“You’re not going to meet your mother, Raven.”
Damn it. This isn’t working.
I drag my hands down my face in frustration.
Okay, second approach.
“You seem to want to shadow me, so doesn’t it make more sense for one of you to take me there?”
“She’s got a point.” Royce shrugs.
Maddoc studies me. “Why do you need to see her?”
“To give her back the money I stole from her before I left.” Lie.
“You’re lying,” Maddoc states but I shrug.
“I’ll take her,” Captain offers but of course, Maddoc disagrees and it ends with him as my driver, but oh well. At least I can get her gone.
The longer she’s here, the more trouble she’ll bring.
“How do you know she’ll be there?”
“Common ground. It’s her one consistency.”
“How do you mean?” Maddoc asks.
I take a deep breath. “Well, when she takes off for days at a time and can’t come straight home when she decides she’s ready, she comes to me.”
“Why would she not be able to come home?”
“Usually it’s the person she was with, she doesn’t want them to track her down. Likely she did them dirty or plans to. Or if she gets into trouble and is running from a warrant but wants to avoid jail a few days longer - usually that’s when she’s got clients lined up and wants to go in with money on her books. There are a dozen different scenarios, but my role is always the same.”
He glances my way. “And what role is that?”
“I’m the clean up.”
“You pay her way out.”
I nod. “Pay my way or fight my way, depends on who we’re dealing with. People who know of me want the free fight – more money in their pocket that way – the others want what I won’t give and I’m left to figure it out another way. And if it’s not them demanding, it’s her.”
Maddoc’s grip on the wheel tightens.
“She’s uninventive though, always goes after guys in my schools, so I’m ridiculed and forced to listen to the stories of the tricks up her skirt.” I look out the window. “Seems she is good at what she does, if word of mouth is worth a damn.”
I hate her.
“That why you’d fight at school? To get yourself kicked out when she fucks it up for you?”
“I fight to defend who I am and what I’m not. To show I’m stronger than they believe. I may come from a weak woman, but I will never be one.” I roll my head against the seat, looking to Maddoc.
When he stops at a stoplight I grin and shift the mood back to bearable. “Besides, I didn’t get kicked out of all the schools for fighting.”
He doesn’t let me brush it off though. His hand lifts and I swear my heart stops beating when his fingers slip into my hair, a gentleness I’d have never believed he was capable of. He doesn’t move for me, doesn’t say a word but I can tell he wants to.
For someone who walks around owning the ground, he holds back a lot.
The light turns green, and his focus is forced to the road.
I close my eyes and fight to erase the sense of security swimming inside me. My mother has a nose for good and a knack for spoiling it.
“She’s already here.”
My eyes pop open as we pull in the school parking lot.
She’s laying across the hood of the car with her feet planted on the bumper, knees open and in the air – in a fucking skirt.
She’s alone.
“Any chance you’ll stay in the car?”
“No.”
“Fine but stay back. My mother, my business. If she starts talking crazy just ... ignore her. She’s a bitch. I can handle it.”
He makes no move and first, then with a soft curse he unbuckles and rolls his window down to listen, staying in his seat.
With a tight smile I step from the vehicle and round the hood.
“Mother.”
She blows smoke in the air, not bothering to look at me, not even opening her eyes. “You’re late.”
“No, I’m not, but nice try, I’m not adding in a bogus ass late fee.”
“Put it on the seat.”
My teeth clench and I bend to toss the sandwich bag of cash inside. My muscles lock when I spot the lid to a retractable needle on the floorboard. The methadone clinic by our trailer park started giving those out last year to help keep the parks clean – the needle disappears inside the syringe after use.
My mother’s a snorter, though. Fucking with a needle is a lot messier, not to mention dangerous on a new level.
Maybe it’s the guy who owns the cars method of choice.
“Don’t get in my business, Raven. Go away.”
“You’re a piece of shit.”
This time she sits up, a cigarette hanging from her lips as she slides off the car. She keeps her eyes on me as she makes her way to the driver’s seat. She takes a long hit of her smoke, slowly blowing it out as her eyes float to Maddoc. “Yeah, and you will be too. It’s only a matter of time.”
She hesitates a moment, her eyes still glued on him.
I tighten my fists to keep from raging on her, and shift my body, effectively blocking Maddoc from view.
Her eyes snap to mine, narrowing in the same second. She tries to read me, but she never has been able to understand me. “Raven, don’t be a fool. Don’t fall at their feet.”
“Keep your eyes off him, don’t speak. Go. You’re the one not welcome.”
Her head pulls back slightly, and an unbelieving laugh escapes her.
Silence stretches between us, and anxiousness grows, but then a wide chest hits my back and everything settles.
I hadn’t even heard him step out.
“This is Brayshaw and you don’t belong. Leave.”
“Bravo, Brayshaw,” my mother laughs lightly, and I frown.
She shakes her head, gets in the car and takes off.
Anger swims in my stomach to the point my muscles actually start to ache, and my chest tightens.
