“Not yet.”
He shakes his head, not angry but unsure. “You have no right.”
“I have every right.”
“That is my son!”
“That is my husband!”
He jerks back like he’s been slapped, stumbling a bit even before he finds his footing.
I look to Bass.
Without a word spoken, he ushers the security a few feet away, but he makes sure he’s within his idea of a safe distance.
“When?” he breathes, eyes on mine.
“Six weeks ago. We wanted it to be easier for everyone. It backfired.”
His shoulders fall. “Maddoc... he heard, didn’t he?” His eyes move between mine. “That’s why I can’t reach him. He’s gone?”
I open my mouth to speak, but he surprises me.
“This is my fault. All of it.” He steps back, propping himself against the side of the elevator door. “He has no idea what’s happened, does he?”
“He’d be here if he did.” My eyes travel his face. “How did you hear?”
“My men.” He gives a sad laugh. “Our, your, I don’t even know anymore, but I was contacted the moment he was wheeled in. Gunshot they said?”
I consider not answering but, in the end, I do. “Two, but only one broke the skin. We’re waiting for him to be moved into a room.” I swallow. “Rolland, I can’t let you in here.”
“As much as it saddens me to say, I understand, Raven, and I respect the strength in your decision. I’d do the same.”
“Raven!”
Victoria shouts and I look over my shoulder.
“He’s in his room, we can go in!” Her eyes are tight, smile tighter.
I nod, turning back to Rolland.
His chin falls to his chest.
I almost give in, almost crack, but at this point, I have no idea what’s going on.
Everyone is suspect, and he has yet to earn my trust if he ever does.
“Get into the elevator, Rolland. Make this easier for everyone. If you don’t, Royce will walk out here, and I don’t want to put him in the position to choose.”
“He’d choose you, Raven.”
I look to him, finding nothing but sincerity and certainty staring back.
“They all would,” he whispers, a proud smile on his lips, hurt in his eyes. “I underestimated you.”
“Everyone does.”
“They won’t anymore, not at the end of this. No one will.”
“You sound so sure.”
His weighty gaze holds mine. “I recognize the fight in your eyes. You want answers, and you’ll stop at nothing until you get them.” He pushes the button behind him without looking, stepping back into the elevator when the door pings open. His shoulders square and he stands tall. “Go. Be with them.”
I don’t respond, but wait until the doors close between us, then turn and jog down the hall.
Royce grabs my hand and together we walk through the double doors at the back of the room, Vee and Bass behind us.
My palm freezes on the door we’re told Captain is behind, my eyes flying to Royce.
His hand comes up to cup my cheek, the vein in his hitting against his tan skin. “You’re not weak. His being behind this door is proof of that. You’re the bravest fucking person I have ever met, RaeRae, believe that.” He kisses my temple, pulling back to look at me. “Go. I’m right behind ya.”
I push through the door, my heart pounding harder against my chest with every step taken, but when Royce’s grip finds mine from behind, my hand tightens, my eyes flying to him over my shoulder.
I’m hit with an overwhelming sense of obligation. I don’t only need to be stronger for him right now, but I want to be. This is his brother lying here helpless – something they aren’t accustomed to being. And it’s just him.
What once was three is now one, at least that’s how it must seem in his eyes.
One decision from me took both his brothers from him, temporary or not, it’s what happened. He hates being alone, can’t handle being left out, has no clue how to trust or believe in something better.
My eyes move back to his.
His features are soft but rugged. The tattoos from his neck to his knuckles scream bad boy, unapproachable, but he’s so much more. He wants, more needs, someone to dare to look further, reach deeper. Look the angry in the eye and bear the burden willingly.
I’d do it in a heartbeat, but I wouldn’t be enough. He needs someone’s all, not the pieces I have to share with him.
“I’m good, RaeRae,” he whispers for only me to hear. “Keep those feet moving.”
We push farther into the room, the bleeps of the machines as irking as the sterile smell burning my nostrils.
