Be My Brayshaw (Brayshaw High 4)

My jaw flexes. “Keys.”

She points to the fireplace and I dash across the room.

“He set us up,” I tell her, grabbing the keys. “He’s going after Zoey.”

“Why set me up? We wanted the same thing. Why go after her?”

My glare swings her way. “Because he knows I love her, and that I would never leave her,” I all but growl, rushing for the exit. “And he knows you’re a psychotic bitch who manifested some sort of relationship in your head when there never was one, which meant you’d be easy to control, and even easier to toss out in the end.”

“Victoria!” she shouts as I step out the entryway. “Did you ever care about me?”

I freeze a moment.

She doesn’t deserve my answer, not after all the shit she’s pulled, yet still I find myself looking into her eyes for what I hope will be the last time.

“No.” I slam the door shut, jump into her car, and head home.CaptainAs the mansion comes into view, I spot my brothers jumping from their SUV, but as I slam on my brakes, dirt flies around, blocking my view.

I jump out, running straight ahead.

Maddoc’s feet hit the porch as Royce’s meet the side of the house, when our dad’s voice shouts out.

“Boys!”

For a split second that plays out in slow fucking motion, as if time has stopped, Maddoc’s gaze meets mine, and the panic and fear is mirrored in his. I swear to fucking God, our hearts hit the dirt as unimaginable images flash before us.

We make it around the house to find him pushing to his feet, dirt and blood covering the lower part of his dress shirt.

“Raven?!” Maddoc shouts.

“Pool house, Zoey too,” he calls with a cough. “Mike got away.”

Fuck!

We cut right, dashing straight there.

I reach it first, throwing the door open and we shove inside.

A large iron skillet comes swinging from the right, smashing right into my face, and I stumble into my brothers as her body swings around, a gun in her right hand and pointed directly between my eyes.

Raven’s eyes widen, blood dripping from a small cut over her left cheek.

Her body slumps as she realizes it’s us, and Maddoc flies by just in time to catch her in his arms. Tears pour from her eyes in an instant and she drops the gun, wrapping her hands around Maddoc’s neck as her eyes fly to mine. “In the closet,” she cries.

I snatch a throw blanket off the armchair and wipe the blood from my nose and lip with it as I fly down the hall and into the room.

I throw the closet door open. “Zoey...”

She doesn’t answer.

“Zoey!” I panic, pushing clothes around. “Zoey, baby girl, where are you?”

Fuck, fuck.

No, no, no...

“Zoey!” I boom, shoving shit around until I get to the back corner.

My chest caves as I push aside the last row of clothing, and I swallow, glaring at the blanket tucked back beneath them.

I grab the heavy cotton and pull.

And my body grows a thousand times heavier, too fucking heavy, my head falling to the side.

There she is, headphones covering her little ears, Raven’s phone in hand, a video playing on the screen.

I collapse, hitting my knees against the hardwood beneath them and her little head snaps up.

My baby girl.

She smiles, but it quickly falls from her face and she pushes the headphones off. She reaches out, gently placing her soft hand on my cheek and my eyes pool with tears. “You got owies, Daddy?”

I choke on my breath, clenching my teeth as tears fall before I can stop them.

I nod. “Yeah, ZoZo.”

I grab her under the arms, pulling her into my lap, and fall back against the wall. “Daddy has an owie.” I hug her to me, breathing her in as my emotions take over.

I hold her tight, blowing out long-shuddered breaths as I try to settle myself.

In the next second, Royce slams against the door, his eyes bouncing around until they land on her, and his head falls to his chest in relief the same second he’s shoved to the side, a tear-stained faced Victoria now standing in the doorway.

Her cry is loud, her hand flying to her mouth to hide it as she turns away.

Royce grabs her, pulling her into his chest, his arms wrapping around her, and her body shakes with silent sobs.

He whispers something to her and slowly turns her toward me.

Her guilt-ridden eyes fly to mine, unsure, afraid, and all I want to do is wash it away.

I hold a hand out and she rushes right for it, slipping her fingers into mine as she lowers herself to her knees beside me, beside us.

Zoey looks to her with a sad smile on her face as she tucks her head into my chest. She reaches out, and Victoria gives her her free hand.

“Did you see Daddy owie, Rora?”