Trouble at Brayshaw High

by Meagan Brandy

  I exhale and drop my head back. “You’re a catch, for sure.”

  “And Maddoc?”

  My lip tips up. “He’s the shark, ready to eat up all the others to stay on the tip of my tongue, like he wouldn’t be there regardless.”

  Royce laughs. “You tell him yet?”

  “Tell him what?”

  “You love him.”

  My stomach tightens and I take a sip of my beer. “Do I?” I ask, quietly.

  “Damn, RaeRae. Never thought it would be one of us feelin’ it and having to shake it out the female.”

  “I’ve never loved anyone, not even my mom, to be honest. Not even when I was young and dumb.”

  “You mean innocent?”

  I shake my head. “I was never that. I was a thief, and some would say a bully.”

  I wasn’t, not really. I just didn’t let people run all over me, couldn’t if I tried. And I tried. It was so much easier to leave things alone and move along, a lot less messy and troublesome for me, but I’ve never been good at restraint.

  “You were a natural born survivalist, a fighter.”

  “I was a bebe ass kid nobody wanted around because I knew and saw too much or because they didn’t want to chance my mom slipping into their husband’s – sometimes wive’s – beds. She had no dignity. No hard limit. Just a sick bitch through and through.”

  “Raven,” he calls, but I don’t look. “You’re nothing like her.”

  At that, I roll my head against the house and I finally meet his stare. “I almost became her for him, for you. Is that what love is? Venom in your veins driving you to throw out all morals and self-respect for the sake of someone else? Without hesitation, and little to no remorse?”

  His eyes tighten as he studies me.

  “If it is, then how could loving him be a good thing?” I ask.

  “I think it’s necessary.”

  “I think it’s pathetic.”

  “I think you’re wrong.” Both our heads snap right to find Maddoc and Captain standing there.

  Shit.

  His jaw clenches as he tries to keep his cool when I can tell all he really wants to do is flip the fuck out right now. He sure as fuck won’t do it here.

  He kicks the beer bottle beside me and shifts his glare to Royce.

  Royce holds up one hand while putting out the blunt with the other.

  He hops up, pulling me with him.

  I dust off my jeans and move to stand right in front of Maddoc, but he turns on his heels and starts walking. “Let’s go.”

  Silently, the four of us exit around the side of the yard and head for Cap’s SUV.

  Captain and Royce bullshit about nothing on the drive, but neither of us says a damn thing, and in a few short minutes we’re pulling in front of the house.

  Cap and Royce step out and I dart just as quick, but he’s quicker and jumps out behind me. Gripping my elbow, he pulls me back, pushing me against the inside of the door frame.

  His eyes flick between mine, defiance lining every inch of me, I’m sure.

  “Raven—”

  “Stop,” I tell him. “I’m not doing this.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because ...” My eyes widen. “I don’t want to, okay?” I grow defensive and his hands jerk away from me. I swallow the bile fighting its way up. “Just because you decided to say what you did doesn’t mean I’m going to say it back. It doesn’t mean I’m going to try to ... love. I told you I’m not normal.”

  “Neither am I,” he snaps.

  “Then stop pretending we can be!” I shout. “Stop feeding into the thought of being—” I cut myself off and look away, but he forces my eyes back.

  “What, happy?” He gets in my face. “No. I won’t stop, Raven. Everything around us is fucked up and influenced by one thing or another, one person or another. We don’t have anything for ourselves at this point, not completely anyway. But you? I want you, for me. Only fucking me. I don’t see anything wrong with that.”

  “Well you should, because—”

  “Cut the shit, Raven!” His hand hits against the window beside my head. “You feel like I do, but you’re fighting it. Why?”

  “I said I’m not doing this.”

  “Doing what?” he shouts, creeping even closer. “Why, pick a fight when we have no reason for one? Why not let it happen? Would loving me be so bad?!”

  “Yes!” I shout right back, pushing on his chest but he doesn’t budge. “Yes, it would be so bad. So fucking bad!”

  “Why?!”

