“You ever gonna talk to me or you forever pissed?” Bass drops down beside me.
“Depends.” I tilt my head. “Can you be honest?”
“Ask your questions, Carver.” His grin’s easy.
“Why’d you come to me over them? Why not go direct to your bosses with the video news or tell them about it the second I went off the wall and tried to fix it?”
“Because you didn’t demand it. You earned it.”
“You saying they haven’t earned it from you?” I grow defensive and he chuckles lightly.
My shoulders relax a little.
“They’ve earned every fucking bit of my loyalty, but they demanded it first, earned it later. With you though.” He shakes his head and looks away. “Man, Rae, you came up in here and threw their order into the shredder. Everyone watched in shock as it quickly went from them wanting to toss you in the grinder to tossing you in a fucking Brayshaw sized bubble.”
My forehead wrinkles and I look back to the now near empty court, the teams having cleared to change and shit now that the game is over.
“You had no agenda or hidden reason for anything you were doing, unlike most people.”
“So a girl you hardly knew does some stupid shit to piss off the guys you say have all your loyalty and you give her info over them?”
He’s quiet a minute, so I look his way again, finding him staring.
“I don’t do much that feels right, Rae. In fact, not sure I’ve ever done anything that has, but for whatever reason, putting you first that night did.” He looks away. “I’m not even sorry I did, despite all the fucked-up shit that followed.”
My eyes are pulled back to the court when I feel him.
Maddoc doesn’t bother looking at Bass until he’s standing right in front of me.
“All set?” he asks him.
“Always,” Bass coolly responds.
“Good. You can go now.”
Bass pushes to his feet and walks out, throwing “Later, Rae” over his shoulder as he does.
Maddoc gauges me with unsettled eyes and a deep wrinkle on his forehead.
“What?” I ask.
He licks his lips and looks off. “Let’s go.”
Okay then.
The boys are extra peppy tonight, which is a solid fuckin’ change from the last few days. They’re fired up and ready to party.
We make a quick stop at the house to drop off their gear and then go to a small pub on the town strip.
The waitress’s eyes light up the second we walk inside, and I want to vomit.
“Long time no see.” She grins at each of them, her smile faltering slightly when she spots me in the mix. “You’re Raven Carver.”
I don’t bother responding and move past her – of course my boys follow.
Royce laughs as he takes the seat beside me, Maddoc and Captain opposite of us.
“What?”
“Nothing, you’re just a natural, unapproachable bitch. I dig it.” He nudges me with his elbow. “Very Brayshaw of you,” he laughs lightly when I punch him in the thigh.
I look to Maddoc, finding both him and Captain grinning.
“Can I ask you guys something?” I ask, tearing open a sugar packet for the hell of it.
“If we told you no, would you ask anyway?” Cap teases.
“Yes,” I laugh and prop my elbows on the table. “Was that true, about your dad being okay with you guys making moves on your own?”
“We don’t run shit by him before we handle business, Raven.” Maddoc frowns.
“But you listen to him.”
“We trust his judgment. He’s been where we are, dealt with shit from the Gravens along the way.”
“And now?”
“And now he understands things have gone too far.”
I eye them. “Me.”
“You,” Maddoc confirms, leaning forward. “The second he touched you when he knew you belonged to me, the second he tried to take you from me he sealed his fucking fate. I wanted to ruin him before on principle. Now I’ll destroy his entire fucking world and everyone connected to it.”
My blood shouldn’t warm at his words, yet here I am, growing hot beneath my clothes. The gleam in Maddoc’s eyes tells me he knows it too.
“But to answer your question, RaeRae, yeah.” Royce motions for the waitress. “He told us to do what we needed, so we will.”
“Starting tonight,” Maddoc adds, nodding at the chick when she wordlessly sets down four waters.
“Tonight?”
Royce looks away while Maddoc holds his face blank, but Cap, he grins into his cup.
“What’s tonight?” I ask again and they chuckle.
