for this?”
“Cap,” I rasp, my hand moving to my throat as my breathing becomes increasingly louder.
He continues, “My choice was stolen from me. I’m here to ask for it back.”
Finally, Captain turns to me, grief, pain, and prospect clouding his light eyes. My body wrenches forward from the force in which his pain hits me. His stare tightens even more as he says, “A Brayshaw and a Graven is what is needed, yes?” His eyes are glued to me as he says it, but his words are for them. “This will give Brayshaw power.” He looks to Donley. “But what about the Gravens, they only gain a queen?”
Collins jerks forward, but Royce is quick to step in front of him.
Donley walks around them and closer to Captain, Rolland moving closer to his son as the enemy creeps in.
He eyes Captain a moment, and he can’t help himself. He asks, “What are you offering, son?”
“A game changer.” Captain lifts his chin. “Raven will be mine, I hers, and together, the head of an empire. No one surrenders anything. A new era begins. Both Graven and Brayshaw under Graven and Brayshaw.”
“What makes you think we can’t do this without you?” Donley asks.
“It doesn’t matter what I think, it’s what I know. I’m stronger than Collins. I have an influence he never will, respect he could only wish for, and Raven’s love, which I can promise you he will never gain. You wanted Ravina to love her husband, it’s why you chose Felix. With me, you will get that.”
“And what is it you want in return for this?” Donley asks.
“You mean besides knowing Raven is cared for, safe and away from your grasp?” Captain glares. “My daughter’s safety. Your word in writing, right here right now and in front of everyone, that she becomes untouchable, irrelevant to you and anyone else who may believe she’s anything other than mine to care for and protect, only. Always.”
My head starts to spin, and I fight for air.
Donley frowns, but it’s clear he’s swaying. “You’ll have your own name’s best interest.”
“We will have this town’s best interest, the town my daughter will grow up in, as it should be. This isn’t about a powerful family. This is about a bulletproof empire. She deserves the strongest Graven has to offer. That’s not Collins.”
“You’ll take the Graven name, give it to Zoey?” Donley asks slowly.
His acknowledging he knows her name has all the boys inching forward, and Cap’s hands ball into fists at his side, but he swallows, holding his head high. “Yes.”
“This is bullshit!” Collins shouts.
Donley shuts him up with a simple hand raised. He gauges me. “How about you, princess?”
Suddenly all eyes are on me, and I want nothing more than to tear his out.
Donley looks over my shoulder and I know it’s Maddoc he’s focused on. “You’ll have to give him up. Completely.” His foul stare comes back to mine. “This would have to be an honorable marriage, a new beginning.”
“Why?” I snap. “Five minutes ago you were prepared to force my hand, now you wanna talk honor?”
He continues like I never spoke. “I won’t allow you to marry one, and secretly keep the other. Maddoc will be expected to find his own bride. Will you accept this, accept Captain’s offer?”
I swallow past the bile that makes its way up, forcing my features blank for the bastards before me. My gut tightens to the point of pain.
Captain turns to me, but I force my feet to shift.
I look to Maddoc.
He stares back, blank face, dead eyes – the boy I met on my very first day in this twisted city.
The boy I love, who loves me back. The one who would do anything for his family, for those he loves. No sacrifice too big.
I love him, I love all of them.
I look back to Captain.
My decision to marry Collins saves Zoey. I marry Collins, she’s safe. She goes home where she’ll be cared for and protected to no end, with her true family.
The boys would have her and each other, as they were meant to.
They would be okay and I would be in the arms of the asshole who touched me without permission, who attacked me to the point of loss of consciousness, who wants me so he can feel like he’s worthy in Donley’s eyes.
I agreed to marry Collins, but Cap is offering me his hand. Someone I trust and care for.
Marrying him, Zoey would still be safe to come home, but with the