  A humorless laugh leaves me. “Seriously?” I gape at him. “I was ready to fuck someone else to protect you. Someone who touched me without permission. I wasn’t talking out my fucking ass when I said love is weak, because if what I’m feeling is love, Maddoc, I don’t want it! I hate it!”

  “Why?”

  “Because! It’s like you’re in my fucking head, dictating moves I used to control, fighting against my every step.” I shake my head. “You’re like weight beneath my skin, pressure against my chest, a fog inside my damn mind I can’t get rid of!”

  “Raven—”

  “To love you would mean to let go of a part of me, the part that I worked damn hard to get – understanding and accepting I need no one to survive, knowing I can do this all on my own without a helping hand or dropping to my knees.”

  His shoulders fall. “Baby...”

  I swallow. “To need someone is weak, because what happens when they leave, and you fall flat on your face? I don’t want to be weak, Big Man, not even for someone strong enough to carry us both.”

  The vein in his neck throbs against his skin, and his throat bobs with a deep swallow, but what has me holding my breath is the way the creases at the edge of his eyes smooth out.

  His hand wraps around my neck and I welcome it, gripping his wrist to keep it there.

  He moves in, running his nose along my jawline, pausing to whisper in my ear. “I make you weak?”

  “Yes.”

  He growls against me, his grip tightening. “That’s good, baby. Real good.”

  I frown, and he pulls back, a smirk in place.

  He rolls his hips against me, lifting my chin up so his lips can touch mine.

  I fight the urge to lick his, but he has even less control and slides his tongue between the crease of my lips in a second, tasting me.

  Another groan leaves him.

  His hand glides up my side, pausing at the edge of my breast. “You said love makes you weak.” He nips at the corner of my mouth. “You said I make you weak.” He nips my jaw. “If love makes you weak, and I make you weak, then baby,” he breathes against my skin, pulling the lobe of my ear between his teeth. “What’s that mean?”

  I pant, my body going slack against the door. “I...mmm,” I moan when he runs the tip of his nose up my throat. “Fuck off.”

  He laughs against me, his grip tightening, his chuckles quickly turning into a moan.

  His mouth flies to mine and while his kiss is hard and possessive, crazed for more, his hands on my neck and face are gentle, almost feather light. It’s like he’s afraid to grip me fully, knowing the small wounds on the back of my head aren’t fully healed.

  He pulls back just as quick and lifts me.

  With a husky chuckle, I jump up in his arms and he jogs for the door, running up the steps and inside.

  Right when we make it through the threshold of the doorway, my back hits something and Maddoc stumbles slightly, catching himself and me before we tumble.

  His eyes fly over my shoulder and his body turns to stone.

  His hands release me, and I frown, slowly sliding down, but when I shift to look over my shoulder as well, my muscles lock just the same.

  “Good. You’re all home.”

  “Dad.”

  Holy shit.

  I stand there frozen, my hands still stuck on Raven’s side.

  Captain glances back at me, shifting the smallest bit in front of Raven, a move that would
be subtle to others, but not Rolland Brayshaw.

  The edges of his eyes tighten, and he looks from Captain to Raven, and then me.

  “Well.” He glances at Royce who stands a few steps in front of us. “This isn’t quite the way I thought this would go.”

  We all hesitate another second, but then light laughs leave us, and we move for him.

  He grins as we step closer, reaching out to hug each of us.

  “This is a fucking surprise,” Royce laughs. “Thought it took thirty days for a decision to be made?”

  “The decision was made before I even got there. It was out of the judge’s hands, the hearing was simply semantics. Two weeks was as quick as I could get all the Ts crossed.”

  “Why didn’t you tell us?” Royce asks.

  “We’ve kept it quiet for now. I wanted to avoid it getting back to the Gravens until I had a chance to come home, and ... evaluate.”

  “Evaluate?” I ask. “Evaluate what? And why didn’t you respond to any of my messages? I’ve been trying to reach you for weeks.”

  Our dad grins and clasps my shoulder. “I’m sorry, son. I would have, but I had a lot to get a handle on.”

