Reign of Brayshaw (Brayshaw High 3)

According to them, Maybell believes my mother named me Raven on purpose, for this reason. To lead me home. To lead me to them.

I wouldn’t go that far.

“Raven!”

I look to Captain when he calls my name, nodding when he waves me over.

He winks, turning his attention to the others.

My eyes move across each one and I pull in a lungful of air.

Three brothers, none related by blood, all by choice.

Smiling, happy, ready to take on the world.

And we will.

Together, we’ll reign all of Brayshaw.The knuckle against the door frame has my eyes popping open.

Maybell stands there, the frown on her face growing the farther into the room she steps. She taps the foot of my roommate’s bed. “Nira, why don’t you take a walk?”

Nira looks from her to me, rolls her eyes and walks out.

Maybell scoffs as she drops beside me. “All these girls, they’ll be the death of me.”

“Yeah, but would you walk away if you could?”

“Oh, trust me, child.” She grins. “I could go if I wanted, but to answer your question, no. I wouldn’t.” She’s quiet a second before adding, “Would like to help care for the next generation, though, while I’ve still got it in me.”

Next generation.

Right.

I swallow, looking to her.

“You put it off long enough, girl.” Her eyes grow serious, but there’s still a softness in them I’ve only just discovered. “Go on, Tor. The sooner it happens, the sooner it’s out.”

“The sooner they send me packing.”

“The faster they can forgive,” she counters.

A humorless laugh escapes and I drop my head back to look at the ceiling. “Uh-huh, yeah.” I force myself to my feet. “’Cause they’re known to forgive outsiders.”

“You’re not an outsider.”

“I’m not her, either.” I look to Maybell. “I might not be just the blonde from the group home anymore, but I’m not her. They don’t... they won’t understand.”

“She will,” Maybell says. “And slowly, they’ll follow.”

“What if she doesn’t?”

Maybell stands, stepping right in front of me. “Then you make her.”

Make her. Uh-huh.

‘Cause people are able to make her do things.

Yeah right.

With a deep breath, I step into the hall, out the front door and onto the dirt path that leads to the Brayshaw mansion.

The last few weeks, I’ve left for school earlier than necessary, and locked myself in the Bray house the second I get back, all to avoid the Brayshaws who I knew were home.

Mostly Captain.

Okay, only Captain. I didn’t really care if I ran into Royce. Who knows, he might not even acknowledge me without one of them at his side, not that I had to worry about it. Neither of them has been to school since before Captain was shot.

So I’ve reverted back to watching, hiding in plain sight, like before.

But Raven is home now, and she’s very unlike Captain. Captain is subtle when he looks for me as he passes, or at least that’s what I like to think he’s doing when his eyes scan the yard as he passes the girls’ home. Raven, though, makes sure she sees me even if it means dragging my ass out the door herself.

My cheeks fill with air as I attempt to calm my nerves.

Out of everything – knowing who attacked Raven, being there when it happened, the truth about Donley, Ravina, and everything in between – this is where my real fear lies.

This is the part I’ve dreaded the most, them coming home.

It’s not that I don’t want to see her, because I do, but it’s complicated.

“Standing in the shadows again?”

I yelp, spinning around with my hand at my chest.

My eyes shoot wide, my heartbeat erratic.

Captain.

He steps closer.

My spine straightens, and I move back until my shoulder blades meet a tree, allowing no room for an escape if I needed one.

“Hi,” I manage to force out.

The corner of his mouth lifts slowly, his stare roaming across my face. “Hi. Why you hiding in my orchards?”

“Maybell told me Raven was home.”

He nods, his face pinching in humor. “She tell you this today, or a week ago?”

“What?” I croak.

Captain chuckles, and then his chest pushes against mine. “You thought I didn’t notice?” he whispers. “That I’d let you keep hiding in the shadows, watching?”

Shit.

Captain’s eyes fall to my lips when my tongue sneaks out to wet them.

“You’ve been avoiding me,” he says. “Why?”

“I haven’t.”

“You’re lying.”

“Captain,” I whisper, quickly cutting off when he jerks closer, his lips now only a breath away from mine.

“You laid in my bed, touched me in your sleep,” he rasps, the blue in his eyes darkening. “Dreamt out loud.” A slow smirk appears. “That was my favorite part.”

I swallow, my body growing lax against the tree.

I should push him away.

“This is the part where you tell me to kiss you, sleeping beauty.”

I frown, my hands flying to his chest to shove, but my body betrays me, my hands not doing as I ask and instead pulling him closer.