Reign of Brayshaw (Brayshaw High) - Meagan Brandy Page 0,106
our way.
He starts to shoot to his feet, but calms himself, sitting back instead. “Raven.” His eyes move to me at her back and narrow before shifting to Captain. “Captain, good to see you, son.”
“I’m not your son.”
His face grows taut. “I was informed you were injured, I came here to relay the message, let them know we still stood strong and that I was here if needed.”
The men in this room are smart, and questioning eyes began to roam, but Raven doesn’t give them time to decide what to ask.
“My name is Raven Brayshaw.”
Eyes narrow, some lean closer in their seats, Royce and Cap stare unsure and Rolland’s lips tighten. Everyone knows who she is, but curiosity keeps their mouths closed and eyes intent.
“Like Captain, my choice was taken from me.”
Donley frowns, trying to gauge her. ‘Course he’s not smart enough to stay quiet.
“No one is questioning your status, Raven. We are aware, and I made sure all assets you were due have been signed over.”
“They have,” she agrees. “Financially.”
Our dad’s stance widens.
Donley’s eyes narrow. “What does that mean, exactly?”
“It means you’re sitting in a seat that doesn’t belong to you.”
“This seat,” he counters. “As per our agreement, belongs to a Graven. I am Graven.”
“And I’m not?” she shoots back instantly.
He balks. “Not until you give me that video you’re not.”
Cap and I share a subtle look.
“Tell me, Donley, did she scream?”
His eyes flash with what I interpret as understanding, his grip tightening on the red suede.
“What is this?” the head of the Greyson family asks lowly.
Raven ignores the guy, speaking directly to Donley again. “Get out of the chair, Graven.”
“That chair belongs to the head of—”
“And I’m the head of two,” she cuts Romero Hacienda off. “That’s more than any of you can say.”
They glare but don’t argue.
Her eyes go back to Donley, but she speaks to the others. “Nineteen years ago my mother was promised to Felix Graven, but they never made it to their wedding. Donley Graven—”
Suddenly, Donley, jolts from the seat, flying at her only to be caught behind the thigh by our dad.
Every person in the room is on their feet in seconds, watching as Donley falls to his knees.
It takes everything in me to stay planted where I am, but Raven doesn’t so much as flinch through the entire thing.
“I see you haven’t changed. Nineteen years later and you still think you’re allowed to put your hands on a female?”
He attempts to get up, but when we all take a step closer, he thinks better of it.
“You have no idea what you’re doing,” he growls, his chin lifted. “There is still time for you to walk away. Give me the video I asked you for, let Captain sit, and we forget all about this.”
“And give you a victory you’ve waited years for? I don’t think so, and there is no fucking video.” His eyes slim in anger, but he had to of figured as much. “So, you can threaten me all you want, Donley, but I have no soft spots for you to prey on.”
“Sweet Brayshaw princess,” he spits. “You have a weakness. They are your weakness.”
She gets in his face, her teeth bared for all to see. Her eyes cut to mine briefly before she growls, “They don’t make me weak, Graven. They make me unstoppable.”
In one swift motion, she pulls her knife from her skirt, flips it open and holds it backward, under his neck.
“And I’m no princess,” she leans in, whispering. “I’m a fucking queen of your own making, this is my kingdom and you have no place in it. You wanna play medieval times, old man? I’m game. You disrespect the king, you get hung, but doing as little as putting your eyes on the queen without permission? Lose your hands, then your feet, right before you’re beheaded for all to see. Or maybe we’re talking the Romans. I could throw you in the ring, let you battle for your life against my strongest man. You tell me, Graven? What era we playin’ tonight with arranged marriages and family debts owed?”
He pushes against her, so her left arm comes around to add power to the blade and a small drop of blood rolls down his Adam’s apple.
“You know this is where she held the gun,” she whispers suddenly, and my eyes fly to Cap then back. “Just like this.” She tucks her hand up more, the blade disappearing under his chin. “Cocked it back, ready to take me to