Be My Brayshaw (Brayshaw High 4)

That was also the first night I went to bed with thoughts of this bratty little blonde.

All I remember about the dick in front of us is he was a nomad—not tied to the Brayshaws or the Gravens. He stood back, saying not a fucking word, and when Royce scared the piss out of him, he couldn’t get off our property fast enough.

Why the fuck was she with him that night anyway?

The tall dude comes in with a sudden uppercut, and screams fill the air.

He looks around, scanning our people before his eyes land on the girl at my side.

The muscles in my back tighten when he grins, his right hand coming up to hit the ugly ass, red-necked, matted feathered bird tattoo taking up his entire torso. The guy fuckin’ winks at her.

Raven leans forward, looking to Victoria. “I thought you said he left town?”

“Yeah, well,” she says, sitting back in her chair, a tense smile at her lips, and slight pull at her brows. She drops her head back, looking up at the sky. “Guess he’s back.”

“Who is he to you?”

She frowns, closing her eyes a moment only to bring them to mine in the next.

She shakes her head, but doesn’t get to answer, because suddenly the tall fucker is leaning over the chain that separates us from him.

He pushes his hair back, smiling at Victoria. “How’s that for a win, baby?”

My jaw locks as Royce chokes on his drink, hopping off his seat to view us better.

Did he just dare call her baby?

She doesn’t look his way, keeping her eyes locked on mine all the time, and says, “Captain, meet Mike.”

Mike sticks his sweaty-ass palm out. “Her boyfriend.”I’m on my third drink when the others make it back into The Wolves Den, not that it took them long. I poured three straight doubles.

Raven is the first to reach me, a heavy frown in place as she steps around the bar to grab herself a glass of water.

“I asked about this guy a while back, she said he helped her pass the time and time was up. Said he left,” she speaks into her cup before taking another drink.

I down mine, slamming the crystal on the countertop. “She’s a liar.”

Raven scoffs.

Mac joins us, pouring and handing drinks to everyone but Raven and Maddoc, who is driving tonight.

As soon as Victoria’s ass plants on one of the stools, I jerk from where I stand and move for the couches surrounding a flat screen.

The annoying blonde from earlier spots me and makes her way over, but Victoria stops her in her tracks when suddenly she’s dropping right beside me with a glare.

“You walked away before I could even talk.”

“Oh, you wanna talk now.” My eyes widen mockingly, anger front and center. “All of a sudden? Thought secrets were your game?”

She glares. “You gonna listen or not?”

“What makes you think I’d care what you have to say?”

A single brow raises. “You, storming off like a toddler, pretty much said enough.”

I growl, but then the door is shoved open with a loud bang, and in comes Royce with a smirk I know all too well, arms open wide as he plays it up and pulls in attention.

“The man of the hour is here to join us,” he calls flatly, tipping his chin when I meet his eyes, the dickhead right behind him, his shirt still off and in his hand, cheap ass bird tattoo on full display.

Victoria tenses at my side.

“Servant girl,” Royce snaps and her eyes slice his way. “Make the man a drink, hm?” His glare hardens in warning.

One she ignores.

“What the hell is he doing, he shouldn’t be in here...” she says, a hint of panic in her tone as she trails the two. “Mike’s done nothing wrong, he’s always... he stayed away.”

Her fingers grip at the collar of her shirt, brows caved.

“Victoria.”

“He shouldn’t be in here.” She shakes her head, waiting until the last second to drag her eyes to me. “Make him go.”

My fingers clamp tight around my glass as I study her, noting the anxious fare of her movements. My stomach muscles tighten as I cock my head. “Make him go,” I repeat.

Why?

Does she want him away from her or is this her way of keeping him away from us?

Is she protecting him?

Anger builds inside me as she thoughtlessly adds, “He’s done nothing wrong.”

An instant dark chuckle leaves me, and her tension-filled eyes pull to mine.

“Nothing wrong?” I edge, leaning forward until our lips are damn near touching.

Her eyes widen, but then a layer of fog covers them just as quick.

How easy I can steal your attention...

I know he’s watching, everyone is, so I lean a little more, pulling at all my control as I brush against the thick velvet of her lips, while reminding myself I can’t take what I should, what I know she’ll give.