The waitress comes back, setting down a couple pizzas.
“Carb up, RaeRae. You’re gonna need it.”
They get straight to eating so I do the same and twenty minutes later we’re back in the leather seats of Captain’s SUV.
It only takes a few minutes before I realize where we’re going.
I scoot forward in the seat, but Maddoc pulls me back, and this time onto his lap.
“What are we doing?
“Getting excited?” Royce bounces his eyebrows.
My stomach flips. “What are we doing?”
Cap pulls in and drives along the inside of the dirt path, not stopping until he’s right at the edge of the entrance.
The hairs on the back of my neck start to tingle when Mac all of a sudden appears and the gate is pulled open.
Captain rolls through and every head turns to watch as the sleek Denali makes its way forward.
“What the hell are you guys doing?” I ask, but it comes out as a bit of a whisper.
“I told you,” Maddoc speaks into my ear. “We’re done hiding.”
“Perkins will cause problems, no? The other families you talked about, they’ll know you guys are leading now, aren’t you supposed to wait ‘til you graduate? Someone will rat.”
“Let them,” Maddoc mumbles in my ear.
I tense then slowly spin to frown at him. “You want it to happen.”
“Someone needs to be the example. Let them challenge us. Never again will we fall at any other’s hands. Not us. And not you.”
“You’re not above the fucking law, Big Man—”
“Yes, Raven.” His eyes darken, determination etched across every inch of his face. “We are.”
My stomach about bottoms out at his words and I jerk when a hand touches my upper arm.
I look to Captain.
Always with those reassuring eyes.
“We know what we’re doing.”
“Have you dealt with snakes before, Cap?” I challenge, and a rare smirk that has me pulling back a little finds his lips.
“We are the snakes, Raven.”
I gape at him a second before a laugh bubbles out of me. “Well, shit. Let’s get the fuck out.”
Royce grins and all at once, the boys reach for their handles, but when I reach for mine, Maddoc yanks me toward him.
I frown but he only winks in return, and then the boys are stepping out, all fucking eyes on them.
Maddoc turns his head to look at me and reaches out a hand.
I glare, not missing the teasing gleam in his eye – he knows I hate this shit.
At the same time, though, there’s a lot of stray females out here, better they learn quick who they can and can’t touch.
I slide across the seat and step out, leaving his hand hanging, but I do take him by surprise when I grip his collar and pull myself up on my toes.
“Real cute, Big Man,” I whisper, and the corner of his eyes tighten in humor. “Now finish your little show.”
His eyes blaze and a low groan leaves him as he dips his head and kisses my neck a moment.
I drop to my feet and he stands to his full height, one of his hands sliding into my back pocket as the four of us walk toward the wooden crates at the edge of the setup, and my adrenaline starts pumping to the beat of the loud ass music float
ing through the air.
It’s like an instant, natural high no drug could ever give me.
I look around at all the people partying and placing bets, smaller fights already happening in the back corner while the larger circle is kept clear by nothing but a couple barrels and tied ropes.
My fingertips tingle.
This fucked up shit is in my soul.
Bass meets us at the first area.
He nods at the guys, then shifts toward me and a rare smile breaks across his face.
“Ready for some fun?”
I tense, my brows snapping together. “Wait, what?”
He frowns and looks to Maddoc. “You didn’t tell her?”
“Tell me what?” I rush out, a little too excited when I could be reading this all wrong.
Maddoc’s eyes shift between mine, but his lips stay tightly pressed.
“Maddoc,” I prompt.
The boys step closer and Bass steps back.
“All you wanted while you were here was to fight. We took that from you,” he says.
“If I wanted to, I would have found a way,” I argue, but it’s weak from the sudden weight of his eyes.
“And I’d have loved pissing you off when I stopped you.”
My lips twitch.
“Now, quiet and listen.” He pulls me close. “You were ready to give up everything for us, so we’re giving you something back.”
