Reign of Brayshaw (Brayshaw High) - Meagan Brandy Page 0,32
pausing a minute before he says, “But you’ll forgive me with time. They wouldn’t.”
“Is that why you did it, Cap? So they wouldn’t hate you?” It’s a good enough reason.
“No, Raven,” he murmurs. “I did it because you deserve more than this place has given you.”
I shake my head against the seat, looking away.
He’s wrong. This place gave me everything I never had, a family, people to care for. A purpose.
Am I pissed right now? Fuck, yeah, but at the world, not him. How could I be? He only did what his brothers would, what he felt was right, but that doesn’t mean this will be easy in any way, and I can’t promise I won’t ruin everything.
“I could never love you more than him,” I say, watching the trees fly by outside my window. “And I’ll never stop wanting him.”
“I know,” he rasps. “I can live with that.”
I shake my head. “You shouldn’t have to, Captain, that’s my point. You’re worth way more than what you’re getting in me. A thousand times more.”
“I lost nothing today, Raven. I’ve loved someone before, or I think I have. She fucked me over. You won’t. I can make you happy. I know who you are, and I know I can love you like you deserve. It won’t be the same for you, but you will feel it. You will smile and laugh, and sometimes you’ll even feel guilty for it just like I will. All that’s okay and expected. I didn’t stand there and ask for your life for sport. It might be a slow start, but it will be a strong finish.”
The weak in me comes back in the form of moisture stricken eyes and his hand slides into mine.
He squeezes. “Trust me.”
That’s the thing. My world is fucked, I was more or less pushed into this when I thought the day would end much differently. He was sneaky and knew, in the end, only one answer would do. Still... I trust him with my life, and it seems that’s the entire point. It’s his now.
I nod. “I do.”
The rest of the drive goes by in silence.
“You can stop pretending to be asleep now,” Cap says quietly as the car rolls to a stop. “We’re here.”
I open my eyes and step from the car when the door is pulled open for me. I glare at the smirky bastard and move up the steps, Captain falling in line beside me.
A man meets us at the desk, handing us a room key without a word, and the two of us head for the private elevator.
Of course, it’s an over the top suite with gold shit everywhere.
Captain picks up the note from the entrance table. He shakes his head, tossing it to the floor. “Food will be up in fifteen minutes, and they had clothes and shit put in the drawers and closet.”
I nod, moving to grab something so I can shower.
Escape a minute.
I tug open the drawer, an instant frown taking over.
For fuck’s sake.
Lace after lace. I pull open the closet. Dresses, glittery, long ones.
“Are they shitting me?” I tug them from their hangers, dropping them to the floor.
Captain steps up behind me and I let my hand fall, shaking my head.
He reaches over, pulling a shirt meant for him down and holds it out for me to take. “Ignore them, they’re all a part of the mind game he’s trying to play.”
I spin around, looking up at him. “He can’t really think I’ll be a voiceless statue of perfection.”
Cap’s eyes shift between mine. “If he does, we’ll set him straight quickly.”
I keep my eyes on his for a long moment before he steps back and holds a hand out toward the bathroom.
“I’ll let you know if the food gets here and you’re still in.” He turns around, moving for the balcony doors.
“Cap.”
He looks over his shoulder.
“Thank you. I know you don’t agree, but you didn’t have to do this.”
He gives a sad smile. “You’re right, I don’t agree.”
A light laugh leaves me, and I move for the bathroom, pause at the door. When I glance over my shoulder, my mouth clamps shut when I find he’s already staring at me, shaking his phone in the air.
“I’m calling him now,” he says softly. “Take a shower, I’ll fill you in when you’re done.”
I don’t respond but head straight for the bathroom. I close and lock the door, setting my knife and iPod on the counter, then turn on the water and step in