Be My Brayshaw (Brayshaw High #4)(20)

“I’m not looking for a pass.”

“Then sink your claws in deeper,” he growls. “And don’t flinch when the blood pours out.”

Fight harder.

That’s what he’s saying.

That’s what he wants from me.

His eyes narrow, and he pauses a moment before speaking again. “I can be everything Raven needs, give her anything and every-fucking-thing she’d ever want, but that’s not good enough. I want her to have more. She decided a long time ago, before she knew you shared her blood, before she knew you hid things from us, that it was you. She’s never had a friend. We were her first. Be her next, be what my brother needs and wants, be here for my family in full, or get. The fuck. Out.”

Maddoc takes several steps backward, and my eyes slide over his shoulder, landing on the others who play around in the cool night air. Tension hardens his jaw as he looks to me. “He has to see what you mean to her... we all do.”

My brows pull in in question as he shifts in my line of sight once more, before quickly turning around. He shouts across the long driveway, gaining the attention of every single one of them.

Three smiles fall in an instant, but the fourth… it spread wider and wider with each passing second, and my heart sighs.

Hi baby girl.

Maddoc covers his mouth, giving a hushed, “I didn’t do this for you, and I won’t do it again.”

He walks toward the rest of his family, each standing frozen and wide-eyed, but the shock quickly morphs into rage when Zoey drops the ball they’d been playing with, her feet carrying her right for me.

She breaks into a run, a blinding smile on her pretty little face, blonde curls bounce all around, and she doesn’t slow her pace.

Captain demanded I deny her, but I don’t, can’t.

I quickly step from the shadows and onto the grass, holding my arms out so she can jump right into them.

“Rora! Rora! Rora!” She laughs, rubbing her nose against mine excitedly. “You see me? I did it!”

Tears threaten to fill my eyes, so I nod, pressing my tongue hard against the backs of my teeth to try and hold everything in. “I didn’t, ZoZo, but good job,” I whisper.

“Daddy said ‘way to go, Zoey!’” she says, a beautiful shine in her voice.

I laugh lightly, she still can’t say her name quite right.

“I bet he was so happy,” I manage to croak.

“Uh-huh!” She smiles, kicking to be let down.

The second her feet hit the grass, she grips my finger, and I try not to tense.

“Hu-mon, Rora!” She attempts to drag me along.

Having no choice, I force my eyes to Captain’s.

If it were humanly possible, steam would be rolling off of him—he’s fuming.

It takes everything in me to grab a hold of her little hand and steady her.

She looks up, confusion swimming in her blue-green eyes.

I swallow, lowering to my knees in front of her, breathing through the ache in my ribs.

“I don’t feel so good, ZoZo.” Lie, lie, lie to the one person I was always able to be honest with. “I have to go so I can feel better.”

“Oh no.” Zoey tugs her hands free, placing her palms on my cheeks. “You got owies?”

“Yeah,” I admit, quietly, my hands coming up to cover hers. “I do.”

“Daddy fix it?”

My throat grows thick, and I’m unable to swallow, unable to look into the eyes waiting for mine to lift.

Why did Maddoc do this?

I glance his way, but he watches Captain as Raven focuses on Zoey. Royce, though, his glare is directed right at me.

I release Zoey, but she’s reluctant to let go, and a small frown forms across her forehead as I push to my feet.

“Daddy, fix it,” she says, a little firmer.

“No, ZoZo. I have to go.”

“No.” She shakes her head, gripping my hand again and tugging. “No, no. Daddy do it. Hu-mon.”

Shit.

“I can’t.” I gently pull free and she stops in her tracks, pushing the loose hairs from her face. “Rora has to—”

“Come here, Zoey,” Captain gently calls her, cutting me off. “I have your ball.”

“No ball!” she shouts, the teeniest trace of a cry in her tone.

Captain’s fist clenches at his sides, but still I can’t look up.

His anger has already wrapped around my ribs, pulling and tugging and twisting.

Royce tries next. “I feel like some Fruity Pebbles.” He walks closer, reaching out for her. “Let’s go get some, Zo—”

She jerks away from him, running behind me to wrap her hands around my legs. “No, no, no!”

I freeze, dropping my eyes to hers, and when her little lips start to tremble, my heart shakes with them.

Four sets of eyes burn into my skin, all waiting to see what I’ll do.

What the fuck do I do?

Piss them off or break her spirit?

How is that even a question?

I shift, ready to pick her up, but Captain beats me to it, clutching my arm to stop me, while leaning down to swoop up Zoey.

He keeps his focus on her, but his firm hold gives more than he’d like—his hand twitches against my skin, tightening just to loosen in the same second.