Be My Brayshaw (Brayshaw High #4)(112)

In one solid line they fly for him, but Mike is quick and just before he’s in reach, the gun is back in his hands and he’s on his feet, the barrel pointed right at Captain’s head.

They freeze where they stand, and Mike quickly shuffles backward.

“Cap...” Royce stresses.

Tension lines their backs, wrapping around their shoulders and their hands ball into fists.

Mike chuckles, spitting blood as he smirks at Captain.

“You guys.” He chuckles. “You’re all pathetic, can’t protect your women for shit.”

Maddoc takes a step forward and Mike swings the gun to him.

“I almost got yours, didn’t I, Madman?” he mocks, but his gaze narrows slightly as Maddoc keeps moving forward. “The little cut on her cheek.” He smiles. “Yeah, she got me right here, though.” He pats at the blood patch on his shirt growing larger near his abdomen. “What kind of pregnant chick keeps a knife tucked in her jeans?” he mocks with a coughed laugh.

“You’re not leaving here alive,” Maddoc grounds out.

“I’m leaving with Victoria, or you’re burying your brother alongside me.”

The gun swings back to Captain.

I jerk forward, only to have Raven dart a hand out the door and grab me by my wrist and fling me back.

She’s shaking with anger, but dread is clear in her eyes. “They’re out there for you.”

“And the people who need them most are inside this fucking house,” I force past clenched teeth, yanking free of her hold as I quickly shift my gaze back to the scene, returning them to her just as fast.

Her eyes cave and she wraps her arms around her middle. “Don’t you get it? You’re one of them, one of us. They will die for you.”

“Don’t you get it?” I whisper, tears clouding my eyes. “I can’t let them.”

She opens her mouth, and then closes it, shaking her head frantically. She growls. “Goddamn you, why are you so stubborn?”

“Because I’m your sister.” I quickly squeeze her hand, turning away.

I walk out onto the lawn as quietly as I can, but the second Mike spots me beyond their shoulders, all heads fly my way.

Mike uses that to his advantage, darting forward to knock Captain in the head with the same part of the gun he used on me and he falls to his knees.

His brothers fly around, ready to attack, but I shout, “Wait” and they all freeze.

“Victoria, don’t.” Captain growls, pushing to his feet.

I walk out in a wide arc, so they can’t reach out and grab me, and Mike slides his feet my way, forcing them to curve the other way.

Mike’s breathing begins to settle as I grow closer.

“It’s okay, Cap,” I tell him softly, not taking my eyes from Mike’s. “He won’t hurt me.”

Mike’s lips twitch, an almost unnoticeable nod leaving him.

“I won’t let him leave, and never with you,” Captain says.

My blood pumps fiercely and I nod, and then I slide between them all, right in front of Mike, but he keeps his eyes on them, gun raised and pointed high.

His free arm comes down around my waist and he yanks me to him.

“Don’t fucking move!” he shouts, and I know Captain has stepped closer.

“Mike,” I whisper, sliding my hands up to his face. “Mike, look at me.”

His eyes tighten, and he jerks slightly, so I press tighter, move in closer.

A heavy line forms between his brows and he licks at his lips.

“Mike… baby, look at me...” I glide my thumbs back and forth in slow sweeps. “Please, look at me,” I whisper.

His jaw flexes and then his eyes briefly cut to mine.

I smile, gliding my hand down. “Hi.”

His nostrils flare, his eyes bouncing between mine and over my shoulder in rapid, constant motions.

“Let’s go, let’s leave this place,” I tell him. “You were right, there’s nothing for me here. I saw what you wanted. I saw him with Mallory. He doesn’t want me, and I don’t need him.”

“But the girl, she’s still in there.”

“We don’t need her,” I rush out. “We can, we can have our own.”

He swallows, and his head tips to the side with a slight nod. He lowers his mouth to my ear.

“You will love me,” he murmurs, kissing my hair and I squeeze my eyes shut. “I swear you will.”

I nod, dropping my hands to his chest, my heart seizing in mine when the sound of the barrel clicking rings in my ear. “But only if you can’t love him.”

I gasp, shoving at him. “Mike, no!”

But it’s too late, the gun has already gone off.

I fly around, screaming as Captain’s body falls to the ground with a crash, Connor Perkins on top of him.

Everything happens quickly from there.

Royce tackles Mike to the ground as Maddoc picks up the gun, points it right at his head, and without so much as a blink, he pulls the fucking trigger.

I dart toward Perkins and Captain, screaming when I see blood running down Captain’s head.

I grab Perkins, and he groans.

“I’m sorry,” I cry as I roll him off, scrambling closer to Captain.

Royce falls right beside me as my hands fly to my mouth.