Trouble at Brayshaw High (Brayshaw, #2)(43)

He gets in my face, speaking through clenched teeth. “A Graven put him away, that’s what I know. If it weren’t for that piece of shit coming in and playing lawyer, he never would have been convicted. And just so you know, no. We didn’t fucking know. Those files mysteriously disappeared from public fucking record, Raven, at his own hand!” He flicks his eyes across my face. “This isn’t some playground, this is real fucking business, real life shit, and every Graven will pay for that one’s mistake. Crossing a Brayshaw the way he did was over the limit. Seems your ma was the easy target they pulled in to start the process.”

“Why would your dad want the daughter of the woman who helped nail down his coffin?”

“I have no fucking idea.”

My nostrils flare, frustration and uncertainty threatening to boil over inside me. “Why the hell should I believe you?”

“Because I’m telling you to,” Maddoc growls, and pushes closer. “Because I want you to. Because I fucking want you with me.”

“Yeah, RaeRae—”

“Shut up, Royce,” I cut him off, eyes on Maddoc. “Want me here so Daddy doesn’t get mad at you for losing a handle on his ticket home, or should I call myself his possession?” I spit. “Maybe I’m meant to be his little plaything—”

“Watch it,” he warns, his eyes growing more fiery by the second. “And that’s not what I meant, and you know it.” He inches closer.

Royce pipes up again. “You saw how we acted when you weren’t with us. Bunch of little boys throwing tantrums. We need you here.”

“People do stupid shit for good reasons, Royce.” My eyes slide between Maddoc’s.

“Maddoc,” Captain warns and Maddoc’s nostrils flare. “Tell her, man.”

“Fuck. Fine! Were we expecting you?” Maddoc raises a brow. “Yes. Were you picked from a crop of misfits? Yes. Were we specifically asked to watch you? Yes, like we are all of them, but that’s the point of having these houses, not out of the kindness of his fucking heart like was said yesterday. Do we offer them better lives? Yes, but there’s a purpose. We find assholes like us, but who come from real life nothing, that value respect and loyalty because they know that’s the only way people like them can survive and bring them into our fold. The ones who get here and don’t fit, are none the fucking wiser. We leave them where they are until they age out or fuck it up on their own and are gone. We’ve been doing this on our own the last two years, and we’ve built a fucking fantastic team. When we’re done, we’ll be the strongest this town has ever seen, and no fucking Graven will be able to get in the way.”

“You’re creating an empire.”

“We’re building our fucking kingdom.”

A chill runs down my spine and his eyes heat.

His knuckles find my jaw, and he runs them across my cheekbone, a rare gentleness seeping into his next words spoken. “You want more honesty, baby? Fine. Truth is, I’m not above something like this. I’d play someone even harder – anyone, anywhere, in a fucking heartbeat – if it meant saving my family, which now includes you. By choice.”

The corner of my eyes tighten, and I attempt to look away, but he shifts his head to follow my stare. He locks me in with his jade eyes.

“If you think for a fucking second, this far down the line, that you’re here for any reason other than because I fucking want you.” He lowers his voice to a whisper. “Then you haven’t been paying attention, baby. Trust me when I say, you were never part of the plan,” he whispers. “You were a solid fucking mistake.”

My pulse is racing crazy, my head swimming with questions and doubt.

I said the first chance I got I’d be gone. Away from it all, away from everyone who ever knew of mine or my mother’s existence, yet it turns out, she too is tied to them.

I need to be stronger, resist him more, deny the depth of his hold, and battle the ache for his desire.

I need to shut down my stupid girl heart and open my eyes to the devastation this road is sure to lead to.

I need—

“Raven...”

So soft, so gentle and cautious.

I look left into tender, light eyes, worry and concern etched across every inch of his face, but he doesn’t make commands. There’s no glare or force behind his mask.

So Captain.

I glance at Royce.

Dark eyes. Cool covered fear and feigned ease, but tension lines his forehead.

I look back to Big Man.

Anger and uncertainty. Defiance and demand. Want, need, and consumption.

The ability to swallow me whole.

The big bad wolf with claws that stretch from one edge of his city to the next.

The opposite of what I need, yet the only thing I’ve ever craved. If I hit the ground, it’ll be in a painful crash.

I don’t belong in this world of power princes and rising kings.

Still looking at him, staring up into those mystic greens, no warning could keep me away.

I grip his collar, pulling his lips down to mine, and bite into his flesh.

His chest rumbles, his arms wrapping around my lower back to pull me closer.

To have him today and tomorrow, but maybe not the next, be it from his hand or mine?

Worth it.