Reign of Brayshaw (Brayshaw High #3)(57)

Gio.

My shoulders relax. “I need your help. Now, today.”

“You gotta give me more than that, Raven. I can come now, no doubt, but if you need me for who I am today, you have to lay it out. I have a man to stand behind, too, girl. Clearance is mandatory.”

I lick my lips, nodding, my eyes follow Bass as he cases the area around us to make sure nobody is standing near, listening. “Is he with you?”

“He is.”

“You can put me on speaker.”

There’s some ruffling on the other end, and then his voice comes back on the line. “Talk to me, Rae.”

“He underestimated me. They all did,” I whisper, a deep ache forming between my ribs. “I’m gonna show them... my family is mine. Mine to hurt, mine to heal. Not theirs.”

“Someone is hurt.” Trick’s voice hits my ear.

I knew he was smart.

“And someone is dead.”

“Who died?” flies from Gio. “Raven, who is hurt?”

“Son,” is a sharp whisper on the other end of the line.

“This town is mine to take. Help me.” It’s honest and to the point, it’s all I have.

It’s quiet a minute before Gio speaks again. “What happened?”

I turn, looking up at the tall glass building, knowing Royce’s eyes must be on me.

Please don’t feel like you’re alone.

I drop my stare to my shoes, grinding my toe into the gravel. “I’ll do it without you if I have to, but I’m standing here asking you to see these people for what they are. Help me, help my town before it’s too late.”

“Give us an hour. Fifteen to have a jet fueled, thirty to land, fifteen to reach you.”

“I’ll tell you where to go.”

“I know where to go, Raven.” Trick’s deep voice is both soothing and chilling.

“Then you understand.”

“I’ve waited for this. The point of our existence is to protect those who can’t protect themselves, provide safety to our people, and trust in an untrustworthy world. They’ve failed you and your people. We’ll remind them that is not allowed.”

I nod even though he can’t see me and turn to Bass.

“Can your phone be tracked?”

He pulls it from my hand and tosses it under the nearest car.

A hint of a smirk ghosts my lips before it’s gone.

“I have a key to the Brayshaw mansion. We can go there while we wait.”

I shake my head. “No. We’re going to the school. I need to talk to Perkins.”

Without another word spoken, we make our way to his car.

Donley made a mistake demanding me.

Rolland made a mistake leaving me behind.

I’ll show them all, I’m more than they can handle.

Bass puts the car in reverse but pauses before his foot hits the gas. He gives a half glance at Victoria in the backseat before lifting his hips in his seat.

I hold my breath as he pulls my knife from his pocket and flips it open, not a speck of red to be found.

With a nod, I reach out and close my fist around it.

My eyes hit his.

“Ready, Bishop?”

“Ready, Carver.”

“Let’s make them regret this.”

I sit back in my seat, a calmness settling over me.

They want an obedient wife.

They’re getting a defiant queen.





School is just getting out when we pull up.

Students pour from the building, their steps slowing when they spot me, Bass, and Victoria right behind me.

Wide eyes scan the bruising on my face, but I simply give small nods to the people I pass.

I don’t want to fight with them. Before, I’d get angry when they made remarks or stared and assumed, but it’s only natural. They’ve been left in the dark which is wrong when they’re expected to stay in an order set by my name.

These are my people, and they need to feel comfortable enough to speak to me whenever they want.

Mac must have heard we were here, because he suddenly pops around a corner. He holds a hand up, so we slow to a stop, allowing him to catch up.

“Everything okay?” he asks. “I didn’t know you were coming.”

“I didn’t tell anyone.”

Mac nods, looking behind him then back to me. “Perkins?”

“Where is he?”

“The gym, signing off on some new equipment that came in, but the baseball team is in there conditioning.”

“I need him alone.”

“I can help.”

Our heads snap left to find Chloe stepping up, her arms crossed over her binder. She stops right next to me.

“Go into the hall outside the gym, not the one that leads outside, but the one Maddoc tricked you into when he made everyone think you were prostituting here.” When my eyes narrow, she keeps going. “It’s the only one that has doors on each side. Mac or her” —her eyes snap to Victoria and back— “can stand behind one, Bishop behind the other in case you need someone close. I don’t think you plan on doing anything crazy, you’d have waited to get him at home if you had, but just in case, that’s where you want to be.”

“Why?”