Be My Brayshaw (Brayshaw High #4)(46)

I keep forward, surprised to find Maddoc pacing the driveway as my feet meet the concrete.

He’s so out of it, he doesn’t hear me step up.

“Hey.”

He whips around, a hard glare in place, but his eyes are a little wild.

“I thought everyone would be in bed.”

He runs a hand over his mouth before throwing it to his side.

Okay...

My shoulders fall. “Is it safe to go up to my room or not?”

His lips clamp shut, and he curses under his breath before looking me dead in the eye and giving a curt nod.

I can’t help but take it as a warning.

The second I open the door, I hear her, and my foot freezes only a step in.

My head snaps back to look at Maddoc.

The creases across his forehead deepen, and he quickly walks off.

With slow steps, I make my way up the stairs, Zoey’s cries growing louder and louder with each foot closer. She wails, and then little mumbles follow, only for another heavy cry to leave her.

Sweat beads across my neck as I move closer.

Maybell is suddenly coming down the long hallway, she offers me a small, sad smile and then disappears into the bathroom, coming out just as quick with a wet rag in her hand.

I continue toward my room, pausing as I reach my door.

“Daddy, go, go away,” Zoey weeps, exhaustion coating her little voice as she gasps through her tears.

My eyes open and I freeze.

Captain stands a few feet away, anguish painted across his face. His shoulders fall and he looks off, helpless. “She uh...” He swallows. “She has a fever.”

My body instantly settles some, but I don’t show it.

This is huge for him, new.

“It happens,” I whisper, and his eyes slide back to mine.

Zoey cries behind us and he stiffens. “She won’t stop.”

Royce rushes out right then. “Cap, hurry the fu—”

He cuts off, his lip curling when he spots me there, but Zoey’s tired sobs have him shaking his head.

He looks to Captain. “I have tried every movie. She doesn’t want any of them.”

Movie?

Captain sighs, running his hands over his face. “Okay.” He slips by me, into his room and back out quickly, stuffed animal in his hands. “I tried to call Maria.”

A sense of resignation seeps from him and creeps right inside me, his misery weighing like the finest of steel.

“You did?”

I know that was hard for him.

He hangs his head a moment, and then angry eyes come back to mine. “She won’t let us, won’t let me, give her medicine, and I have no fucking clue what my daughter is asking me for,” he hisses, storming off down the hall.

“Maybe I do.”

He jerks to a stop, half his body in the media room at the end of the hall, half in view. His hand curls around the doorframe and he hesitates a moment.

He licks his lips and looks to his brother.

Royce eyes him a long moment and then turns to me as Captain disappears into the room. “Go, but don’t do anything stupid.”

I take a deep breath, running my hands over my jeans and then move forward.

I spot Raven inside first, she sits at the end of one of the couches, her hair wrapped around her wrist as she watches Maybell try to comfort Zoey.

Rolland paces the back of the room, freezing when I enter.

Maybell seems to breathe a sigh of relief and slowly shifts from Zoey’s view.

Her little head tips back, tear-streaked face looking up at me, cheeks red and puffy. Spotting me, she cries even louder.

She lifts her arms, but I only move a step closer. “Rora! Daddy movie. Please.” She cries.

Daddy movie.

Oh shit.

I swallow, giving her a little smile. “Okay, ZoZo. Just a minute, okay?”

I turn toward Captain, who glares at me, unsure. “She wants to watch your videos.”

“We tried every movie in that thing.” He nods his chin toward a small box near the screen. “Whatever she wants isn’t in there.”

I shake my head. “She wants your videos.”

“Wait.” Raven shifts looking at me. “Maria said she watches your games.”

I nod. “Where’s her tablet?”

Zoey starts to cry louder, and all eyes turn to her.

Each blink is slower than the last.

Baby girl is fighting her sleep.

She sniffles, turning her head into the pillow.

I turn to Captain. “Her tablet?”

Royce slips past him, moving a blanket on the couch and picking it up.

He gives it to Captain who hesitates a moment longer, but when Zoey starts crying again, wiping at her hair with her hands, he holds it out.

I take it and open the files, moving toward the TV stand. I look around, but all the cords are hidden in the wall, the giant TV stretching from one end to the next and mounted in.

Shit.

“I need something to plug it into.”

“I can hold it.” Captain rushes over to Zoey, helping Maybell up so he can slide in. He lifts her, sitting back with her at his side, but Zoey fights him, crying and throwing herself onto the cushion to his left.

Every inch of his face is pulled tight, and he can’t look up.

It’s as if this makes him feel incapable, shameful.