Page 5 of Be My Brayshaw (Brayshaw High 4)

“What does so much mean?” he asks, now completely detached, no emotion to be found, not even anger which is somehow even worse.

“Exactly what you think,” I tell him. “It’s how she tells me she...” I trail off, unable to say it out loud with his focus on me.

It’s how she tells me she loves me.

She’s the only person who ever truly has.

“I’m sorry.” My shoulders fall. “I don’t know what else to say.” I turn to Raven. “Don’t hate me. I’ll go, won’t bother you guys...” I trail off, my eyes cut to Captain and back to her. There is so much I should say, none that will make it any better in this moment, so I don’t bother to try.

“Go,” Raven speaks through a locked jaw, her glare slicing to Captain. The two, already connected on a deeper level than I have had the chance to earn, share a silent, unspoken but understood message before she looks to me. “And make it quick, Victoria.”

With a slight nod and a heavy dose of self-hate, I back away. “I expected this, my bags are already packed,” I admit. “I’ll only be minutes.”

I get a few feet before Captain says, “Well in that case, we’ll have Maybell send someone with your things.”

My eyes cut over my shoulder, and I frown.

“You’ll be moved in in less than an hour,” Raven tells me as she reaches for Maddoc’s hand, a sharp scowl covering her true thoughts.

I spin to face them once more. “You’re asking me to stay?”

She scoffs, glancing from Cap to me. “I’m telling you to.”

Maddoc and Captain share a look, and then he and Raven walk away, leaving me and Captain behind. Alone.

I wait until they’re out of earshot and attempt another apology. “Cap—”

“Don’t,” he cuts me off, stepping into my face, but I don’t cower.

I can’t show weakness, he’d hate that just as much.

He looks ready to say something, but I couldn’t guess as to what. His eyes give nothing. The second the ice within them begins to thaw, he jerks away, stepping from the trees before turning to me once more.

“Welcome home, Beauty.” His words are delivered in a cold and unfitting manner.

Maybe I pushed the rational brother too far?

Captain spreads his arms out wide, the Brayshaw mansion taunting me in the distance behind him. “Might wanna sleep with one eye open.”

My forehead tightens as my pulse spikes.

Does this make me the enemy?

The tension written across his face screams no, that he doesn’t want me to be, but he’s gone before I can be sure.

In the next moment, I consider running, disappearing, only the thought is gone as soon as it hits, because the cost of leaving this place is too high.

If I run, I lose everything I never had and always wanted, risk having the only people who’d ever made me feel as if being myself was enough, in turn hating me forever.

Allow them to push me away when I’ve only just grown closer?

I don’t fucking think so.

They pulled me from my hiding places, and I’m glad.

I’m tired of dark corners, tired of the background.

Tired of losing before I’ve gotten to compete.

It won’t be easy, and I’ll have to claw my way in when he—when they—try to force me out, but I know them enough to understand if there was a chance to gain their trust, that that’s the way they’d want it.

They’d never respect someone who would roll over and take it, change who they are and allow the broken parts inside to win.

They want the challenge, proof I want it.

They want the strong, proof I can handle it.

They want the truth, confirmation I belong.

I do belong.

They’ll see.

Raven is my sister, this is my new home.

It won’t be easy, but I’m ready to fight for everything that comes with it.

If I’m lucky, a blond Brayshaw included.Chapter 1CaptainI should have known.

My last name is Brayshaw, and while those on the outside looking in may believe being a member of this family means all things come easy, the reality doesn’t come close.

More than anything in our lives, we fight.

Me, my brothers, Raven. Shit, anyone who is tied to our name, really.

We fight for our people, what we believe in and what we want, what we feel we’re deserved. Outside of the love and loyalty for them, not a damn thing has ever even come close to easy.

That right there is exactly why, when a long-legged, strong-willed, stubborn ass blonde with pouty lips, and bratty little blink slid into our world I should have taken four steps back for every one she drew me forward.

And fuck me, did she draw me forward.

I resisted.

I fought against her.

I caved.

I took her mouth like I’d wanted to for months, tasting what became my newfound favorite flavor.

But our town is a twisted place and no move is as simple as making it, so I shouldn’t have been surprised when not two minutes after, I learned of a lie.