Boys of Brayshaw High (Brayshaw High 1)

“You don’t even know me.”

“Don’t need to know you to know you’d be here. Now get in.”

That’s when I notice the blonde in the front seat. She leans over Leo, running her hand up his arm.

I raise my hands and shrug in mock disappointment. “Looks like you’re all full. Guess I missed my chance.”

His smirk grows, but there’s an edge to it he can’t quite cover. “Get out,” he says without even sparing the girls a glance.

All their glares whip from him to me.

Vienna chuckles beside me.

“We could squeeze—”

“I said out.”

With low grunts, they do as they’re told, slamming the doors as they quickly run to the back of the line of cars.

Leo’s eye follows them. “We write the number of people in the car to make sure nobody gets picked up on the way. All the cards were already given out.” He glances back to me. “I was their only shot for tonight.”

“You can still change your mind. Bet they’re a guaranteed lay.”

He assesses Vienna. “I’m good.”

“I’ll be the judge of that,” Vienna jokes, making him laugh.

“Get in.”

I look to Vienna and together we shrug and step forward.

When we both get in the back, Leo scowls out his window, then peels out.

This better be fun.It takes a solid twenty minutes to get to the party place, an old ranch house on a deserted piece of land. Nothing but the house lights seen for miles.

It’s one of the creepy looking places that murderers buy so they can torture and kill their prey without perked ears and prying eyes.

And we’ve just got locked inside.

Leo fist bumps a guy on the way through the narrow hall and we get frown after frown as we bypass a huge ass line of students.

“Bathroom line?” Vienna whispers, and then we reach the end, seeing a big dude scanning each person and confiscating their cell phones.

My hand instantly hits my chest.

Leo sees it and frowns, looking from the metal detector to me. “You got a phone in there?” He pops a brow and I shake my head.

“Nope. No phone.”

He’s slow to accept my answer and then looks to Vienna. “You?”

“Dude. We live in a group home. Like we could pay a cell phone bill.”

He nods and then we’re through the dark curtain.

The other side is no majestic place. Nothing special or over the top.

An old house, clean but not kept up with lights and a few sofas against the wall. Some music coming from somewhere and a few kegs in the kitchen as well as a long table people are playing dice on.

Vienna spots a few girls she must know because they wave her over, but she doesn’t budge.

“You can go,” I tell her.

“I came here with you, that’s messed up.”

“For real, go. I’m not very social as it is. I like to roam around and check shit out. You’ll have more fun with them.”

She hesitates a moment, smashing her lips to the side. “You sure? I don’t want you to think I used you or whatever.”

“I’ll see you later,” I laugh lightly, pushing her along and as soon as she walks away, I can breathe a little better.

It’s true what I told her. I’m better by myself.

I make my way to the keg, but stand back and watch several other people fill up their cups before I decide it’s likely not poisoned and grab my own.

When I step through the living room to what I’m thinking served as a den when the house was occupied, I spot Captain leaning against the wall, a brunette between his legs.

He’s pulling her shirt down, kissing on her shoulder, but his eyes meet mine when I walk by.

I step out back, spotting Bass sitting at a table in the yard.

“Raven Carver.” He grins, calling me over with a nod of his head. “The fuck you doin’ here?”

“Bass Bishop.” I walk closer, bringing my cup to my mouth for a long drink. “I could ask you the same thing.”

“Free beer,” he jokes. “So how’d you end up here?”

“Lucky, I guess.” I shrug.

He stands and walks toward me. “You get that all cleaned up?” he asks, reaching out to pull my lip down a bit.

I dab at the blood spot, showing him it’s all dried.

He chuckles lightly and nips at my fingertip before stepping back to take his seat. He grabs a cigarette, offering one to me.

“I’m good.”

With a nod, he turns back to his buddies and I move along.

I walk across the yard to the opposite side of the house, propping my hip against the old wooden panels that line the edges. Nothing but empty field for miles.

Not five seconds later a firm grip locks my hip in place and hot breath hits my neck making me jump.

“You shouldn’t be here.”

Maddoc.

“I was invited.” I roll my eyes.

He pushes me forward two steps, the yard light no longer shining against my back. He whispers, “I’m not talking about the party. I’m talking out where you’re standing.”