With a lick of my lips, I slip back into the SUV.
After a few moments, we’re headed back to yet another home that isn’t mine but holds my things.
One day I’ll understand why I exist in a world I’m not needed in.
One day.
I flip my knife open over and over, every few minutes stopping to read the inscription on the side: family runs deeper than blood.
I click it back in place, and right when I flick my wrist, sending the blade flying forward again, my door quietly opens.
Maddoc looks from it to me, then locks the door behind him.
He makes his way over and when he reaches the edge, he holds out his hand, asking me to give him my safety net.
I close the knife and slip it behind me instead.
He eyes me a moment before pulling his shirt over his head. He looks to the spot he laid in last night, waiting for me to make room and I breathe a sigh of relief I shouldn’t. He pulls me against him, just as he did before, and I close my eyes, welcoming his warmed skin.
“Don’t say it,” I tell him, knowing damn well he planned to. “I don’t want to hear what you think but don’t know. She could be right, but only time will tell.”
“I don’t need time to know you’re nothing like her.”
“You hardly know me, Maddoc.”
“I need time to figure you out. Give it to me.”
“You don’t want to know me,” I whisper. “You want to understand me so you can decide if I’m a threat to you or not.”
He doesn’t deny it, and I’m almost glad for that.
Almost.
“She lives with us now.”
My jaw drops as I spin to Royce.
“What?”
“What the hell?!” I hiss. One look around confirms it’s useless to try and cover it. There may only be a handful in ear’s distance, but phones are already out and I’m officially a sister wife. Or maybe they’re brother husba
nds. Wait. No.
Not the point here.
Fuck this shit.
I storm off, but only get five whole feet before Captain falls in line with me.
“You on babysitting duty for Mondays?”
“You didn’t come down last night, and we were running late this morning. Didn’t get to ask how it went with your mom.”
“Don’t play like you didn’t get the rundown from your brother.” I pull my locker open, cursing to myself when I remember I didn’t do any classwork or homework Friday because I didn’t expect to be back here.
“’Course I did, but I wanna know how you felt about it.”
“Warm and fucking fuzzy, Captain.”
He drops a shoulder against the locker beside mine. “Do you always get this defensive when someone asks you about your feelings?”
“I don’t know, Cap, do you always have to be the fucking meddler just to make yourself feel needed?” I slam my locker closed, gaining attention around me. “Not everyone is fixable or wants to be taken care of. Back off.”
I purposely hit his shoulder as I pass by. I know how fucked up my words were. The fact that I’m bothered by what I said only irritates me more.
“I’m going to bathroom,” I snap and round the corner.
It works to get him off my ass and I move for first period.
It’s still early so there’s only a student or two inside and both have their faces buried in a book.
Captain’s voice floats throw the door in the same moment and I pause there to listen.
“What do you want, Tisha?”
“Just wondering what’s going on with you and Raven?”
I snort quietly.
“Nothing that concerns you.”
“She doesn’t concern me. What I’m really asking is if you want to get together later?”
“Can’t.” His dismiss is instant.
A beat of silence follows and then, “Why not?”
“Busy.”
“Well maybe—”
She’s cut off when Royce interjects himself into their conversation. “Do you not know how to take a hint, Tisha? Pretty sure he said no, and yet here you are, making a fool of yourself and looking desperate. See, I’d have told ya I don’t waste time on loose goose, but Cap is more subtle. Clearly subtle don’t work on you, so lemme help him out. None of us want you, nor will we ever.”
“Whatever, keep wasting your time on trash like her.”
“Like ... who?” he baits her.
“Who else?”
The menacing laugh that leaves Royce has me standing taller against the door. “Let me tell you something, Tisha, Raven is more than you’ll ever be. She’s with us and she didn’t even try to use what’s between her legs to get there, but you just did, didn’t you? Got dissed and still tried. No conversation, no lead up, just an open legged offer for a ticket to the top.” He laughs again. “You’re the only trash I’ve seen today, and I’ve been with Raven all morning. Consider this? You running your mouth, your marker. You’re done. Find a fucking normal and stay twenty feet from us. Always.”
Confusion draws my brows together and I drag myself to my seat.
He just defended me. Having no idea I was listening, Royce had my back.
Why did he do that?
I don’t like this, they’re confusing me now and I don’t know who or how to trust. I never wanted to be a part of a team.
And then I met them.
I’d be lying if I said I didn’t feel the shift, but to hear him with my own ears hold me up instead of throw me down makes it more real. More genuine and ... possible. I don’t know what to do with that.
My mind is trying to deny the risk, so why do my shoulders lift higher as if weight’s been removed?
Perhaps some now sits on three new sets of shoulders ...
No.
No.
Royce pops in, all smiles and smirks, bobbing his head to whatever it is that’s blaring in his earbuds. He drops in the seat beside me.
I wait for him to tell me all about how he told off that girl and put some stupid order on her, but he doesn’t say anything. Doesn’t gloat or make it funny liked I’d expect from him. He only winks at me and pulls out his school shit.