I open my mouth to speak, but nothing comes out. My head pulls back, and I look across at the three of them.
Royce is grinning, Cap looks a bit unsettled and Maddoc wears his usual frown.
“Wait, so...”
“You’re on the card tonight if you want it, RaeRae.” Royce shakes me.
“Are you for real?” My stomach flips and I frantically glance from one to the next. “You guys are gonna stand back, as in not step in, and watch me fight?”
Maddoc lifts his chin and my mouth clamps shut.
My lips purse. “There’s a catch.”
“You wanna fight?” He holds his arms out. “You watch me fight.”
“Fucking deal.” A laugh bubbles out of me, and his glare intensifies. “What, you thought I’d say no? Pass on the chance of seeing you go alpha out here? Hell, no!” I grin. “Go for it, Big Man. Whoop some fucking ass.”
That earns me some laughs and then I’m lifted and placed on the nearest crate so he and I are eye to eye.
“Do not move. Do you understand? I don’t care what your reason could possibly be, piss your fucking pants if you need to. Your ass – that ass of mine – stays right fucking here.”
“Yes, boss.”
He stares a moment longer before he steps back and yanks his hoodie and shirt over his head. He throws both in my face and steps under the ropes, gaining the attention all over again.
Damn, he’s fine.
Royce and Captain hop up beside me.
“We’re in for a real fucking treat tonight, folks! Not only are the Brayshaws here – the motherfuckers that make all this possible for your scoundrel asses – but one is standing in this very ring, not that you needed to be told that,” the hype guy yells into his megaphone. “No bets are being taken on this fight, this is for pure entertainment people cause you see, here’s what’s happened...”
My brows pull in and I glance at Royce, he shoots me a quick wink before turning his malicious smirk on the ring.
The pit of my stomach grows tight.
“Y’all remember our dark-haired queen of the night, right? She popped in like a backward Barbie and out like a west coast warrior?”
What ...
“Well, her name is Raven Carver, and she’s back, people!” he shouts, and people start shouting in excitement, eye after eye flying my way and I wanna die.
“I’m gonna fuck you guys up for this,” I mumble for only Cap and Royce to hear.
Assholes laugh at me.
“Now, a couple weeks ago, Raven, or Rae as we call her, slipped in here for a minute, and when she left, our warrior got jumped.”
Some people laugh, others throw out ‘fuck thats’ and the like, but my spine shoots straight, and I grip Cap and Royce by the thighs.
“And guess what else?” the guy shouts. “We know one of the guys who done done it.” People scream, and I jerk forward but, the boys yank me back down. “Bastards and bitches, welcome to the ring, the dumbass who put his hands on Maddoc Brayshaw’s woman.”
My pulse spikes as a dark figure makes his way toward the ring, several big ass buff dudes following close by.
He steps in the center, facing away from me.
“Y’all know the drill, they swing ‘til they can’t. You stay back and out the way, and when this little bitch has thoroughly had his ass handed to him, you can spit on him and walk away.” He pauses so the crowd can shout once more before pulling his megaphone back to his mouth. “Game time, motherfuckers. Shirt off, pansy. Let’s get it.”
The guy hops down and my fingers dig into Royce and Captain’s jeans as I watch the dude across from Maddoc start to pull his hoodie over his head.
I squint to try and see better, but I can’t make him out.
My eyes lift to Maddoc’s and right as they do, his meet mine.
His move prompts his opponent to turn as well and my jaw clenches shut.
Leo.
That little bitch.
“Cap...” I start, but he ignores me, so I snap, “Royce.”
“Yes.” He covers my hand with his and squeezes. “He fucking helped Collins. He gave him the video, and it was his boot that was marked against your ribs. He— ”
“Is a dead man in that ring,” I whisper, anxiousness now fighting its way in and pushing out all the excitement and adrenaline because I know Maddoc is fucking foaming out the mouth right now.
