Trouble at Brayshaw High (Brayshaw, #2)(87)

“It’s a man’s world, we’re just the dolls they prep along the way...” She trails off, so much conviction in her voice it makes me think she, too, is conflicted.

I look back to the ceiling, watching the smoke she blows float up until it disappears.

My mind flashes to earlier in the limo – me, laid out and positioned at their will, legs spread, vag out for all to see.

I was the doll tonight, all right.

But again, why? And what did the doctor mean when he said he now found himself in an impossible predicament? He knew what he was set to do before I was even dropped in that limo. He had to have or he wouldn’t have had his little tools on hand. So, what was it that suddenly caused him to question his move?

With a deep breath, I tell her, “Rolland Brayshaw is home.”

When she doesn’t say anything, I look her way.

She glowers. “Why’d you just tell me that? I told you, I don’t want confirmation on anything related to them. It’s better ... safer not to know.”

I shrug. “You’d have found out soon enough.”

She hesitates a minute, and then asks, “Have you met him?”

I scoff, looking away. “Yeah, I met him.” Thirteen years ago...

“That’s crazy.”

“It gets crazier.” I stand and grab my jeans off the floor, digging into the pocket.

I toss the crunched-up paper at her.

She eyes it, then slowly starts to shake her head.

“Just open it.”

“Tell me what it is, I don’t need to see it.”

“Stop being such a pussy,” I snap. “You won’t believe it unless you see it.”

Her eyes narrow. “Try me.”

“Apparently my mom is Brayshaw by blood.”

Her jaw drops but nothing comes out.

My brows lift. “Told you.”

She opens the envelope.



“We should go up there.” I look between my brothers.

“We should not go up there.” Cap frowns.

“We should go up there ... naked.” Royce grins drunkenly.

The three of us laugh, falling back against our seats.

The second we do, Victoria comes down the stairs, slowing when she spots the three of us laid out on the furniture, eyes on her.

“What’s she doing?” Royce asks.

“Waiting for me,” she tells him, walking straight over to where we are.

She picks up our half-empty bottle and moves back for the stairs.

“That’s it, we get no love?” Royce laughs, and Cap smacks him. “You at least want the shot glasses?”

“Nope!” she shouts just before she’s out of view.

“We just got jacked?” I look to my brothers. “We really gonna let that happen?”

Cap and Royce both give goofy ass grins then we’re stumbling to our feet and charging up the steps. Once at the landing, we pause, and Cap reaches back so Royce doesn’t fall back down.

Victoria laughs at us and rolls her hand out with a smirk. “She knew you’d be right behind.”

I glare and step past her, finding Raven sitting up against her headboard, pajamas, wet hair, and all.

“Come, take your spot, Big Man.” She pats the seat beside her.

Royce rushes past me jumping on the bed first and she laughs, shoving him away.

He smiles and kisses her temple, then moves to sit against the wall.

Victoria takes Raven’s left side while I take the right, and Cap sits in the chair near the window.

Raven pulls out the iPod Royce bought her and sets it on the little doc I moved in here for her, letting music blare through the speaker.

We pass the bottle around until it’s gone, no shot glasses needed.

Fuck of a Monday.





Raven’s alarm goes off and my eyes peel open, spotting everyone still sitting in the same positions as last night.

One by one, they groan and stretch, their eyes slowly opening.

Raven grunts, dropping her head to my shoulder. “For the first time, I wish I’d listened to you and shut the damn curtains,” she whines. “Fuck the sun.”

I grin, pulling her tighter against me and she peeks up, smiling.

“Hey, Big Man.”

“Hey, baby.” I lower to kiss her, but Victoria’s fake gag has my glare jumping up.

Royce and Cap chuckle lightly and I look to them, moving Raven off me.

“Come on, we have to leave in thirty.”

“Thirty,” Royce whines. “What? It takes longer than that to look this good.”

Cap rolls his eyes. “You know Raven sets her alarm for the latest time possible.”

“Just enough time to wash my face, brush my teeth, and get dressed,” she mumbles into her pillow, pulling the blanket over her head. “No need for anything else.”

Cap winks at me, nodding his head. “Well, we could stop for coffee—”

“I’m up!” She throws the comforter back, throwing herself up.

“That’s what I thought,” he teases, walking from the room.

I wait, looking to Victoria who stands and slips her shoes on.

“I’m leaving right now,” she says, not looking up, but sensing eyes on her.

Raven kicks me, and I glare.