She tries to nod, eyes pleading, but not for me to release her, for me to believe in her.
I shove her away, and she starts coughing, her hand shooting up to rub her reddened skin, but I don’t give her the space to calm, I push her again, until her back slams against a parked car.
“Captain was shot,” I tell her. “That’s why he’s here, and by my own fucking mom. My mom who planted more seeds than I have time to grow. I’m out of time and out of choices.”
Alarm fills her eyes, but she blinks it away. “What did she tell you?”
“Not enough before she stopped breathing.”
She freezes, her eyes sliding between mine and Bass’.
“Talk.”
A tortured sigh leaves her. “I don’t want to tell you.”
“I don’t care. Talk.”
She glances at Bass as if she wants him to walk away, but he only leans back against a random van, crossing his arms and one leg over the other.
With a shake of her head, her stare moves back to me.
“I was a tool,” she starts after a minute of silence. “My role was always the same – the naïve little girl with stars in her eyes for the target of the night. A shoulder for them to boost themselves up on, not attached to their worlds, or so they thought. After a few drinks, they loved to tell me how brave they were, who they screwed over, and how easily it worked.”
“Dirty laundry.”
“At its filthiest,” she mumbles, her eyes focused over my shoulder. “Since alcohol was what we used to get them loose-lipped, Mero, that was his name, refused to touch it, but after a few years with me, he grew comfortable, less careful. He started having a few here and there.” Her eyes slide back to mine. “I had to play extra nice to get what I was looking for, but it worked. He practically sang when I stopped playing dead in his bed and pretended to be the girl he bargained for.”
Mero...
My mind spins trying to place the name.
She nods like she can read my mind. “Mero.” She repeats the name.
“Who is he?”
“The man this town erased – the fourth man in the yearbook photo.” Her eyes bounce between mine. “The man who gave a secret in exchange for me. The man your mom tracked down five years ago with a shoebox full of unopened envelopes.”
No...
“Envelopes full of what?” I rasp.
“Cash,” she whispers. “With a Brayshaw stamp sealing each one.”
My stomach muscles tighten. “Five years ago...”
She holds my eyes. “It’s how I found them, the house.”
Five years ago... in the dark...
“It’s how I found out about you. Who you were and what you were worth. Clearly, much more than me since the knowledge of your existence is what earned him his rag doll. Me.”
“Vee...” I croak, my hand flying to my stomach.
“I sat in the front seat of his car, parked outside your trailer the night he came for you.” Her eyes grow cloudy, her scowl never breaking. “I watched your mother walk out, saw the light go off. I listened to you scream, and I was glad, for once, it was someone else instead of me.”
“Enough,” Bass snaps, trying to step between us, but I hold my hand up, keeping him away.
“Mero Malcari,” she says.
Malcari.
I shake my head.
“Rolland’s biological brother, Maddoc’s biological uncle. Remember the story I told you, about how the night their dads died, one man died on the scene? That’s how Rolland remembers it, when really his brother was the one he chose to leave behind, assuming he wouldn’t make it, and tried to save Captain and Royce’s dads instead, who died anyway.”
I groan, my body jolting forward.
“I said enough!” Bass screams, his hand coming down on my back, a strain taking over the corners of his eyes as he stares at me.
She keeps going. “The man who wanted revenge on Brayshaw and Graven and used us both to get it. The man your mother paid to rape you, to ruin you so Rolland couldn’t trade you, and so a Graven wouldn’t come for you themselves.”
My knees give, my body falling into Bass’.
Leave it to Ravina to do the most twisted thing imaginable to her own daughter in her own fucked up way of revenge. The sickest part, I’d bet she was convinced she was somehow saving me, while also reminding herself I didn’t deserve it.
But revenge for what exactly?
“Get the fuck out of here—”
I cut Bass off with a shake of my head.
He growls but snaps his mouth shut.
There’s no time to stop and think on this right now, but one thing is clear with her words. My mom wanted to fuck Graven over, and I need to find out why.
I take a deep breath to steady myself then walk straight toward her.
She stands tall.
“What else did he tell you?”
“Not enough before he stopped breathing.” She gives my words back to me.
Her tone, words, and everything in the middle should be cause for concern, yet looking at her, for some reason I have none.
She cuts a quick glance to Bass. “Raven...” She trails off. “I’ve never had anyone, ever,” she admits quietly, her next words even more hesitant, embarrassed even. “I don’t wanna lose this.”
My airway constricts, my glare growing stronger.
Her eyes fall. “I told you not to trust me,” she says.
I lick my lips and look away. “Well, I do.”
Her head snaps up.
“Come with me.” I frown.
She presses her lips together a moment before asking, “Where?”
“If you have to ask, you don’t know me as well as I think you do.”
Her forehead tightens. “Without them?”
“I don’t have much of a choice right now.”
She gives a curt nod and takes off toward Bass’s car, ahead of me.
“You sure this is a good idea?” Bass steps beside me
“No, which makes it no different than anything else I’ve done here.”