His friend. Someone he half trusted, who I thought was sketchy as fuck, fucked them.
Fucked me.
“We have to show these people, Raven,” Cap whispers in my ear. “And this is the place to do it. These people are drifters, you know that. Word will spread, and everyone will understand.”
“You don’t fuck with a Brayshaw,” Royce finishes for him, looking to me and I reluctantly pull my eyes from the scene to meet his. “None of us.”
The horn blares longer, the crowd gathers closer, and the intensity sparks like an invisible fucking flame.
A thrill runs down my spine and I glance around – wide eyes, baited breaths, and shaky hands surround me.
We all feel it, the power surging from the man in the middle.
My man.
And it’s on.
Leo tries, I give him that, but he’s no match for the fury boiling inside every inch of Maddoc. He was played by his boy, and he’s letting everyone know what’ll happen should they stray.
Punch after punch, kick after fucking kick, and Leo still pushes to his feet, but only after Maddoc steps back to allow it.
And he continues to allow it, waits for it in fact, all to knock him back down with the full force behind his fist.
Leo’s cheek is busted open, his brow split just the same. Blood pours into his eyes and he wobbles on his feet, hands barely at his chest when he readies himself.
The crowd is no longer shouting but whispering with wide eyes.
“Cap.” I shake his thigh, not taking my eyes off Maddoc. “Should we...”
Leo’s legs give and he drops to his knees, his arms flopping to his side.
“No,” Cap says calmly. Instantly. “He’s got it coming and he knows it.”
“Why you think he keeps standing?” Royce whispers in my other ear. “He knows what he did, and he accepts it.”
Maddoc glares down at him, blood and sweat covering his body as well. His dark hair is matted and has fallen against his forehead. His chest heaves, his tattoo angrily rising and falling with each breath.
He gets right against him, forcing Leo’s head back completely.
Maddoc bends and grips his arm, causing Leo to
fall to the side slightly.
My eyes widen as he grips his fingers and snaps the first two back completely.
Leo wails into the sky and I wince.
There goes his shooting hand.
Maddoc spits on him then kicks him over and the crowd flips the fuck out.
Beer is thrown and his back is slapped a solid fifteen times before he can even move from the ring.
Maddoc steps out and moves toward me, Leo’s blood splattered across him, his own dripping from the corner of his eye and lip.
“You ready?” he rasps, eyes wild, overtaken with adrenaline and burning with vitality.
I glance to Cap and Royce, both waiting for me to make my move, letting me decide.
It’s my turn to fight, that’s what they promised me tonight, and I’ve been dying to let go of some of my frustrations, but Maddoc ... he’s completely fucking out of it.
A mad man standing.
I push against him, kissing his sweaty pec, right over his tattoo. I look up into his crazed eyes. “I’m ready to get out of here.”
His brows furrow, his tongue slipping out to tap at the cut on his lip. A tremor runs through him right before he dips, gripping me under the thighs and lifts, storming away in the same move.
The crowd parts for him as he charges toward the vehicle.
He slides in the backseat, leaving me on top of him, while the others climb in the front.
I bend, grabbing the sweater from the floorboard, wiping away Leo’s blood from his chest and face.
He jerks it from my hand and tosses it behind him, yanking me against him, my knees pushing into the fold of the seats.
He reaches between us and slips his hand in my leggings, tearing a hole in the seams between my legs and I start panting.
The music is suddenly cranked up piercingly loud.
Maddoc’s eyes hit mine, dark and dangerous, and fucking burning for me.
He’s fucked in his head right now and needs to be brought back, he needs to escape the dark place his mind has taken him.
His free hand slides up my chest until he’s got the base of my neck in his hand.
Mine shoot out, instinctively sliding across his torso before pausing at his ribcage, and he shudders against me.
He leans forward sliding his lips across my skin until he’s blowing in my ear. “Don’t make me wait, baby. I can’t wait.”
Trouble at Brayshaw High Page 16