Halfway through class he passes me a note and I roll my eyes but grab it.
Are you mad at me for telling you’re staying with us? Say yes, if you never wanna taste my lasagna. Say NO, if you want to taste it tonight. I’ll even take you for ice cream after.
I can’t help but smile a little. I peek at him, but his eyes are on the legs of the brunette a seat forward and to the left of him.
I write “no” in bold letters, underlining his offer of ice cream.
“Ms. Carver, you’re wanted in the principal’s office.”
My head jerks forward and Royce sits to attention.
“For what?” I ask the teacher who only narrows her pointy eyes.
“Guess you’ll find out when you get there, won’t you?”
I offer a bitchy grin and snag my backpack off the floor. When I stand, Royce stands with me.
“Sit down, Mr. Brayshaw. He called for Raven only.”
“Heard you. Don’t care, and while we’re talking ... let me remind you to watch your tongue, teach. Don’t get comfortable behind that mahogany desk.”
I look from Royce to the teacher.
Her face is beat red as she steps back pretending she’s okay by moving on with her lecture – she knows who writes her checks so to speak.
We walk out and down the hall ... where we’re flanked by the other two.
“Do we know what he wants?” Captain asks Royce and my eyes bounce between them, each holding their phones in their hands.
Royce.
Change my mind, I am mad at him.
“Uh, hi.” They turn to me. “What’s going on here?”
Silence.
Right. An insider’s only issue I’m not privy too.
Well, fuck them too then.
I pretend to be swaying on my feet and then dart off, down the hall and slip into the office before they reach it.
Probably a horrible idea, but I lock it behind me.
His head jerks up right as there’s one solid pound on the other side of the door.
He sits back slowly.
“Ms. Carver.”
“Mr. Perkins.”
“Sit.”
“I’d rather stand, thanks.”
“I got a call a little while ago informing me you were moved houses.”
Fucking Royce.
“Yeah, the other location didn’t really work out. You need a new address form or something?”
He levels me with a stern look. He’s about to spew some fake shit, so I drop into the chair, forcing him to look me in the eye as he lies through his perfect teeth.
“Listen, Raven. I understand being new somewhere isn’t always easy, and sometimes the stress of it all is too much. I was thinking, maybe you’d like to transfer to another local school here? I could put in a good word, get your transfer processed for you. I think you’d really thrive at a place where students are free to be who they wish, not to mention the great programs they have for someone in your position.”
“What position would that be?”
“I know your plan is to simply graduate and move on, find a job somewhere and get settled – I read your English paper. You want a new life. I can help you get it.” There’s a sick gleam in his eye. He feels he has insight into me.
Bastard.
I remain quiet.
“See, here at Brayshaw, we’re limited on opportunity since half of our district supports the youth program you’re currently in. While, we do have many wealthy families who support us, their focus is on the sports and dance here. If you switch schools, you can join a real work program. They have several to choose from – legal aids, mechanics, carpentry, bookkeeping, and a few more. The school trains you, free, and when you graduate, you hold a certificate in the chosen
field you can take with you anywhere. Get a good job right out the gate.”
Wow. He knows what he’s doing. Dangle a slab of meat in front of a starving wolf and wait for it to jump.
My silence has his stare shining in victory.
He wants me out.
“Sounds like a great opportunity.”
“It is.”
I tilt my head. “You offer this to all the students at the Bray houses? I bet they’d be all over it.”
“Unfortunately, no. Only ... select students are given the chance.”
Right.
“What school?”
“Graven Prep.”
A laugh bubbles out of me before I can stop it and anger lines his eyes.
“Is something funny, Ms. Carver?”
“I was raised by a liar and a con, Mr. Perkins, so let’s cut the student teacher ‘I want what’s best for my students’ bullshit, shall we?” I lean forward, and he meets my move. “You don’t care what I do or where I go, hell you’d probably send me straight back if you could. You want me out because, in your mind, it’s the clear way to keep me from them. You don’t want me to get too close to them because then I’ll see what’s really going on, am I right?”
“I’m not sure what you mean.” He forces a steady tone.
“I’m perceptive, as are you. That’s how you see the threat. Three-men already outnumbers you but add a female and a pack is born.”
“You think I’m afraid of three punk kids?” he growls through clenched teeth.
“I think you’re terrified.” I stand, and his cunning eyes follow.
“Don’t be a fool, Raven. Take the offer. Leave the school and build a better life for yourself. Unless you want to end up like your mother.”
When my eyes narrow, a sinister smirk tips his lips.
“She was a little cheaper than I’d expect. Body like hers, she could have asked for more and gotten it, especially since I was able to role play. Gotta say...” He tries to grin, but his lip curls instead. “She wasn’t too happy when I asked if I could call her Raven instead.”
I bite into my tongue to keep myself calm when really, I want to yank his tie off and choke him with it.
Boys of Brayshaw High Page 24