on her, and Zoey’s hand connected to them both.

I turn, get in my SUV and go.

This is why I drove myself today.

After a quick stop at the house, I pull up in front of the large gate of the warehouses and wait for it to be pushed open. I slowly back in, stopping when the head of my vehicle is right at the line. This way, neither Cap or Royce’s can fit behind me. Not that they’ll be coming.

Mac steps up, nodding his head with a frown so I push my door open, pulling the bottles from the passenger seat and waving them at him.

With a small chuckle, he shakes his head moving aside so I can step out.

I hit the button on my key fob and the back opens.

We both drop down, and I waste no time popping it open and take a few shots straight from the bottle.

I pass it to Mac as he says, “Guessing you being here without your brothers means they don’t know you’re here?”

“Nope.” I look out over the crowd.

They’re prepping for the fights, placing bets, and getting fucked up while doing it.

I look to the building at the edge of the property. “Get someone in there, gut the fucking thing and deck it out. Make it a place we can kick back, but out of sight. Put a room in there, too.”

Mac nods, pulling his phone out. “On it.”

I take another drink, shaking my head out when this one burns on its way down. “Who you got making the cards tonight?”

“Bass has it all handled. We send him names, he sends us the setup. Signs off on everything.”

I glare at the people partying, having fucking fun.