Reign of Brayshaw (Brayshaw High #3)(58)

“It’s the only place in the school out of sight, the camera position is off. There’s a three-foot, two-inch gap from the gym door down. I marked the focal point with a photo last year. You’re in sight if you’re past the frame.”

“Why is the camera off?”

“Because sometimes this place calls for moves others can’t see.”

“It was purposeful?”

“My father makes no mistakes.”

I nod.

“Go. I’ll have him there in five minutes.” She spins on her spikey heels.

“Chloe,” I call.

She turns back to me.

“Thanks.”

“I don’t know what’s happening, but something is wrong, I can sense it here and at home. I have a suspicion only you can fix it.” She tucks her long hair behind her ear. “The Brayshaws are more than three guys to us. We follow because we believe in them and what we know they can do for this town. We may be young, but we’ve seen what our parents and generations before us did to their own. We want more than that.”

“You’ll have more than that.”

Her lips twitch. “Prove it, Brayshaw.”

She walks away and I turn back to the others.

Victoria glares after Chloe while Bass and Mac stare at me with raised brows.

“Royce asked me to—”

I cut Mac off. “Do whatever he wants, we’re good.”

“You sure?”

“Go.”

With that, we part ways, the three of us heading for the back end of the gym.

“What are we doing here exactly?” Victoria asks.

“Talking.”

She scoffs. “Right.”

“Perkins has given us nothing from his own mouth, yet he turned his back on his brother for my mom. Helped watch over the boys while Rolland was away, protected—” I cut myself off.”

Zoey.

“He did all that as he stood back as the bad guy, acted as if he hated them while they legit did him.”

“He did what you did,” Bass says, his eyes sliding my way. “You went to Collins to protect them, let them think you were the bad guy, allowed them to believe you betrayed them. Let the entire school think they let their guard slip.”

I glare straight ahead. “I never should have done it.”

“No, you shouldn’t have, but that’s not the point. You did and without thoughts of self-preservation.”

“Is this your way of saying I should trust Perkins? Freely, without him having to earn it?”

“No. This is me pointing out you’re capable of even more than these grown-ass men are and without reason.”

“I love them. That’s reason enough.”

“But that’s pure, Raven. Not mixed with hatred, or jealousy, or greed. You love them, so you protected them. Period. Everyone else around here has a deeper motivation than you.”

I whip around, shoving him in his chest, but he doesn’t even budge.

He glares.

“Say what you wanna say, Bishop!”

“You don’t owe him anything, Raven.” He gets in my face. “If he deserved to know what happened, he would already.”

I go to look away, but he moves with me, staying in my face.

“I know you want answers, and you deserve them, but you do not have to go in there and tell him what’s happened to Captain, or your mom. He didn’t earn this from you, and Captain wouldn’t give him a damn word. He’s the one who told Collins about you. He may have had Ravina’s best interest in mind at one point, but you became nothing but collateral damage.”

“He knows more than he’s saying.”

“And he’s a piece of shit for not volunteering the information to you.”

“That’s why I’m here, Bass. This is his chance to tell me what he’s hiding.”

“One minute,” Victoria reminds us.

“And if he doesn’t?” Bass lifts his brow, mockingly.

I push forward, tugging the door open and stepping into the hall.

“Make sure the area is empty.” They nod and make quick work of disappearing behind the boy’s and girl’s locker room doors.

I slide into the concave that holds a water fountain and wait.

Not five seconds later, Chloe’s voice is within range.

“My concern is the article doesn’t depict the proper tone we strive for.” The door opens.

“What would you have me do, Ms. Carpo?”

Chloe’s heels clink against the flooring until she stops right where I’m hidden. She doesn’t look for me, doesn’t blink, but spins to face him, dropping her binder in front of her, standing as straight as a statue. “I’d have you castrated for abandoning a Brayshaw, trying to hurt one, and helping hide another. In my home, there is no room for dishonesty. You lie, you pay. You hurt ours, we crush yours. You should know this already though, Connor. It was your world once, too.”

“What the hell is this?” He speaks slowly.

I step out, my eyes hitting his before I turn my body to face him completely.

“Raven,” he edges, subconsciously taking a step backward, his eyes flying to the door behind me when Chloe lets it slam with her exit. “What is this?” He takes in my fresh bruising. “What happened? Why are you here alone? Where are the boys? Did—”