Be My Brayshaw (Brayshaw High #4)(26)

“Fuck it,” I cave. “Let’s get set for the fight, let her come to me.”

Royce goes for a quick refill of his drink while Raven and I wait near the door, Maddoc having slipped out first to speak to one of our guards.

A few minutes pass and he steps back inside, and heads begin to turn our way as an aisle clears, a straight path that allows us to move toward the rings with ease.

Clemmons, one of the new guys we’ve offered work out here, pulls back the chain and we step through, climbing into the new stool-like seats Maddoc had cemented into the ground. We’re lifted a solid three feet above the floor level, and perfectly ringside. Close enough to get some blood on you if it gets wild enough, but protected by a barricade and height.

I glance at Raven and the smile she can’t erase, at the way Maddoc watches her and how his hand tightens against her thigh.

His eyes meet mine, a small grin twitching at his lips, and I nod.

He did good, she loves it.

Andre walks toward us, tipping his chin as he grips the megaphone. He spins on his feet, looking across the crowd that has started to cram closer and begins announcing the fight.

Both guys step into the ring, listening to the rules—no weapons, no outside help.

Their tape is checked, and then Andre dips under the chain, and the crowd goes wild.

“That guy looks familiar,” Raven says, squinting.

Maddoc tells her, “They both went to Brayshaw a minute.”

She nods, then she and Royce start betting.

“Fifty on the shorter guy.” She sticks a hand out.

“What, nah,” Royce whines. “I want the short guy.”

Raven laughs. “It’s the flightiness, huh? He’s quick.”

“He’s ‘bout to creep in and knock that tall fucker out.”

“Join bets, and I’ll take the payout.”

Our heads jerk left to find Victoria trying to slip under the chain, but the guy guarding it blocks her.

She rolls her eyes at the dude, moving closer, and his hand comes down on her arm, seizing and twisting her back, but mine flies out, gripping his neck between my fingers in the same second. His shoulders hunch up tight, hands flying into the air just as quick.

“Sorry, man,” he rushes in a whisper. “I didn’t know she was with you. Andre said no one in, no one near, no one stares.”

My jaw clenches as I release him, and he turns to me, waiting for whatever’s to follow, but I only nod my head at him.

He did what he’s paid to do, keep others away and in line.

I frown at Victoria, but she grins at me, climbs into the seat at my side, and leans her upper body closer to mine.

“Can’t help it, can you,” she whispers, but she’s not mocking me in any way.

That’s the second time tonight I reacted in her favor, without intention.

It’s fucking frustrating.

“Don’t run around acting stupid,” I tell her. “You wanna take off, don’t expect to slide right back with ease.”

She looks from me to the ring. “Maddoc had this built a couple weeks ago, with six seats. Let’s not pretend one wasn’t added with me in mind.”

I clench my teeth, annoyance heating my chest.

On one hand, she’s got some fuckin’ nerve, on the other, her confidence over her place here thrills me when it shouldn’t.

She looks past me. “You guys want the bet or not?”

Raven’s gaze narrows. “You want to put money on the tall guy?”

“He’s going to win,” she says, but the way she flicks at her fingernails gives her away.

She’s anxious, nervous.

Something’s off.

“My pick always dominates,” Raven reminds her.

“Then what do you have to lose?” Victoria shrugs.

“Fifty bucks,” Raven snaps. “That’s like, what, thirty-seven meals from the dollar store.”

Maddoc groans, shaking his head.

He hates when she talks like she’s still broke and fighting to feed and clothe herself, but at the same time, he knows it’s a part of her and will likely never go away.

Victoria’s chuckle is tight. “Or a hundred plus packs of Ramen.”

Raven grins but rubs her lips together when the crowd starts screaming again.

“Royce,” she says, “you got a bill on short guy?”

“The fuck? You’re going with VicVee’s bet?” he asks her, wide-eyed.

Raven shrugs while Victoria tries to hide her smile, facing forward to avoid my eye.

I’m half tempted to ask her where the hell she went, but the fight begins, serving as a good distraction.

The tall guy is slower than his opponent, like Raven and Royce had guessed, but he’s instinctive, that or studied the other guy before taking this fight. He knows what the other dude is going for before he even moves.

The short one gets him with a right jab to the jaw, but the guy grins, shaking it off.

Victoria shakes her own head beside me, a heavy sigh following, and my frown slices her way.

It takes a minute, but she gives me her attention.

Her brown eyes roam over my face and she offers a saddened smile.

My chest muscles constrict, my scowl deepening and she drops her gaze to her lap before focusing back on the fight.