He scoffs a small laugh.
My eyes constrict. “I want my sides back, Bass.”
He’s quiet a moment, then moves to stand in front of me. He crosses his arms, regarding me with a meaningful glare. “You want it back?”
“I want them all back. I want it all back.”
He shrugs. “So take it.”
Not having expected his response, an instant frown hits.
Bass stretches to his full height and steps closer. “You’re Brayshaw, Raven.” He pushes a finger in my chest and I glare at him. “You. Not Rolland, not the boys. Nobody... but you. Your mom is dead. You’re all that’s left. You’re strong, make them see. They think they can control you, decide for you, show them they can’t.” He gets in my face. “You want this world? You take it.”
A chill runs down my body, and I step into his space as he stepped into mine.
“You got my back?”
“I got your all. My life belongs to Brayshaw,” he promises. “You say jump. I fucking fly.”
Not a hint of uncertainty.
He’s all in.
“Give me your phone.”
He hands it over without a second thought, moving closer to me so he can see the screen.
I type out a text to the number Rolland gave me.
Me: this is Raven Carver
I frown at the screen, deleting Carver. My fingers are slow as I re-type the message, this time hitting send.
Me: this is Raven Brayshaw. I need Gio.
Me: now.
It rings within seconds, but when the person on the other end isn’t Gio but Trick himself. I hang up.
Bass gives a slow nod.
“He’ll have him call.”
I’m done getting less than I ask for. Trick owes me nothing, but he’s a smart man. I’d bet if he asked someone for something and got less than, he’d do the same.
We stand there for a few minutes,
waiting, and finally the phone rings again.
I answer, speaking not a word as I bring it to my ear.
“What’s wrong?”
Gio.
My shoulders relax. “I need your help. Now, today.”
“You gotta give me more than that, Raven. I can come now, no doubt, but if you need me for who I am today, you have to lay it out. I have a man to stand behind, too, girl. Clearance is mandatory.”
I lick my lips, nodding, my eyes follow Bass as he cases the area around us to make sure nobody is standing near, listening. “Is he with you?”
“He is.”
“You can put me on speaker.”
There’s some ruffling on the other end, and then his voice comes back on the line. “Talk to me, Rae.”
“He underestimated me. They all did,” I whisper, a deep ache forming between my ribs. “I’m gonna show them... my family is mine. Mine to hurt, mine to heal. Not theirs.”
“Someone is hurt.” Trick’s voice hits my ear.
I knew he was smart.
“And someone is dead.”
“Who died?” flies from Gio. “Raven, who is hurt?”
“Son,” is a sharp whisper on the other end of the line.
“This town is mine to take. Help me.” It’s honest and to the point, it’s all I have.
It’s quiet a minute before Gio speaks again. “What happened?”
I turn, looking up at the tall glass building, knowing Royce’s eyes must be on me.
Please don’t feel like you’re alone.
I drop my stare to my shoes, grinding my toe into the gravel. “I’ll do it without you if I have to, but I’m standing here asking you to see these people for what they are. Help me, help my town before it’s too late.”
“Give us an hour. Fifteen to have a jet fueled, thirty to land, fifteen to reach you.”
“I’ll tell you where to go.”
“I know where to go, Raven.” Trick’s deep voice is both soothing and chilling.
“Then you understand.”
“I’ve waited for this. The point of our existence is to protect those who can’t protect themselves, provide safety to our people, and trust in an untrustworthy world. They’ve failed you and your people. We’ll remind them that is not allowed.”
I nod even though he can’t see me and turn to Bass.
“Can your phone be tracked?”
He pulls it from my hand and tosses it under the nearest car.
A hint of a smirk ghosts my lips before it’s gone.
“I have a key to the Brayshaw mansion. We can go there while we wait.”
I shake my head. “No. We’re going to the school. I need to talk to Perkins.”
Without another word spoken, we make our way to his car.
Donley made a mistake demanding me.
Rolland made a mistake leaving me behind.
I’ll show them all, I’m more than they can handle.
Bass puts the car in reverse but pauses before his foot hits the gas. He gives a half glance at Victoria in the backseat before lifting his hips in his seat.
I hold my breath as he pulls my knife from his pocket and flips it open, not a speck of red to be found.
With a nod, I reach out and close my fist around it.
My eyes hit his.
“Ready, Bishop?”
“Ready, Carver.”
“Let’s make them regret this.”
I sit back in my seat, a calmness settling over me.
They want an obedient wife.
They’re getting a defiant queen.
School is just getting out when we pull up.
Students pour from the building, their steps slowing when they spot me, Bass, and Victoria right behind me.
Wide eyes scan the bruising on my face, but I simply give small nods to the people I pass.
I don’t want to fight with them. Before, I’d get angry when they made remarks or stared and assumed, but it’s only natural. They’ve been left in the dark which is wrong when they’re expected to stay in an order set by my name.
These are my people, and they need to feel comfortable enough to speak to me whenever they want.
