Trouble at Brayshaw High - Meagan Brandy Page 0,106
I wasn’t forthcoming right away and you had to hear it from someone else.”
“Why would you hide this from us to begin with?” Captain asks almost as if he’s baiting him.
My eyes tighten.
“All these years, I had a plan,” our dad says. “But it seems I may have made a wrong move somewhere, which makes things a little trickier.”
“You don’t need a big lead up,” I tell him. “We’re not your men, we’re your sons. Just talk.”
He nods. “You boys are aware our world extends beyond our territory. There are several families, like us, that lead lives as we do, each offering something different in their zones, but serving the same purpose. We keep our towns clean, our people honest, and clear out the garbage. We do these things to not only protect the way of life we have chosen, but to punish those who decide to hurt our people.”
“We know all this already,” I say.
“You met the family from Riverside?” he asks.
“They came to warn us, said someone was looking to burn down the warehouses.”
“Yes.” He nods. “It was Vienna Sproud, one of the girls in the group home.”
“Whoa, what?” Royce snaps.
“She was sent by Collins Graven, of course, but still. Seems she disappeared for now, but she’ll be found and dealt with.”
“She won’t be back,” I tell him and his frown meets mine. “Raven already banished her.”
“Raven banished her,” he draws out. “And how would she have the power to do that?”
“She earned respect before she learned who she was. Our people welcomed her when she was nobody to them.”
“Good to know.” His brows furrow, an irritated look crossing his face, and I grow tense.
He didn’t like hearing that, but why?
“I’ve got a meeting set tomorrow,” he announces. “You’ll miss class and accompany me out of town where you’ll meet the head of each family.”
“Why tomorrow?” Captain asks, stiffness in his tone. “What’s the rush?”
“Things are moving rather quickly, which brings me to my next concern.” His eyes bounce between us again. “I asked you to keep Raven from the Gravens and you failed to do so.”
I take a step forward, but Cap’s eyes hit mine, a warning burning, and I force myself calm.
“He showed up at our game, we were in the locker room. We—”
“The why doesn’t matter at this point, son. Fact of the matter is, Graven has laid eyes on her earlier than planned, so now we are out of time. Things will move.”
“What things,” I force past clenched teeth.
“If you’d have done what I asked,” our dad repeats himself. “We’d have more time. You would have more time. I needed it to be on our terms, but what’s done is done.”
“Why keep her from them if you expected them to find out anyway?” Royce asks him.
“To ensure the same actions would be taken, to solidify the terms and make sure, this time around, it was solid proof.”
“You need to give us more than that! I’m tired of this roundabout bullshit!” I demand, my anger threatening to boil over.
“Ravina Brayshaw,” he booms, not one to be over spoken. “Was promised to Felix Graven.”
My head snaps back.
“The deal was set, the plans made, and then she ruined it. She left.”
“What the fuck does this have to do with anything?” I growl. “What the hell are you saying to me right now?”
“A Brayshaw and a Graven,” Cap whispers, his eyes hitting mine.
“Holy shit.” Royce gapes at our dad. “That’s why you brought her here. She was a fucking means to an end for you!”
My heart pounds against my chest so hard it might just rip right fucking through.
No fucking way he’s saying what I think he’s saying.
“No, son, she is the end. She is the pawn.” Our dad speaks as if he didn’t just threaten to tear apart our fucking world.
As if his words are final.
As if we’re supposed to nod and accept his explanation.
As if we’ll blindly let him lead us into what comes next.
As if ... we won’t stand against him, our father, head of the Brayshaw name.
He just fucked up, and he doesn’t even know it.
He has no idea what she means to us, no fucking clue what we’ll do to protect what’s ours.
And Raven. Is. Ours.
Eyes on the ground, I shift to stand in front of him, my brothers moving to stand beside me.
With my head dipped low, my eyes slice up to lock with his, and slowly my chin rises until we’re eye to eye, chin to fucking chin.
I raise mine higher.
“No.”
To be continued ...
Quick note from the author
YOU GUYS!!! Are you okay??? LOL!
When I started this series, I thought I knew what was to come, but I was so wrong! Raven took me on a journey I never expected. She is so much more than I ever imagined her to be, and the boys! I die! They’re so incredibly similar, yet so very different. Thank you for coming on this journey, and I hope to heck you’ll be here for Raven and Maddoc’s final book! I can promise you, you have NO IDEA what’s coming!
And speaking of book three, it had a title, but book two took a turn I never expected, and now I’m not so sure it fits anymore, so I’m waiting to announce until I’m sure it’s right!
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Goodreads link: Brayshaw, book 3
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More by Meagan Brandy
Did you enjoy Alec, Oakley and the gang? Read their story, The Wrong Blaze, today!
___
THE WRONG BLAZE:
He wants me to be his...but I’m in love with his brother.
I had it all figured out, knew exactly who and what I wanted in life, then he came back, determined more than ever to prove me wrong.
He's forced his way into my world, demanded my attention no matter the cost.
He pushed until I fell.
And then he knocked me down.
But nothing is ever as it seems.
Hate is where it started.
Love is where it was headed.
Lies are what destroyed everything.
Find it here: The Wrong Blaze
____
FUMBLED HEARTS:
He’s the persistent playboy who refuses to walk away. I'm the impassive new girl with nothing left to give.
Things are about to get complicated...
After months of refusing, I finally agreed to make the move to Alrick Falls. My family thought it was best - that a new scene would be good for me—and I was sick of having the same conversation.
So here I am, and the plan is simple. Smile through each day and avoid her at all costs.
It's perfect.
Until the cocky quarterback comes into play.
The last thing I want is his crooked grin and dark brown eyes focused on me.
Yet here he is, constantly in my space, pushing me, daring me to care. Telling me what I think and feel, as if he knows.
He doesn't know anything. And I plan to keep it that way.
_____
DEFENSELESS HEARTS:
After months of silence, here she stands on my front porch, waiting to be let in again. But it's the same play every time, and I know how this ends - I give her all I have and she carries it with her on the way back to him.
I should turn her away, but I won't. Couldn't do it if I tried.
Because no matter how many times she pops back up, pulls me in and drags me under, it will never be enough. I'll always want more.
More of her.
More for us.
And she'll always choose him.
Find these titles here: meaganbrandy/books
Playlist
Dark Side – Bishop Briggs
Frustrated – R.LUM.R
Whatever it Takes – Imagine Dragons
Gangsta – Kahlani
Ghost – Badflower
Let’s Get Lost – G-Eazy
Dazed and Confused – Ruel
Natural – Imagine Dragons
Human – Rag’n’Bone Man
Hard Place – H.E.R.
Him and I – G-Eay and Halsey
Wheels Fall Off – Jelly Roll
Issues – Julia Michaels
Headstrong - Trapt