Break Me (Brayshaw High #5)(31)

“Exactly,” Maddoc cuts in. “Tell us who he is and what he’s good for.”

I grin, lovin’ the way we understand each other.

No animosity, no surprise, just lookin’ for a quick brief to stay in the know.

My brothers trust my judgment. Always.

“His name’s Micah. He’s a tall, firm fucker who plays ball. Got a stepdad chompin’ at the bit to ship him off the day he turns eighteen and a mom who only wants to please her new husband. He wasn’t the top dog at his school, so he’s used to being under someone. Little aggression in him, but that’ll work in our favor at the warehouses and Wolves Den now that it’s fully functioning.”

I knew Micah would be the one I’d hit up if needed the second I jacked him for his ball.

He was the first to step forward, but he was smooth enough and kept his distance, surveyed the area and was smart enough to pause and wait, aware he had no clue who the asshole in front of him was or what he would do.

He didn’t go half-cocked to show off for his buddies.

He gave the stranger, me, respect because it’s what a clever fucker does.

It’s as the old Bray saying goes...

Don’t underestimate what you don’t know, and once you do, tear it to pieces or tip your fuckin’ hat.

“He should be rollin’ in around tonight.”

“Wait.” Raven is full of suspicion. “So he didn’t fly with you guys?”

“Yup. He’s driving all their shit in.”

A laugh spurts from her and she shakes her head playfully. “You cave-manned her, didn’t you?”

“I might have lifted her off the ground, but I didn’t toss her over my shoulder.” I scoff, but a grin breaks free. “She was sitting in a chair, so I took it, too.”

My family laughs.

“Oh man.” Victoria smiles. “To see the look on her face.”

Yeah, it was pretty fuckin’ fun.

“So she’s at the house now?” Raven climbs out of the pool, Maddoc at her back in case her belly knocks her over.

“Yup.”

“What happens if she name-drops you?” Raven watches me closely.

“If she walks up in there and announces I’m the reason behind it, she’ll never survive here.”

Raven’s hands find the towel Maddoc’s draped over her shoulders, and she nods slightly, a hidden smirk teasing at her lips. “I’m trying to figure out if you want her to or not.”

“Well, uh... you might want to figure that out pretty quickly.” Victoria’s squints past me. “’Cause I spy the new girl breaking her very first rule.”

I whip around, instant tension toughening up my veins.

A streak of silver and black bottoms is really all you can make out, but it’s more than enough to know it’s her.

She’s walking up the driveway toward the mansion, maybe twenty feet from the porch and headed right for it.

“Royce,” Maddoc edges, but I’m already moving.

“I know, brother.”

That’s close enough.





Brielle





I stomp my ass up the short steps, only to freeze when a familiar shout meets my ears.

“That’s far enough!” Royce calls out.

I whip around, searching, and spot him on the right.

I make my way back down and move toward him, but my feet only carry me a few extra inches before they pause altogether.

Guess they want a seat at the show too.

Royce stalks toward me in long, resilient strides, high, straight shoulders and an angry tip of his chin. He somehow comes across both unconcerned and unbalanced.

His muscles, trim and taut and visible without flexing, only tighten more with each step, the art decorated along the sharp edging of his body shifting with them and forcing my attention to the intricate designs.

They twist and curve and curl from one side of his arms to the next, color his upper chest and part of his neck, leaving you to wonder what they mean, where else they might lie.

How a body from the neck down is capable of coming off cross and controlled, let alone anything at all on its own, I don’t know, but his is equally both.

Royce Brayshaw, a wanton wild one.

A shirtless Brayshaw, the eighth wonder of the world.

A sight all should see at least once in a lifetime.

He stops a few feet away, his tone dull. “You lie to me, little Bishop?”

I pause my own advance. “What do you mean?”

“You said you followed the rules, like a good little robot, and here we are a second time.”

“Am I supposed to understand the hidden message in your insult, because I don’t.”

“First thing Maybell does when there’s a new arrival at the house is lay out the rules.”

“Well, then, yay her.” I lift a shoulder. “She did her job, give her a bonus.”

He narrows his gaze. “Then you know good and fuckin’ well nobody’s allowed back here. Maybell’s damn good at making you girls obey, and she won’t hesitate to toss you out when you don’t, day one or not.” He crosses his arms. “I’ll help if I have to.”

Nobody is allowed...

Ohhhh.

That’s right, I’d heard their home is their sanctuary.