Trouble at Brayshaw High (Brayshaw, #2)(38)

I could lie, say I’ve never met the man. Tell her this is the first I’ve laid eyes on him.

I look back to him.

He has slight grey above his ears now, the rest a deep, dark brown. Almost black. His skin a little more weathered than I remember. Eyes a little more jaded.

I could tell the truth.

I keep my eyes on him. “I couldn’t care less about your decision. Lock him back up or let him roam free, makes no difference to me.”

Royce tries to touch the back of his hand to mine, in support or demand, I don’t care to know right now, so I yank away from him.

The judge clears his throat, but Rolland doesn’t turn back. He takes his time attempting to read me and when that fails, he finally looks to his sons at my sides, then the one to the left of him.

Suddenly it’s hard to breathe, and my chest starts rising and falling rapidly.

I have to get out of here.

I quickly and without warning, leap over the back of my chair. I know if I darted from my seat, Captain would block me. I shuffle down the row and one of them reaches out to grip for my elbow, but I jerk away, rushing for the door.

Maddoc’s call of my name and a slight commotion is heard behind me.

I don’t turn around.



“Raven!” I shout, shouldering the guard as he steps up and grabs a hold of me. Royce stays on her heels and my heart starts hammering in my chest.

Fuck.

“Chill, kid,” the guard hisses under his breath. “You’ll be out of here soon. Keep this up and you’ll go right back to that cell.

“I’m not your fucking kid.” I jerk away from him, grinding my damn teeth as I swing my glare to my dad.

I don’t even hear what’s being said my blood is pumping so fierce in my ears.

I’m not given the chance to look my father in the eyes again to gauge his thoughts before he’s done and being shuffled out the door.

The panel is next to walk out and then the guard finally backs away.

I hop the aisles and meet Cap in the center, a deep frown covering his face.

“You good, man?” I know he’s asking about my last few days, but no time for me right now.

“What the fuck just happened?”

His eyes narrow. “I have no idea.”

“I need you to sign your release papers, Mr. Brayshaw.” The guard changes his tune and motions for me to follow him.

I look back to Captain.

“I’ll be out front.”

I frown and look away, following the officer.

He’ll be outside he said, meaning like me, he’s not so sure she will be.

Finally, a half hour later, my paperwork is ready and I’m free to leave.

A black Denali is waiting right at the curb when I exit.

Cap climbs out.

“Where is she?”

“Took off down the road. Royce called Mac, chasing her ass all the way. Finally forced her to get into Mac’s car after they got a solid two miles down the road.”

I growl and move past him, sliding into the driver seat of his vehicle.

We’re both quiet on the ride home and not too long later we’re pulling into the property, rolling past the Bray houses to our home.

Our dad’s home.

Fuck. If he gets out, will he fight us on letting her stay?

Royce comes out the front the second we park.

He comes down the steps, gripping my hand and pulling it in, he pats my back before stepping away and looking me over.

“Get in any brawls in there?” he tries to joke in true Royce fashion, but the strain is easily caught.

“Nah, man. They kept me in a single cell all three days. No fucking contact with anyone, I’d have called, but they didn’t offer, so I figured it was all part of the plan.”

They nod, understanding.

“We had Mac smooth shit over at the school as much as possible,” Royce tells me. “They just think we were out on business.”

“Last time we disappeared from school for more than a couple days was when we went to find Zoey.” I look from Royce to Cap. “You good, man? Stressin’ out?”

“I’m not ready to think about that tonight,” Cap says firmly, letting us know not to bring it up again until he does.

I nod and all our eyes fall to the dirt.

“Dad is the reason I was held in there for three days, he had me held so he could get there when we were.”

“Did you know he’d be there before you saw him?” Royce asks.

“No, I was waiting in line to be led into the courtroom and all of a fucking sudden he was behind me telling me you guys where there. Even then I thought he was coming out, but then we were all thrown in that fucking hearing room.”

“Raven flipped her shit. Locked herself in her room as soon as we got here.” Royce sighs, looking to the house and my eyes follow. “Won’t come out. Can’t believe he put her on blast with that ... you know, the abuse and shit,” he says low, and my forehead creases.

I shake my head. “She has too much pride to allow anyone to see her as too weak to handle her own past. It’s something else.”

Royce scoffs. “Well, what I wanna know is how the hell we’re gonna get her ass out of the room to find out ... without pissing her off more by busting down the fuckin—”

The door is thrown open, and the screen flies to the side, slamming against the paneling and a pissed off, puffed up Raven steps out.