“Hello.” A soft, warm welcome from the nurse at his side. “I’m Carmen, I’ll be here until he’s ready to stroll away on his own.”
Nobody says a word as she quietly walks out.
I force my eyes to Captain, and to my surprise, relief wafts over me. Royce steps behind me, so I drop my head against his chest allowing him to shuffle us to his bedside.
There are already three chairs placed directly beside it, so Royce and I lower ourselves into them.
The third chair mocks me, and guilt crashes hard, serving as a heavy weight on my body and mind.
I lean forward, laying my forehead on his lifeless hand.
Royce’s finds my lower back, and then his head joins mine.
My eyes close, my favorite shade of green flashing behind them before everything fades away and all that’s left is an empty pit of darkness, the universe’s sick way of saying not even in your dreams can you have him.
I crash.
The early morning sun shines through the window when my eyes open and I push myself straight in my chair.
Royce’s hand grips my thigh and I look to him.
“He hasn’t woken up yet, but they think he will soon,” he tells me.
I glance behind me to find Victoria sitting on the little couch, staring right at me, while Bass stands at the edge of the door, just in case.
From there, the days are repeated. One turns to two, then six, and before we know, fourteen days passed and we’re still here.
They removed the ventilator on the second day, and Captain started to stir on the third, but he’s yet to stay awake longer than five minutes. He looks around, groans here and there. The nurse was able to get the doctor in quick enough for him to do his doctor shit once, flash some lights in his eyes and check his pupils, told him how long he’d been here, but Captain fell back asleep before he was able to talk to him about his injuries.
Maddoc is still nowhere to be found despite the army the Brayshaws have out looking, and no one has said a word regarding the whereabouts of my mother’s rotting corpse. Rolland calls Royce several times a day, and Mac says Collins has been sniffing around in our absence.
I turn back to Captain right as the nurse steps in with a small bow.
“He’s still so pale,” I rasp, running my fingers along the stark white sheets, pausing before my hand meets his. “Why?”
“He lost a lot of blood, had to have a transfusion, and his body is still recovering, rebuilding strength and coming down from the shock,” she says quietly as she pushes buttons on the screen beside him. “His color will come back soon, more and more each time he wakes.” She offers a small smile when I glance to her. “Your husband is strong.” I tense but she doesn’t catch it. “He was fighting to wake before surgery began. It took a lot to put him under, that’s why it’s taking him longer to come to fully.”
“He has a lot to live for.”
She gives a small wink. “More than he realizes.”
I frown but then a thought hits. “Wait... his blood type.” My brows lower. “He’s mentioned it was rare.”
“Very,” she agrees, grabbing her clipboard and turning to me. “Luckily, everything on this floor is designated for Brayshaw and whom they, whom you, allow. We have all five of your blo
od types in stock, just in case.”
Five.
My eyes slice to Royce who jerks his chin in a nod. They know about Zoey here, but...
“Where did mine come from?”
She gives a tight smile, her age showing around her eyes when she does. “I drew every blood bag we have in our storage myself. Every bag but yours. Yours were delivered, and then tested for security reasons. They were cleared and stored following the result.”
“Delivered by who?”
“Estella Graven.”
“Collins’ mom,” I whisper, cutting a quick glance from Royce to Bass.
Makes sense I guess, she’s their maid, likely runs in circles doing whatever the hell they need, but wait. “When, exactly, did the blood bags get delivered?”
She pauses to think, then turns to her rolling computer. “Let’s see,” she muses, pushing some buttons. “Almost two months ago.”
Right when we signed away our lives.
“Go,” Royce tells her.
She nods and walks out as I bury my face in my hands trying to process.
“Raven,” Royce edges.
“He went to her,” I whisper.
“Raven.”
My eyes hit his.
“Donley went to her, or he had someone.”
“Maybe it’s an age-old thing, something all the families do?” Royce suggests, but tension lines his brows.
