Reign of Brayshaw (Brayshaw High #3)(54)

Royce turns back to me with a rundown expression. “Are you okay?”

My eyes move between his, and I force a whisper he won’t want to hear pass my lips. “I need to go.”

His eyes harden. “I’m coming with you.”

I shake my head and he jerks away from me.

“You go, I fucking go, Raven,” he growls, but fear burns in his eyes.

“You can’t,” I breathe. “He’ll wake up again soon. He can’t be alone when he does.”

“He needs you here just as much, maybe more. You’re his wife,” he spits the word with a nasty edge. “Or are you running with this new information that might not mean shit, so you can pretend the last few days never fucking happened if it does?”

Bass’s footsteps sound behind me and Royce’s head shoots up, his lip curling. “I fucking dare you, bitch.” His chest rumbles with his words.

“Wait in the hall. Both of you,” I say, not taking my eyes off Royce who won’t take his off Bass.

As soon as the door swings open and closed, I reach out, gripping Royce’s face, forcing his eyes to mine.

His harsh exhales grow deeper. He’s hurting, angry. I deserve so much worse than a few heated words he’ll feel like shit over later.

“If he wakes up, tell him I’ll be back.” My eyes bounce between his. “I will be back, Royce. I’m not leaving you.”

“And if you find answers that change things, then what?” he spits. “You pretend nothing ever happened?”

My face must say it all, because in the next second his falls, his features screaming his honest truth – he wanted me to say yes, that it would all change, go back to how it was, but Captain is in this bed because I asked him to join me in mine, and sooner than we promised to.

How could I possibly turn my back on him when he so quickly gave his for mine?

I couldn’t.

“How am I supposed to let you walk out of here not knowing what you’re walking into? My brother would fucking kill me.” His chest caves as mine does, and he cuts a quick glance away. “Both of them. Not that they’d have to. I’d fuck my own self up.”

I swallow. “Bass will help me.”

“Fuck him,” he spits, angrily. “I hate him. I hate him near you, I fucking hate him around and I plan to make sure it’s mutual. I’m gonna fuck him over, one way or another for good measure.” He glares. “He’s not me. He can’t protect you like I can. He wouldn’t die for you like I would.”

I give a tight smile. “I know.” I step against him, pulling his head down to mine. “I know, but I need you to stay with him. Be here for him while I can’t be, while Maddoc isn’t. I need you, ponyboy, but he needs you more right now. Please.”

Royce’s facial muscles constrict, and he drops his forehead to mine. A sad scoffed laugh leaves him, his hands finding my hips. “Problem child’s sayin’ please?” he teases, closing his eyes.

A small laugh escapes. “Guess I am.”

His jaw clamps shut, but he leans in, kissing the corner of my mouth before pulling back, his dark lashes low. “He’s gone if you come back with so much as an added scratch. Make sure that’s clear.”

I agree, moving for the door.

“I hate this,” he says on a shuttered whisper.

“I know.” I pause to look at Captain then meet Royce’s eyes again. “I’ll be back.”

“You better be.” He frowns. “Or we all die today.”





The elevator doors open, and I step onto the cement, my eyes finding Bass a few feet out, Victoria at his side. He slips a cigarette between his lips, nodding his chin as he brings his lighter up.

I glance the way he’s motioned and jerk to an immediate stop.

Rolland sits against the side wall, tie undone, head in his hands. Not one of his security around, his driver not perched near waiting.

It’s just him.

I walk over, stopping right in front of him, kicking his shoe when he doesn’t move a single muscle.

He jolts, glare flying to mine, only for panic to flare the second he sees me. He jumps to his feet. “Is he okay?”

I bite into my cheek, glaring at him. “Not yet, he’s not.”

His heavy inhale causes my chest to ache, even more so when his eyes morph into the ones I used to know, concern laced through them. For me. “Where are you going, Raven?”

“To make a point. To let them know I’ll fuck their world harder than they’ve fucked mine and without hesitation.”

His lips pinch and I know he wants to argue, but he keeps them locked tight, as he should.

“Go up.”

Rolland’s eyes slice to mine.

“Be there for your sons, especially the one on the verge of flipping out, he’s up there and feeling more alone than ever. Be a fucking dad and nothing else, for once. Stare at Captain and replay all the wrong decisions you made, but first I need something from you.”

“Anything,” he relents.

“I need to get in touch with the Riveras.”

“Gio?” he guesses, but I don’t bother confirming.

With his forehead drawn tight, he pulls a random card from his wallet and a pen from his dress shirt pocket, quickly scribbling a number on the back of it.