Boys of Brayshaw High (Brayshaw, #1)

by Meagan Brandy

I glance back to Royce and he winks before hopping down and offering to help me, but I move on my own and he hides a grin.

I peek over at Maddoc, finding his jaw locked tight. I’m not positive, what with his glasses on and all, but it looks like his eyes are on Royce.

“I think you’re in trouble,” I whisper to Royce with a slight grin

“Head back for the house, Raven,” Captain tells me from his seat.

“Whatever you say, ...

“Raven,” an even tone calls from my left and we both turn. Maddoc is parked the wrong way against the curb. “Get the fuck in.”

“Now,” he calmly demands which pisses me off more. “No.” The refusal has only made it past my lips when Cap hops out of the front and rounds the hood as Royce steps out of the back.

But they’re completely ignored as Cap bends slightly and with no effort at all, tosses me over his shoulder. I’m thrown in the back seat, the door closed and locked before I can even protest.

When I continue to try and escape, Royce sighs and pulls me on his lap, locking his arms around my middle to hold me down, my back against his chest.

At that, Maddoc glances back doing a double take. “Put her on the fucking seat!” “You wanna come back here?” Royce shoots back. “She keeps elbowing, she’s gonna hit my nuts.” “What nuts?” “Baby.” With his arms still locked around me, his fingers move to dance against the jeans covering my inner thigh

Suddenly, we’re knocked against the window when the car jerks to a stop. Cap and Royce start laughing when Maddoc hops out and rounds the front of the SUV, but cuts it off quick when the back, passenger door flies open. Royce slides out without a word, wearing a huge grin, but Maddoc’s only move is lifting his head to look at Cap, who then also hops out.

Maddoc slides in next to me.

I shoot across the seat and reach for the handle but just before I can grip it, a large hand slips between my legs to grip my thigh and I’m yanked back.

I spin and shove my elbow into his neck, but just as quick, I’m maneuvered so I’m forced to straddle him, my ...

whispers, “I said stop fucking moving. That means, your hands, your ass, your mouth.”

I bow my back outta spite. “Better, big man?” “You better watch it, Snow.” “Or what?” The guys in the front start to chuckle

when I attempt to glare their way one of Maddoc’s hands shoots up to keep my eyes on him alone,

“What do you want? Let go of me.”

“No.” “This ‘no’ shit is getting real old real fucking quick.” “You’re testing my patience.” “As if I care.”

he shifts us, pushing off the seat some, he brings my chest flush to his, locking his arms in place a...

“I don’t trust you,” he spits.

“I don’t need you to.”

“Why were you at that Graven Prep party?” “I was bored.” “And today, why were you with Collins?” “How ...

“People think you’re with us. We can’t allow you to be seen with Graven assholes.” “Allow.” “Yeah, allow. This is Brayshaw’s town, our fucking town. You live at a Bray house, go to o...

lift my chin, quickly snatching his sunglasses between my teeth, yank them off and spit them to the side

I lock my stare with his.

That’s when I notice the cut under his left eye. “The fight,” I remember, my eyes shifting back to his.

when I slowly twist my hand, he lets it slip from his grip. I bring the pad of my thumb up to swipe across the broken, purpled skin and the hand that still holds onto my other tightens. “Why’d you fight in the first place?” “Because he sent the girl.” “Why?” “I said I don’t trust you.”

“Ri...

“Get out.”

but before I can take a step out of the vehicle, Maddoc grabs my arm and whispers one last thing, “Stay away from Royce.” A taunting smirk slowly finds my lips and I wink, earning a menacing scowl. “Sure thing, big man.”

“They do hate each other, but the Gravens and Brayshaws were partners, in the beginning. But then the Brayshaws brought in another family.”

“Maddoc’s family?” “Yep, none of the boys are Brayshaw by blood, but his family was the first to be pulled in.

“You have no idea. Here’s where it gets twisted. Supposedly, they all were out on some backend job together where things went wrong, and they were shot at. One guy was killed instantly, but Maddoc’s dad was able to get Royce and Captain’s dads out before they were killed, too, only for them to die at the hospital later.”

Maddoc walks up right then, his face blank as he looks between us. He holds my gaze a moment before purposely letting his float across the room. When it pauses, mine decides to follow, finding his on Chloe as she leans over a cafeteria table with a smirk. A ping that feels a lot like jealousy hits in my ribs, and I look away, but not before he catches me watching.

Not sure why it bothers me when I never wanted to be interrupted in the first place.

By lunch the next day, I’ve figured it out. Yesterday, was the start of their public show of release – I’ve finally been “let go” as the groupie.

When I look up, my stare locks with Maddoc’s, finding his brows slanted in heavy disapproval. Yet he says nothing. I leave the cafeteria, annoyed how a single look from the stranger behind me has me feeling fickle.

“Hey, so now that you’re—” “Go.” His eyes fly over my shoulder and my muscles lock, but I don’t look. I already fucking know who it is.

I shake my head with a sigh. “You got a lot of nerve, big man.” “You make a lot of stupid decisions, Snow. You think that guy or Bass Bishop wants anything from you other than a chance to slip inside you? Because they don’t. All they know is you were handling three men last week, and now were set free. They want their shot.” “You should help me out,” I deadpan. “Tell them how good it was, big man. You know, put in a solid word in the locker room?”

“You think you’re worth the time and energy for anything other than a quick fuck in the back seat?”

“Because you’re not. You’re the one they settle for when the worthy pussy is tied-up somewhere else. Not the one they’d work for.”

His eyes rake over me with pure disdain. That, combined with the way his words are delivered with such disgust, is almost enough to wake th...

He’s mad and he’s mad about it.

“Get out of my face,” I hiss. “Get out of my head.”

I spot the hickey on her neck and my brows snap together. Then I remind myself I don’t care, forcing a fixed expression as I hit the free mats, but before I can drop down, a guy calls out.

My fingers float lower, and just before I grasp him through his track pants, a tight grip encloses over my wrist and yanks my hand away. I shoot my glare left to find Maddoc at my side, his eyes hard.

so I lift my knee, jamming it right into the douche in front of me’s dick. “Fuck,” he cries out. “Dumb, bitch.” I lean toward him, but Maddoc pulls me backward. “Learned that from my mama, piece of shit. How’d she do on the lesson?” In the next instant, I’m lifted in the air and carried through a door that leads to the hall where the entrance to the locker rooms are.

Still did, in fact. And why the fuck do you care?!” “I don’t!” I cross my arms. “Really?” “You callin’ me a liar?” He steps closer

“Why are you so much trouble?” “I’m not,” I tell him,