I push to my feet, shaking my head. “But... he’d have to know where to find her to get it.” My eyes find his.
Did he know where she was all along?
Royce shifts to the edge of the couch not following.
I lick my lips looking between the three of them. My mother’s glossy grey eyes flash before mine. I give a hard blink to erase it. “She said she wouldn’t let them have another piece of her.”
“What... you?” Royce whispers.
I shrug, but it takes effort, my muscles are tense, my stomach queasy. I swallow past the bile fighting its way up.
“But they didn’t have her.” His brows drop low, eyes coming back to mine. “Right?”
Sweat builds across my upper lip and I blow air across it, fanning myself in an attempt to cool my body temperature.
I vaguely register Bass asking someone for a cool rag before the chilled item touches my skin.
I open my eyes, finding his narrowed on me. “Breathe through your nose.”
“Back the fuck up, man!” Royce shoves at him, taking his place. “I fucking got her.” He glowers.
Bass doesn’t fight him on it and moves for his place at the door.
Royce turns back to me with a rundown expression. “Are you okay?”
My eyes move between his, and I force a whisper he won’t want to hear pass my lips. “I need to go.”
His eyes harden. “I’m coming with you.”
I shake my head and he jerks away from me.
“You go, I fucking go, Raven,” he growls, but fear burns in his eyes.
“You can’t,” I breathe. “He’ll wake up again soon. He can’t be alone when he does.”
“He needs you here just as much, maybe more. You’re his wife,” he spits the word with a nasty edge. “Or are you running with this new information that might not mean shit, so you can pretend the last few days never fucking happened if it does?”
Bass’s footsteps sound behind me and Royce’s head shoots up, his lip curling. “I fucking dare you, bitch.” His chest rumbles with his words.
“Wait in the hall. Both of you,” I say, not taking my eyes off Royce who won’t take his off Bass.
As soon as the door swings open and closed, I reach out, gripping Royce’s face, forcing his eyes to mine.
His harsh exhales grow deeper. He’s hurting, angry. I deserve so much worse than a few heated words he’ll feel like shit over later.
“If he wakes up, tell him I’ll be back.” My eyes bounce between his. “I will be back, Royce. I’m not leaving you.”
“And if you find answers that change things, then what?” he spits. “You pretend nothing ever happened?”
My face must say it all, because in the next second his falls, his features screaming his honest truth – he wanted me to say yes, that it would all change, go back to how it was, but Captain is in this bed because I asked him to join me in mine, and sooner than we promised to.
How could I possibly turn my back on him when he so quickly gave his for mine?
I couldn’t.
“How am I supposed to let you walk out of here not knowing what you’re walking into? My brother would fucking kill me.” His chest caves as mine does, and he cuts a quick glance away. “Both of them. Not that they’d have to. I’d fuck my own self up.”
I swallow. “Bass will help me.”
“Fuck him,” he spits, angrily. “I hate him. I hate him near you, I fucking hate him around and I plan to make sure it’s mutual. I’m gonna fuck him over, one way or another for good measure.” He glares. “He’s not me. He can’t protect you like I can. He wouldn’t die for you like I would.”
I give a tight smile. “I know.” I step against him, pulling his head down to mine. “I know, but I need you to stay with him. Be here for him while I can’t be, while Maddoc isn’t. I need you, ponyboy, but he needs you more right now. Please.”
Royce’s facial muscles constrict, and he drops his forehead to mine. A sad scoffed laugh leaves him, his hands finding my hips. “Problem child’s sayin’ please?” he teases, closing his eyes.
A small laugh escapes. “Guess I am.”
His jaw clamps shut, but he leans in, kissing the corner of my mouth before pulling back, his dark lashes low. “He’s gone if you come back with so much as an added scratch. Make sure that’s clear.”
I agree, moving for the door.
“I hate this,” he says on a shuttered whisper.
