Break Me (Brayshaw High #5)(105)

“They might,” I say quietly, knowing I can’t assure of something that might not be true.

It takes her several minutes, but she shares what she’s been holding in. “The fight with Coach Von? It wasn’t Enoch.”

I try to hold in my frown, because if that’s true, it’s news to all of us.

“I knew something was coming, because he did bust the scoreboard, but he didn’t touch his coach. He can’t even look at him, let alone be in the same place as him. That was his mentor, and I was his fiancée. Can you imagine the pain from such a low blow, because I can’t.” She looks away. “I’m a slut.”

“How do you know if you don’t remember?” I ease, asking an open question since she’s led us to it.

“Because Enoch showed me the photo.”

I shift closer. “What photo?”

“The one of me in Coach Von’s office. We were sitting on his couch... and my dress was on the floor beside it.”

“You don’t remember taking it?”

“I don’t even remember undressing,” she whispers with a shake of her head. “I’m shy, Brielle. Self-conscious. It took me a long time to let go and be... uninhibited with Enoch, and I love him. It makes no sense. One minute I was helping Coach grade papers after school, and the next thing I know, my eyes were peeling open. I was sleeping on the couch and he was where I remember, behind his desk and teasing me for falling asleep.”

My brows furrow. “Grading papers?”

She nods. “I helped him a few times the week before, but I didn’t go back after that. It was the very next morning Enoch broke up with me.” Her eyes hit mine. “I had gone over to Enoch’s after I left the school that night.” She begins to cry again. “I had sex with my man, and apparently only hours after having sex with his mentor.”

I scoot toward her, wrapping her in a hug and she lets me, gripping my arms and crying into my chest.

This is wrong, but I can’t say this to her yet.

We need proof, especially when the truth will ease her mind, while in turn damaging her soul.

She cries for several minutes, and when she pulls back, she looks up at me with a small smile. “Will you find my mom and dad?”

Tears build in my eyes, and I nod.

I guarantee they are right outside, waiting for the moment their baby girl will welcome them in, and as I step out... I find I’m right.

But they aren’t alone.

Royce is there, too.

We send them inside, and the look of gratitude lighting both their faces is one I’ll never forget.

I tell them everything she told me and when I’m finished, I turn to Royce for the hard part.

“It has to be me.”

His glare is sharp and instant. “What has to be you?”

“To get the proof.”

His head tips slightly and then his eyes bug and a hollow, short laugh escapes him. “No. Fuck to the motherfuckin’ no.”

I step up to him, and he stretches his shoulders wide, but the longer he stares, the more he eases.

A growled sigh leaves him, and he lifts his hands to wrap them around my neck, his thumbs under my chin and tilting it up. “He asked you to grade papers after school on your first day here.”

It’s not a question, he heard from someone, but it meant nothing then.

His fingertips bite into my skin a little harder. “He won’t suspect you, will he?”

I shake my head no. “And you’ll be there before anything bad happens.”

His mouth lowers to mine, and he kisses me, punishing me for the idea with a gentle nip to my bottom lip. “You’ve got this, Tink. Tell us what to do.”

I nod, but on the inside, my gut twists with worry.

I know I’m the only one of us who can do this. He’ll see Victoria coming from a mile away, Raven, too, not that she’s able to right now anyway.

The risk of me doing this is high, though, but like I said, Royce will be right there, and knowing that should keep my pulse in check, keep my blood flow stable, my sight strong.

It’ll be fine.

Yeah. It’ll be fine.

I repeat that line for the next several hours and then before I know it, I’m walking into Brayshaw High.

Deep freaking breath... and exhale.

I go to text Royce one more time, but before I can even get a single word typed out, one comes through from him.



Royce: I’m watching. Go.



I look up into the right-hand corner, where Mac told me the camera would be, and give a tight smile. My hands begin to sweat, so I slide my phone in my back pocket, and wipe my palms on my jean shorts as I step into the main hall.

The school bell rang fifteen minutes ago, and Mac said Coach Von is still inside his room. So, with my head held high and my backpack over my shoulder, I step up to his classroom door, knocking lightly with my knuckle.

His head pops up instantly, and he grins wide as he stands from his seat. “Brielle, hi. I missed you in class today.”

I grip the strap of my bag tight as he comes closer. “I have a note.”

He nods. “It’s okay, I trust you.”

Keep smiling.

“I have some free time today, if you could use any help.”

He eyes me a moment, and then a slow smile forms on his lips. He’s across from me quicker than expected, his answer a low, chilling murmur, “Always.”