Page 27 of Be My Brayshaw (Brayshaw High 4)

“Watch it,” flies from Captain before he can stop it himself, but he quickly hides his frown in his drink.

My tongue slips between my teeth as I tip my head at her. “Guess I’m not just the ‘group home girl,’ huh?”

I put up two middle fingers, dragging each arm out and across the room, turn on my heels and walk the fuck out of the area, across the floor and to the lockers. I take the girl’s shit and slip from the damn building, quickly getting lost in the middle of the chaos outside.

I toss her bag and phone in one of the blocked off firepits and find a corner on the farthest end of this place. I climb up a few crates, planning to watch the weaklings fight until the main event begins in the next couple minutes.

I prepare to settle in, closing my eyes for a quick, deep breath.

He defended me without meaning to, and to a girl he was hoping could distract him tonight.

A small smirk finds my lips only to fall right off when a voice I could never forget but hate to hear calls out from below.

“There’s my girl.”

Oh.

Fuck.Chapter 7CaptainI tried.

Real fuckin’ hard, I tried to ignore the fact she stormed off, reminding myself over and over again I had all I needed for the night right beside me, but I only made it three leg bounces before Maddoc flew in here with a glare that meant one thing—she’s outside.

Royce is on his feet as quick as I am, waving the girls out into the main room as we follow behind.

He gets Mac’s attention, and Mac flies from his seat, letting us know he’s got eyes on the few we allowed in here tonight.

Raven steps up next.

“Andre was trying to watch where she went,” she says, talking about our recently promoted main man out here. “He didn’t know if he could leave the door since we were inside. Lost her.”

Of course he did, she’s not under Brayshaw protection.

I haven’t put her there.

To everyone around, as proved by the chick now covered in champagne, she’s simply a girl from our girls Bray House.

“The fuck man, she gonna be like you?” Royce frowns at Raven. “Taking off and shit all the time? This is bad for the heart, we’ll be on meds by the time we’re done with you two.”

Raven grins, shrugging a shoulder.

“She might have walked out, but she won’t leave.”

Maddoc and Royce scoff while Raven smiles wider.

I know what they’re thinking, we said the same thing about Raven before, and she took off on us more times than we can count, but Victoria isn’t Raven.

I pissed the girl off, yeah, but she’s here.

Raven looks to me. “Cap’s right. She’s just mad ‘cause you guys had girls in there. She’ll never allow that.”

My lips form a flat line and I glare at her.

“What?” A laugh bubbles from her. “It’s true. No matter what you think, in her mind you’re already hers.” She smirks. “She’ll push when she feels she has to.”

“Girl already did,” Royce scoffs. “Talked some shit, spilled some drinks, and according to the text Mac sent me before she even stepped foot in that room, spiked their shit with something heavier.”

Raven laughs. “I would say make her sweat, let her think you’re in there with the girl still, but I’d guarantee you she’s not stressin’ on that. She knows what we all do.”

“And what’s that?” I frown.

She shrugs, leaning against Maddoc’s chest. “Those girls were never gonna get beyond your belt, Pacman. You’re past the point of a night’s entertainment.”

Royce and Maddoc chuckle while I groan, looking off, and the assholes laugh harder.

“Fuck it,” I cave. “Let’s get set for the fight, let her come to me.”

Royce goes for a quick refill of his drink while Raven and I wait near the door, Maddoc having slipped out first to speak to one of our guards.

A few minutes pass and he steps back inside, and heads begin to turn our way as an aisle clears, a straight path that allows us to move toward the rings with ease.

Clemmons, one of the new guys we’ve offered work out here, pulls back the chain and we step through, climbing into the new stool-like seats Maddoc had cemented into the ground. We’re lifted a solid three feet above the floor level, and perfectly ringside. Close enough to get some blood on you if it gets wild enough, but protected by a barricade and height.

I glance at Raven and the smile she can’t erase, at the way Maddoc watches her and how his hand tightens against her thigh.

His eyes meet mine, a small grin twitching at his lips, and I nod.

He did good, she loves it.

Andre walks toward us, tipping his chin as he grips the megaphone. He spins on his feet, looking across the crowd that has started to cram closer and begins announcing the fight.