  “Evaluate what?” I ask again, hating the unease creeping up my spine. I have no fucking idea why I suddenly feel on edge.

  “It’s just business, we’ll talk about that tomorrow.” He smiles at each of us, hitting his hand against Cap’s chest. “Damn boy, you’ve grown.”

  He scratches the back of his head, shrugging with a small grin.

  “Yeah, them shoulders came outta nowhere,” Royce teases. “He was a puny ass white boy one day then boom, fuckin’ wingspan for the books.”

  “And you’re still a skinny asshole.” Cap shoves him.

  Royce flips him off with a grin. “Please, I’m just a silent killer. They have to use their imagination to wonder what’s under these clothes, then boom. Sculpted masterpiece. Five percent body fat, baby.” He lifts his shirt, hitting his abs.

  Our dad laughs then runs a hand down his suit jacket. He nods, his features softening as he looks between us. “This is ...” He nods again.

  The front door clicks open and all our heads jerk to see Maybell rushing in, tears in her eyes as she steps forward.

  Her hand shakes as she steps in front of my dad, placing her hands on his cheeks.

  “Good to see you standing here, boy.”

  “Good to be standing here, Ms. Maybell.” He pats her hand on his cheek. “I owe you so much.” He grips her hand, holding it in his.

  “You owe me nothing.” She smiles softly. “They’re my boys, too, but if you’re in a giving mood, I could use a day or two off.”

  Our dad laughs. “We’ll make that happen, Ms. Maybell.”

  Holy shit.

  He’s really fucking standing there, not fifteen feet away.

  Ten seconds in and I stand on one side of the room while they stand on the other, their father at their side – the man who “owns” me.

  I guess I didn’t really stop to think about what would actually happen once he arrived – sure as shit didn’t expect it to be this quickly.

  It’s safe to say I’m a little more than unsure.

  I’m ready to run.

  Apparently, my feet agree, because I don’t realize I’m backing up for the door, one silent step at a time, until my foot catches a rogue basketball on the floor and I slip, falling right on my ass with a hard thud.

  My hair falls into my face, but my eyes pop up, right as five sets of eyes hit me.

  Fuck.

  Cap rushes over, like I need help up or something, but I stand quickly before he can reach me and take a step away.

  He frowns, but I keep my eyes on the man across the room.

  His eyes, I should have recognized them – they’re identical to the ones I’ve been staring into for weeks now.

  His casual gaze runs the length of me quickly, before settling on my face.

  “You must be, Raven.”

  “Don’t play that.” I shake my head, and the creases of his eyes tighten subtly. “I already told them what you supposedly failed to.”

  All three of the boys’ heads jerk toward me, likely from my use of the word supposedly but I don’t look away.

  “Ah.” He nods, crossing his arms. “I see.”

  I tilt my head, glaring. “You were really gonna stand there and lie to their faces, hoping I would have taken your little hint to keep quiet?”

  “Raven,” Maddoc warns and I cut my glare his way.

  “No,” Rolland responds. “Well, yes, I suppose, but only until I had a chance to speak with you first.”

  “And why would you do that?” Tension swims in my stomach at the query in his eyes. “These are your sons, I’m nobody. They deserve your honesty.”

  His eyes drop to my hands and I freeze, yanking them from my hoodie pocket.

  “You still have it,” he muses.

  Perceptive son of a bitch.

  When I say nothing, he asks, “May I see it?”

  “No.”

  “But I’m the one who gave it to you.”

  “You also bought me from my mother, so forgive me if I’m not ready to hand over the only thing in reach to kill you with should you give me a reason to.”

  His eyes widen slightly before he can stop them.

  “Raven!” Captain snaps, but I ignore him.

  “Seems someone has grown up a little wary —”

  “Don’t pretend to know or care how I grew up,” I cut Rolland off. “And just ... stop. What are you even doing?” I glance at Cap who watches me, Royce whose brows are lined with tension, and then Maddoc, who frowns at us both.

  Rolland tilts his head slightly like he doesn’t understand what I’m saying.

