Be My Brayshaw (Brayshaw High #4)(14)

“You’re either smart as shit or dumb as fuck, girl, and I gotta say I’m going with the last part.” He pushes his chest against her. “Maybe Maybell pretended not to see you hidin’ in corners at the group home, but this ain’t the place. You’ll be gone as quick as you came, and I’m not talking ‘bout your midnight thoughts of Cap.”

Victoria gives a lazy blink, unaffected and already accustomed to Royce and his protective, pounce first, ways.

Her eyes slide to mine. “She’d love to watch you play.”

My blood runs hot beneath my skin and I move forward.

“Well, that was mighty fuckin’ brave, VicVee.” He glares, calling her by the dumbass nickname he came up with for her as he backs away, knowing full well I’m ready to take his place.

She tips her head, brown eyes waiting to see what they’ll find in mine.

“I’m not sure you understand the situation here,” I draw out. “You’re not in this house because you earned it, you’re here because we can’t trust you outside of it. We can’t allow you to go around running your mouth about things the town isn’t aware of yet, but if you try and come in here and tell me what to do with my daughter like you know better than me, I will toss you out so fucking quick your head will spin.” I get in her face and she pulls her lips in. “And I’m not talking about out of this house, but out of our town.”

“You can try.”

My head tugs back and in my peripheral, I spot Maddoc pushing to his feet.

I crowd her but she doesn’t budge, her chin lifting to keep our stares locked. “And what will you do, hm? How will you stop me?”

Her hand lands on my forearm, in a warm, strong hold, attempting to soothe with her touch, with her eyes... as if she has the right.

My jaw flexes.

“I’m not being hateful or spiteful or anything else you’re working to convince yourself of,” she says for only me to hear.

Fuck me if that’s not worse than if she would have screamed it in my face.

I lower mine to hers. “Have you learned nothing, Victoria?”

When her eyes tighten, I continue.

“You want to stand here and act like you know us, yet still you whisper, hide your voice from my family? Have you not realized yet we don’t work like that? We talk, we fight, we fuck where we need, when we need. We don’t hide from each other.” My eyes begin to twitch. “You lied about knowing my kid, and you dare tell me what the fuck to do with her like your opinion or thoughts or wasted-ass whispers matter?” I toss her hand off me, taking a step back. “They don’t.”

She licks her lips, her focus shifting behind me a long moment before snapping back. Stronger, more determined. “They will.”

My eyes bulge before I can stop them, and damn if I’m not struck.

She’s fucking insane.

To my left, Maddoc slowly drops back in his seat as Royce shuffles a few feet away, but Raven, she leans forward on the couch, watching.

If Victoria notices they’ve let up a little, she doesn’t let it show.

She closes the gap I put between us, her hand shooting up to grip my chin so she can tip my head, but I don’t budge, and she doesn’t let fucking go.

My pulse pounds heavy in my throat as I glare down at the girl who ruined everything.

Hate to want you, Beauty...

“I’m not going anywhere, but I have a feeling if I tried... you’d stop me.”

A heavy strain tugs at my shoulder blades, but I cover it well. “If you think I’d chase you, you’re wrong. I said I wanted to fuck you, Victoria. I never said a damn thing about wanting you.”

“Oh, but you did, Cap.” She speaks slowly, anger darkening her cheeks. “Minutes before that little girl ran up to you in the orchard, you were clear about what you want.”

She calls me out, but I blanket her words with a mocking chuckle, almost missing the slight pinch at the edge of her eyes.

“Want.” My grin is far from playful. “I said I wanted you, Beauty.”

I lick my lips, forcing my eyes to flick over her carelessly.

“Not your mind, not your heart, not you. My want is groin deep, satisfied by a warm body I can play with.”

“Now who’s the liar?”

I smirk through my anger. “Hold on to that bit of confidence, it’ll feel good when I shred it to pieces.”

Something dims in her gaze, but it’s gone as quick as it comes. “I didn’t know you were such a dick.”

“You don’t know me at all.” My glare intensifies and I jerk my chin from her grip, lowering my face to hers on my own terms.

“Don’t touch me. Don’t talk to me. Don’t look at her.”

That gets her, a heavy strain tugging at her features instantly, and for the first time tonight, unease stares back. “You want me to run from a three-year-old? To deny her? Ignore her if she calls my name?”

“She’s two. And, yes.”

“She’ll be three in three months, and that’s not fair,” she dares.

I growl, shoving closer and forcing her to trip over her own feet until she stumbles back a step. “Fair is an opinion, and yours is as worthless as your word.”

She clamps her lips shut before saying, “What happened to being the logical of the three, the Brayshaw who sees what anger shadows?”