“I know.” I pause to look at Captain then meet Royce’s eyes again. “I’ll be back.”
“You better be.” He frowns. “Or we all die today.”
The elevator doors open, and I step onto the cement, my eyes finding Bass a few feet out, Victoria at his side. He slips a cigarette between his lips, nodding his chin as he brings his lighter up.
I glance the way he’s motioned and jerk to an immediate stop.
Rolland sits against the side wall, tie undone, head in his hands. Not one of his security around, his driver not perched near waiting.
It’s just him.
I walk over, stopping right in front of him, kicking his shoe when he doesn’t move a single muscle.
He jolts, glare flying to mine, only for panic to flare the second he sees me. He jumps to his feet. “Is he okay?”
I bite into my cheek, glaring at him. “Not yet, he’s not.”
His heavy inhale causes my chest to ache, even more so when his eyes morph into the ones I used to know, concern laced through them. For me. “Where are you going, Raven?”
“To make a point. To let them know I’ll fuck their world harder than they’ve fucked mine and without hesitation.”
His lips pinch and I know he wants to argue, but he keeps them locked tight, as he should.
“Go up.”
Rolland’s eyes slice to mine.
“Be there for your sons, especially the one on the verge of flipping out, he’s up there and feeling more alone than ever. Be a fucking dad and nothing else, for once. Stare at Captain and replay all the wrong decisions you made, but first I need something from you.”
“Anything,” he relents.
“I need to get in touch with the Riveras.”
“Gio?” he guesses, but I don’t bother confirming.
With his forehead drawn tight, he pulls a random card from his wallet and a pen from his dress shirt pocket, quickly scribbling a number on the back of it.
I stare at the number, then meet his eyes.
“He’ll come home, Raven. It might take time, but he will.” His tone is more hopeful than confident.
“Wha
t makes you say that?”
“He knows nothing else.”
“You’re wrong.” I shake my head, looking off. “He knows pain.” I force my eyes back to his. “And that’s enough to keep anyone away.”
I tilt my head, glancing up at the glass building, knowing eyes are on me even though I can’t see them. I give a nod, and then step back and Rolland grabs his suit jacket off the ground, moving toward the elevator as it begins to slide open.
“You can trust the others, too,” he says. “Trick, Alec, they’re good people. Honest, noble.”
“Trust only those who earn it,” I repeat the words of a Brayshaw.
I’d swear his lip twitches. “Smart girl.” With a deep inhale, he says, “You’re looking for answers.” My eyes move to his as he steps into the elevator. “Start with her.”
Rolland looks over my shoulder right as the door clicks shut, and then there I stand, staring at a reflection of myself, but movement behind me has my eyes lifting.
My hands fall to my sides as I slowly turn around.
Victoria.
Everyone here serves a purpose of some kind...
Her brown eyes intensify, flying between mine.
No...
“Raven...” Her voice echoes around me, bouncing off the wall, creating a deep ringing in my ears.
I step toward her.
She doesn’t cower.
“Raven.” Her hands lift.
Bass looks between us, his spine shooting straight.
He flicks his cigarette and takes quick steps toward her. Gripping her arm, he turns her to face him. “What’d you do?” he demands.
I reach them in the same second, my hand shooting out to clasp her throat and her head snaps my way, her fingers coming up to latch against my wrists. I squeeze, but she doesn’t fight me. She nods, accepting, which makes my breaths come in shorter spurts.
Fight me.
“I told you, you might hate me,” she gasps, her throat bobbing against my palm.
I blink rapidly to keep myself in check.
Maddoc is gone, Captain is hurt, my mother is dead.
Maddoc is gone.
I’m crumbling.
Bass lets her go and I get in her face, closing my fist as much as I can until not a sound can squeeze past her lips. “You. Are going. To fucking talk,” I force past clenched teeth, fighting the tremble threatening to take over every inch of me.
Reign of Brayshaw (Brayshaw High #3) Page 16