Mac must have heard we were here, because he suddenly pops around a corner. He holds a hand up, so we slow to a stop, allowing him to catch up.
“Everything okay?” he asks. “I didn’t know you were coming.”
“I didn’t tell anyone.”
Mac nods, looking behind him then back to me. “Perkins?”
“Where is he?”
“The gym, signing off on some new equipment that came in, but the baseball team is in there conditioning.”
“I need him alone.”
“I can help.”
Our heads snap left to find Chloe stepping up, her arms crossed over her binder. She stops right next to me.
“Go into the hall outside the gym, not the one that leads outside, but the one Maddoc tricked you into when he made everyone think you were prostituting here.” When my eyes narrow, she keeps going. “It’s the only one that has doors on each side. Mac or her” —her eyes snap to Victoria and back— “can stand behind one, Bishop behind the other in case you need someone close. I don’t think you plan on doing anything crazy, you’d have waited to get him at home if you had, but just in case, that’s where you want to be.”
“Why?”
“It’s the only place in the school out of sight, the camera position is off. There’s a three-foot, two-inch gap from the gym door down. I marked the focal point with a photo last year. You’re in sight if you’re past the frame.”
“Why is the camera off?”
“Because sometimes this place calls for moves others can’t see.”
“It was purposeful?”
“My father makes no mistakes.”
I nod.
“Go. I’ll have him there in five minutes.” She spins on her spikey heels.
“Chloe,” I call.
She turns back to me.
“Thanks.”
“I don’t know what’s happening, but something is wrong, I can sense it here and at home. I have a suspicion only you can fix it.” She tucks her long hair behind her ear. “The Brayshaws are more than three guys to us. We follow because we believe in them and what we know they can do for this town. We may be young, but we’ve seen what our parents and generations before us did to their own. We want more than that.”
“You’ll have more than that.”
Her lips twitch. “Prove it, Brayshaw.”
She walks away and I turn back to the others.
Victoria glares after Chloe while Bass and Mac stare at me with raised brows.
“Royce asked me to—”
I cut Mac off. “Do whatever he wants, we’re good.”
“You sure?”
“Go.”
With that, we part ways, the three of us heading for the back end of the gym.
“What are we doing here exactly?” Victoria asks.
“Talking.”
She scoffs. “Right.”
“Perkins has given us nothing from his own mouth, yet he turned his back on his brother for my mom. Helped watch over the boys while Rolland was away, protected—” I cut myself off.”
Zoey.
“He did all that as he stood back as the bad guy, acted as if he hated them while they legit did him.”
“He did what you did,” Bass says, his eyes sliding my way. “You went to Collins to protect them, let them think you were the bad guy, allowed them to believe you betrayed them. Let the entire school think they let their guard slip.”
I glare straight ahead. “I never should have done it.”
“No, you shouldn’t have, but that’s not the point. You did and without thoughts of self-preservation.”
“Is this your way of saying I should trust Perkins? Freely, without him having to earn it?”
“No. This is me pointing out you’re capable of even more than these grown-ass men are and withou
t reason.”
“I love them. That’s reason enough.”
“But that’s pure, Raven. Not mixed with hatred, or jealousy, or greed. You love them, so you protected them. Period. Everyone else around here has a deeper motivation than you.”
I whip around, shoving him in his chest, but he doesn’t even budge.
He glares.
“Say what you wanna say, Bishop!”
“You don’t owe him anything, Raven.” He gets in my face. “If he deserved to know what happened, he would already.”
I go to look away, but he moves with me, staying in my face.
“I know you want answers, and you deserve them, but you do not have to go in there and tell him what’s happened to Captain, or your mom. He didn’t earn this from you, and Captain wouldn’t give him a damn word. He’s the one who told Collins about you. He may have had Ravina’s best interest in mind at one point, but you became nothing but collateral damage.”
“He knows more than he’s saying.”
“And he’s a piece of shit for not volunteering the information to you.”
“That’s why I’m here, Bass. This is his chance to tell me what he’s hiding.”
“One minute,” Victoria reminds us.
“And if he doesn’t?” Bass lifts his brow, mockingly.
I push forward, tugging the door open and stepping into the hall.
“Make sure the area is empty.” They nod and make quick work of disappearing behind the boy’s and girl’s locker room doors.
I slide into the concave that holds a water fountain and wait.
Not five seconds later, Chloe’s voice is within range.
“My concern is the article doesn’t depict the proper tone we strive for.” The door opens.
“What would you have me do, Ms. Carpo?”
Chloe’s heels clink against the flooring until she stops right where I’m hidden. She doesn’t look for me, doesn’t blink, but spins to face him, dropping her binder in front of her, standing as straight as a statue. “I’d have you castrated for abandoning a Brayshaw, trying to hurt one, and helping hide another. In my home, there is no room for dishonesty. You lie, you pay. You hurt ours, we crush yours. You should know this already though, Connor. It was your world once, too.”
“What the hell is this?” He speaks slowly.
Reign of Brayshaw (Brayshaw High #3) Page 17
