Be My Brayshaw (Brayshaw High #4)(72)

He studies me a long moment and then turns away. “You know, you don’t have to do what others think is right, what the world, what our world, said is right? In the end, Cap. You’re the one that has to choose, to decide, if you want this life or not, the decision is yours. It has to be one you can be proud of, not one you wish you could change.” He looks to Maddoc, who stands beside Raven. “That goes for you and your brother. You shouldn’t have to drive two hours just to have a place to take your children to play,” he says, a shadow of guilt crossing his face.

“So we won’t.” Raven shrugs. “Next time we have something in town, let the kids of Brayshaw come. All of them, not just the ones with a trust fund.”

Maddoc drops his head, kissing her neck, and when he stands, it’s a little taller than before. He looks our dad in the eye, speaking for all of us as he knows he can. “We decided a long time ago who we want to be, and that’s not changing. It’s time the town catches up.”

“That’s what I had hoped to hear.” He nods, a smile on his face as he stands, moving back to the side he was sitting on as the others return.

I raise a brow at Royce, Zoey at his side with a cotton candy twice the size of her on a funnel in her hand.

“She’s the boss, Cap!” he shouts with a grin.

I shake my head, looking to Zoey as she tears off a piece and holds it out for Victoria.

She smiles, taking it right as she steps up, choosing to sit on top of the table, her soda nestled between her legs, feet planted on the bench seat.

“You don’t have to eat that, you know,” Raven teases.

Her glare flies to Raven, but then a low laugh follows. “Shut up.”

Curious, I study her, noticing the creases now framing her eyes as she purses her lips at the candy.

“You don’t like sweets,” I realize.

Her eyes fly my way, but she quickly glances down, preparing to stick a piece in her mouth, but I shoot my hand out, snatch it and toss it behind me.

Victoria’s head tugs back, and Zoey gasps having caught me.

“Daddy, oh no!” She jumps to her feet and tries to hand Vee another chunk. “More for you, Rora. Daddy can’t have some.”

“Zoey, did you ask Victoria if she wants more?”

Zoey frowns, her eyes moving to Victoria who clenches her jaw.

“Do you want to have some?” Zoey asks while pushing it toward her.

Victoria’s shoes slide against the metal bench, and she rubs her lips together while keeping a smile on for Zoey.

She can’t tell her no.

“Zoey, come look at the butterfly.” Our dad pulls her attention away.

She runs off, candy-coated sugar still in her hands.

“We have to tell her no sometimes,” I say.

Victoria slides her tongue along her teeth, frowning.

“Have you?” she challenges.

My glare is instant, and she sighs, looking away with the shake of her head.

“I can’t,” she admits. “I’ve tried and I just... can’t.”

“So you eat cotton candy and cinnamon rolls instead, things you don’t like?”

She shrugs. “Pretty much, yeah.”

Yeah, for her, she means.

My stomach muscles tighten, and I slide over on the bench until I can grab her right foot, lifting it up and over my body, so one is planted on each side of me.

Her wrist curls, tucking her drink into her chest as she pulls the plastic back into her mouth and bites. “What are you doing?”

“Whatever I want.”

She chuckles, leaning forward. “And what is it you want, Cap?”

“I kinda wanna pull a Raven and vomit,” Royce jokes.

She laughs, and when she attempts to lean away, I grip her by the shirt and tug her right back.

She smirks, tipping her head to the side, but then her eyes cut over my head, widening in the same second. “Oh fuck.”





Chapter 23





Captain



Panic floods my veins as the color drains from Victoria’s face in a single second. Slowly, she pushes to her feet, standing above me on the bench.

“Cap,” she warns in a deep, desperate tone.

I quickly swivel around, only to freeze.

My blood runs cold, my body numb, and I don’t remember standing, but suddenly I am, and not ten feet before me...

Mallory.

Her eyes lock on mine, brows furrowed as she glances from me to the girl behind me and back.

The worst fucking thing follows.

Zoey laughs, soft and innocent and way too close.

Mallory’s eyes fly between mine, and her face falls.

Slowly, she begins to look around, but my family snaps out of their shock, jumping to their feet to block her view.

Raven darts forward, but Maddoc grips her by the wrist, forcing her to his side.

“You have her?” Her whisper is almost silent.

I dart forward, rage boiling my blood.

Mallory’s eyes snap over my head to Victoria and hold.

I growl, getting in Mallory’s face. My body is shaking, dread building like acid in my gut, burning and eating away at everything inside me. “Leave. Now.”

She tries to see beyond me, but I jerk to the side. “Stop fucking looking. Royce.”