Be My Brayshaw (Brayshaw High #4)(93)

I shake my head. “Did you ever stop to think that maybe he wants those things so bad because they’ll make him feel worthy of you?”

Her eyes fly to mine, and slowly she puts her makeup back in her purse.

“Your own dad was head of security, Chloe, and now your boyfriend is going for that spot, wants it, as you say, more than anything.” I shrug, pushing out of the bathroom door. “Sounds like in his mind, the key to keeping you is to become one of them.”

We stand there, inside the closed-off glass, staring down at the guys staring up at us.

“I don’t love him because he’s Brayshaw.”

“Does he know that?”

“He better,” she says. “I can’t believe this, but you’re so right, Vee.”

“Let’s keep it at Victoria. We’re not even friends yet.”

She laughs. “Yet. Nice.”

Together we head back for our seats, but just before we get there, her hand grips my arm, holding me back.

Fear lines her eyes, so I spin around and grip her shoulders.

“You’re Chloe Carpo. You’re strong and determined, and honestly kind of a bitch, but...”

She laughs, tension rolling off of her. “You suck at a pep talk, but thanks.” Her eyes slide by mine, and she whispers, “I’m telling him. Now.”

My brows jump. “Now.”

“Right now.”

“Baby?”

I look over my shoulder to find Mac standing there, his hand extended for Chloe to take, so I slowly squeeze by, giving them the whole two feet of privacy this place allows.

As I look around, though, I notice Captain is gone, Maddoc and Raven, too.

I turn to Royce right as he grips me by the wrist and yanks me from the suite with angry, jerky movements.

“What the hell—”

“Come on,” he hisses, his steps urgent.

“Royce, what’s wrong?”

“We gotta get over there, you need to put this bitch in her place.”

“What are you talking about?”

We come around the corner and I skid to a stop.

Mallory stands there, laughing and drinking with a group that must be her friends.

“Fuck,” Royce seethes, dropping my arm as he darts forward, and it all happens so fast.

Raven is suddenly in front of her, swinging full force and hitting Mallory square in the nose, sending her stumbling onto her ass.

Maddoc has Raven in the same second, keeping her back with his chest, hands holding her wrists to keep her from falling.

He’s furious.

Mallory adjusts her crop top. “You’re pregnant, you psychopath!”

Raven tries to haul herself at her again. “Oh, you care?! The girl who gave away—”

Maddoc’s hand swiftly wraps around Raven’s mouth, the look in his eyes enough to get her to completely give in. Her forehead caves, her eyes falling to the ground.

Mallory stands, moving over in an attempt to shield herself at Captain’s side, and that’s when I realize I was moving closer, when her eyes lift, locking with mine.

She drops her arm instantly, and his head slices my way.

“You’re a piece of fucking work, you know that?” I keep toward her and she frantically looks across the room.

But before I can get any closer, security is there, Brayshaw security.

Maddoc slips in front of me, glaring. “Not the fucking place.”

He’s right, it’s not.

This is some serious Brayshaw dirt. Zoey is still a secret to their world.

“Let’s get the fuck out of here. Now,” Maddoc shouts.

We turn to follow the men down the hall, and through a private one that leads to the back parking where we were allowed to park.

It’s not until we’re outside, under the dark night sky that I realize Mallory followed.

“Captain, wait. Please!” she yells, and I jerk to a stop, swiveling around to look at her.

She eyes me, and tension lines her brows, but she forces her gaze away, quickly looking to Captain.

He continues to ignore her, his face a blank slate as he quickly keeps walking, but she runs after him, high heels, tiny skirt and all.

When she realizes she can’t keep up, her eyes fly to mine. She opens her mouth only to close it a second later.

Captain happens to choose that moment to reach for my hand and Mallory begins to nibble at her lip.

And then her eyes close, and she shouts, “She told me not to go!”

Everyone stops.

Captain stops.

Time fucking stops.

But I rush her, and she’s right within reach, my fingertips an inch from gripping her by the shirt and tearing her to me, mine’s tugged from behind and I’m held still, Royce at my back.

“Let go,” I force past clenched teeth, but he continues to pull me back, farther away.

The crunch of gravel beneath Captain’s shoes echoes in my ear as he turns to face her. “What are you talking about, Mallory?”

Captain’s voice is low and lethal, leaving no room for lies. Demanding the truth.

“She did this.” Mallory moves a few slow steps back, rushing out, “All of it.”

Oh my god.

I jerk forward again, but just as I do, Royce is there, blocking me.

Giving her the motherfucking floor.