We’re both quiet on the ride home and not too long later we’re pulling into the property, rolling past the Bray houses to our home.
Our dad’s home.
Fuck. If he gets out, will he fight us on letting her stay?
Royce comes out the front the second we park.
He comes down the steps, gripping my hand and pulling it in, he pats my back before stepping away and looking me over.
“Get in any brawls in there?” he tries to joke in true Royce fashion, but the strain is easily caught.
“Nah, man. They kept me in a single cell all three days. No fucking contact with anyone, I’d have called, but they didn’t offer, so I figured it was all part of the plan.”
They nod, understanding.
“We had Mac smooth shit over at the school as much as possible,” Royce tells me. “They just think we were out on business.”
“Last time we disappeared from school for more than a couple days was when we went to find Zoey.” I look from Royce to Cap. “You good, man? Stressin’ out?”
“I’m not ready to think about that tonight,” Cap says firmly, letting us know not to bring it up again until he does.
I nod and all our eyes fall to the dirt.
“Dad is the reason I was held in there for three days, he had me held so he could get there when we were.”
“Did you know he’d be there before you saw him?” Royce asks.
“No, I was waiting in line to be led into the courtroom and all of a fucking sudden he was behind me telling me you guys where there. Even then I thought he was coming out, but then we were all thrown in that fucking hearing room.”
“Raven flipped her shit. Locked herself in her room as soon as we got here.” Royce sighs, looking to the house and my eyes follow. “Won’t come out. Can’t believe he put her on blast with that ... you know, the abuse and shit,” he says low, and my forehead creases.
I shake my head. “She has too much pride to allow anyone to see her as too weak to handle her own past. It’s something else.”
Royce scoffs. “Well, what I wanna know is how the hell we’re gonna get her ass out of the room to find out ... without pissing her off more by busting down the fuckin—”
The door is thrown open, and the screen flies to the side, slamming against the paneling and a pissed off, puffed up Raven steps out.
Hair down, face fresh and clear. Sweats and T-shirt.
Ready to breathe fire down our necks.
My baby.
Her forehead pinches slightly like she hears my inner whispers, but she stays strong. “Did you know?” she asks point blank, but there are deep creases at the edge of her eyes that have me thinking the question isn’t as standard as it sounds.
“Know what exactly?”
“Don’t fuck with me right now,” she snaps.
“I need you to break it down for me.”
Her jaw clenches and she glances away. “I need a ride home.”
“What the fuck?” Royce barks. “This is your fucking home!”
“My real home, Royce.”
I move closer to her, and her eyes slice to mine.
“I’m not playing. Take me or I’ll find a way. I’ll jump out the second-floor window if I have to.”
“Tell me why,” I demand, unease settling low in my stomach.
She shakes her head. “That’s not gonna happen, not right now, so it’s your call.”
“We had no damn clue he was doing all that today,” Royce shouts, moving toward her in a slight panic. “And if you’re mad he mentioned your past, well fuck, RaeRae, be mad at him, not us.”
Her forehead tightens, and she bounces her left leg. “Are we going to see my mom or not?”
My eyes narrow and she finally meets my stare and holds it.
Defiance flashes in her eyes.
“Fine. We’ll take you, but don’t pull anything stupid when we’re there,” I warn her, an edge to my tone I didn’t expect to use on her today.
Fuck man, I’ve been gone, not knowing if I was coming back to a Raven-less house again, and she’s acting like a stubborn fucking brat. Hiding what’s on her mind.
“Now?” she stresses.
I glance to Captain and Royce who both give curt nods, their features drawn up in an irritated confusion.
I look back to her and she nods, then disappears into the house.
Soon as we’re sure she’s out of earshot, I turn to my brothers.
“If we have to tie her ass up and drag her back here with us, we do it.”
They nod in agreement and it’s settled.
She will come back with us. Period.I wasn’t even home for an hour last night before we were on the road.
Being winter break for Brayshaw High, there’s no class for a few weeks, but we still have games to be played, so the quicker we get back, the fucking better.