Be My Brayshaw (Brayshaw High #4)(105)

Raven studies me a long moment, and then with a deep inhale, her smile grows until a small laugh leaves her. “And there it is.”

Maddoc slides up, wrapping his arms around her, and she leans against his chest. “Okay, Cap. Tell us what to do.”

“If Mike came for her, he wants her to want to go. He won’t hurt her, there’s no way. If he planned to do that, he’d have done it a long time ago,” I tell them the only reason I’m not fully losing my shit right now. “I have no doubt he’s been watching, he’s seen her with me. He knows what she wants. He has no choice but to persuade her.”

“He wants to convince her she isn’t wanted here, that she means nothing,” Raven guesses.

I nod, thinking.

What I have to do becomes clear, a wince following.

Fuck.

I turn away, rubbing my palm along my chest, my shoulders set.

Before I can think too hard on it, I pull out my phone, scroll and hit call before bringing it to my ear, speaking the second the line is picked up. “I hope you’re home, because I’m coming over.” I hang up as quickly as I dialed.

Royce frowns, looking from Maddoc to me. “Cap.”

“You’re not gonna like it. I fucking hate it.”

“We’re with you.”

“Captain,” Perkins interrupts, stepping closer eyeing the four of us, but settling on me. “He’s a smart young man. All he’s ever known is trickery, and all he has ever had is her. If push comes to shove, he won’t hesitate to do whatever he has to. He loves her.”

“She’s not his to love.”

She’s mine.





Chapter 35





Victoria



My tongue smacks against the roof of my mouth, my lips parting with a bit of a sting as I peel my eyes open.

Mike sits across from me, elbows on his knees, holding out a water. “Thirsty?”

It takes serious effort to lift my foot and knock his hand, and even then, it doesn’t do a damn thing. “Ambien in all the water bottles?”

He nods, a small grin on his lips. “In case you reached to the back of the fridge. Just like old times.” He stares at me a moment, and it’s as if he feels the distance the last few years have placed between us, a heaviness settles over him. “Remember we’d slip it to my good old dad so we could stay up together?”

I try to clear my throat, but it’s too dry, so I nod, rasping, “Yeah, Mike. I remember.”

He nods, looking away, only to swing his eyes right back, and this time they’re focused. “You are leaving with me, Victoria.”

My blinks are so heavy, my eyes begin to close again.

“Where are we?” I fight to stay awake, glancing at the lavish bedroom.

“Least suspecting pit stop.” His smile is sad as he grabs a remote, turning on a little monitor, and stuffing the control into his jeans. “I didn’t want to do this, but you need to see.”

“See what?”

“Reality, so you can leave this place without question,” he whispers, lowering to his knees. “I told you, I’m giving you everything you need to be happy, baby, so there’ll be nothing left for you here.”

Tension pulls in my gut, my eyes bouncing between his. “Mike...”

“Shh.” He pushes my hair back, setting a water bottle in my lap. “The seal’s not broken on this one. No more meds.”

There’s a sound in the background, and a voice follows, but sleep calls.

“I’ll be back soon, Tor, and with a surprise.”





A loud ring has my eyes opening, a clinking sound following and I push into a sitting position.

“Hi.”

My muscles tense, but I focus on the voices.

“You got here fast.”

Mallory.

My eyes fly around the room, landing on the monitor Mike turned on and I pull myself up, squinting at the tiny screen.

Several small squares make up the monitor, a live stream surveillance system like the one Mero had.

“You asked me to come see you today, and here I am.”

A sting shoots through my body, making my feet throb.

Captain?

Mallory is hesitant with her backward steps, but just then he slips inside with confidence.

He’s with her right now?

My hand flies to my chest as he wastes no time pushing against her, his hand grabbing at a piece of her blonde hair he seems to love so much.

“Now I want to hear you beg.” He leans in and as his mouth slides across hers, a metal taste coats mine. His hands slide along her collarbone as he tips his head. “You know how much I loved that… you begging.”

Oh my god.

I try to look away but can’t.

My eyes refuse to leave the pair who match so perfectly, a cloud slipping over my sight as Captain lifts her chin, his strong gaze holding hers.

The mother of his child.

The girl he believed over me.

He leans down, placing his lips on hers, in a slow, gentle kiss that turns the blood in my organs to acid, burning my soul as it eats away at my insides.

Her hand comes up, her fingers lacing into his on her face.

“I need to feel you, Mallory. Show me how bad you want me, remind me what it’s like to have a girl like you.”