  “Your sons have missed you. Focus on them, not me.”

  “But they have you to thank for getting me here, even if you did cause some problems along the way.” He tries to smile, but when he doesn’t get one in return, he nods instead.

  “Ms. Maybell, would you please step upstairs with Raven. I’d like to speak with my sons a moment.”

  Maybell’s features tighten and she waves me over. “Come on, child.”

  I scoff, shake my head and spin around. I yank the front door open, but I only get a step out before Maddoc is gripping my arm.

  My eyes snap to his, and his jaw clenches. I yank away and step onto the porch, Maybell right behind me and the door slams.

  I lean my head against the wall a second, then spin to face her.

  “Can I come back to the house?”

  Her forehead crinkles, but her lip twitches. “Not gonna run, huh?”

  I glare, and she laughs, a sigh falling shortly after.

  She reaches for my hand and slowly drops to sit, her feet dangling over the edge of the porch, laughing lightly when I pull from her grip.

  She pats the space at her side, so I plant my ass beside her. She blows my damn mind when she pulls an old school metal pipe from her pocket, packed and ready to go.

  I gape at her, a laugh escaping me, and she shrugs.

  “I’m an old, achy woman who deals with a good dozen females on a daily basis. These nerves are shot.”

  I laugh and watch her hit it, taking it when she passes it my way.

  “You knew I was smoking the whole time?” I ask her.

  “I know everything, child. I’ve been a mother to many.” She looks my way. “I also knew you stole the binder from me.”

  “Why not confront me, or take it back?”

  “I wanted to see what would happen next.”

  My mouth opens then closes. “What?”

  “I wanted to see what would happen next,” she repeats. “I knew you’d do no harm to them. I could feel it in my gut.”

  “You shouldn’t have trusted in your gut. You don’t know me.”

  “I know you’re a fighter, like them. I knew right away you’d love him, and I was waiting to watch it happen.”

  I fro
wn at the orchards. “Maybe I don’t.”

  She scoffs, and my eyes fall to my feet.

  “Maybe ... I don’t want to.”

  “Raven,” she starts but pauses for a long moment. Finally, she shifts to face me. “Child,” she whispers, something sounding a lot like devastation making her voice crack. “Things are gonna get real complicated, but I need you—”

  The door is thrown open and a crazy-eyed Maddoc storms out, his feet screeching to a halt when he spots us off to the side.

  His shoulders visibly drop.

  Maybell smiles meekly from me to him. “Yes, boy, she’s still here.”

  Maddoc nods, his frown not leaving me.

  “What?” I ask a little more bitchy than necessary.

  “Come inside.”

  “I’m talking to Maybell.” Anything to prolong this.

  “We’re done, child.”

  My stare slices back to her and she offers a tight smile.

  “Go on, girl,” she whispers, her hand reaching out to squeeze mine. “Boy,” she calls and Maddoc comes over, helping her stand.

  He kisses her temple and she makes her way down the steps.

  I stand and Maddoc steps against me.

  “You good?” he rasps, his voice tense.

  “Are you?” I counter, and he frowns.

  I step past him and into the house.

  Cap and Royce are on the couch, so I drop between them, not missing the frown that comes from Rolland as I do.

  Maddoc moves to sit on the arm of it, on the other side of Royce.

  “So,” Rolland starts.

  “So...” I let my eyes trail him this time. “You look like the man I used to see once a week ... but at the same time, you don’t.” My eyes lift to his. “You played the trucker role well, never would have guessed you owned a suit, let alone wore one like a king.”

  His lip tips slightly.

  Fool.

  “I’ll take that as a compliment.”

  “Don’t. You’re fake. What’s the point of being you, the supposed man to beat, if you can’t even be real?”

  “I have a lot of enemies.”

  “A lot of people do. Only the weak hide from theirs.”

  His eyes harden slightly. “Are you weak or are you smart, Raven?”

  “I’m not the one who got sucked in by the she-devil and landed my ass in prison for eleven years over beat up pussy.”