Page 98 of Trouble at Brayshaw High (Brayshaw High 2)

“We know all this already,” I say.

“You met the family from Riverside?” he asks.

“They came to warn us, said someone was looking to burn down the warehouses.”

“Yes.” He nods. “It was Vienna Sproud, one of the girls in the group home.”

“Whoa, what?” Royce snaps.

“She was sent by Collins Graven, of course, but still. Seems she disappeared for now, but she’ll be found and dealt with.”

“She won’t be back,” I tell him and his frown meets mine. “Raven already banished her.”

“Raven banished her,” he draws out. “And how would she have the power to do that?”

“She earned respect before she learned who she was. Our people welcomed her when she was nobody to them.”

“Good to know.” His brows furrow, an irritated look crossing his face, and I grow tense.

He didn’t like hearing that, but why?

“I’ve got a meeting set tomorrow,” he announces. “You’ll miss class and accompany me out of town where you’ll meet the head of each family.”

“Why tomorrow?” Captain asks, stiffness in his tone. “What’s the rush?”

“Things are moving rather quickly, which brings me to my next concern.” His eyes bounce between us again. “I asked you to keep Raven from the Gravens and you failed to do so.”

I take a step forward, but Cap’s eyes hit mine, a warning burning, and I force myself calm.

“He showed up at our game, we were in the locker room. We—”

“The why doesn’t matter at this point, son. Fact of the matter is, Graven has laid eyes on her earlier than planned, so now we are out of time. Things will move.”

“What things,” I force past clenched teeth.

“If you’d have done what I asked,” our dad repeats himself. “We’d have more time. You would have more time. I needed it to be on our terms, but what’s done is done.”

“Why keep her from them if you expected them to find out anyway?” Royce asks him.

“To ensure the same actions would be taken, to solidify the terms and make sure, this time around, it was solid proof.”

“You need to give us more than that! I’m tired of this roundabout bullshit!” I demand, my anger threatening to boil over.

“Ravina Brayshaw,” he booms, not one to be over spoken. “Was promised to Felix Graven.”

My head snaps back.

“The deal was set, the plans made, and then she ruined it. She left.”

“What the fuck does this have to do with anything?” I growl. “What the hell are you saying to me right now?”

“A Brayshaw and a Graven,” Cap whispers, his eyes hitting mine.

“Holy shit.” Royce gapes at our dad. “That’s why you brought her here. She was a fucking means to an end for you!”

My heart pounds against my chest so hard it might just rip right fucking through.

No fucking way he’s saying what I think he’s saying.

“No, son, she is the end. She is the pawn.” Our dad speaks as if he didn’t just threaten to tear apart our fucking world.

As if his words are final.

As if we’re supposed to nod and accept his explanation.

As if we’ll blindly let him lead us into what comes next.

As if ... we won’t stand against him, our father, head of the Brayshaw name.

He just fucked up, and he doesn’t even know it.

He has no idea what she means to us, no fucking clue what we’ll do to protect what’s ours.

And Raven. Is. Ours.

Eyes on the ground, I shift to stand in front of him, my brothers moving to stand beside me.

With my head dipped low, my eyes slice up to lock with his, and slowly my chin rises until we’re eye to eye, chin to fucking chin.

I raise mine higher.

“No.”To be continued...