Boys of Brayshaw High (Brayshaw, #1)

by Meagan Brandy

“No.” I keep my eyes locked on the door. “She’s coming.” “How can you be so sure? The rest of the girls already took off.” “Because she’s convinced she’s got pride. She couldn’t walk away after yesterday if she wanted to.” Right then, the door opens and out she steps. Royce laughs, smacking the back of the seat. “Hell yeah.” Captain grins

long, dark hair hanging down her back, silky straight and shining, a deep, dark blue now taking over the tips.

Royce grins then rolls his window down. “Get your ass in, Raven Carver.”

“Yeah, I’m not riding with you.” “Yeah, you are.” “No way in hell,

“Get in or we throw you in.” She flips us off and heads across the yard,

I hit the brakes. “Go get her.” With a laugh, Royce jumps and runs for her, tossing her over his shoulder as he salutes the fucker beside her.

She jumps out, flipping us all off,

“Think she’s fucking Bishop?” Royce gives me a side eye and Captain raises a brow. “Would it bother you if she was?” When I don’t respond, they laugh and shove me forward through the door. Fuck her and fuck him too. If I wanted her, I could have her. I’d bet on that.

round the corner, instantly slamming into a familiar body as I do. I stumble back, but not before he catches me in his arms.

I’m spun around until my ass hits the lockers, but he keeps a hand in the way of the metal, careful not to touch my burn against it.

“I want the truth from you.” “Be more specific, big man.” I eye him and his ha...

“Bishop. That’s who you sneak out to see at night.” “You’re sounding like a broken record.” “Don’t play.” “Fine. Maybe.” Technically, the ...

“You better watch yourself, Raven. You’re Bray property now, and I’m done waiting for these fuckers to figure it out on their own. By the end of the day, every-fucking-body will know it well. No bitch will challenge you and no guy will touch you unless we say go,

And color me stupid, I think I’m hot for the bossy bastard.

And Maddoc didn’t lie when he said he’d spread the word. I’ve officially been deemed a “Bray girl” to the outside norms, but it’s all a lie, a way for them to keep eyes on me and hands off – not sure why it matters.

“Let’s hear it, D.” Jason,

“Which one of yous got heavy hands?”

his expression matching mine.

“Fuck you talking about, man?”

“Your new girl.” He looks pointedly at each of us individually. “She spend too much time with one or another and you got mad?” Something has me stepping forward, but Cap shifts in front of me with ease, giving me a warning glance to keep my shit together before I make a stupid fucking move by showing possessives over a fucking toy.

“You talking about Raven’s face?”

“Yeah, I saw that shit, too. She was walking back to the Bray house early this morning when I was out doing my route.”

Makes for a good second eye, sees what we can’t and reports back when necessary.

“Yeah, that girl.” Royce chuckles, only Cap and me can tell it’s forced.

“You guys see her yet today?” “Nope.” Cap shrugs and Royce shakes his head. “What do you think happened?” Royce asks. “Catty chicks?” Cap guesses.

“Yeah right, none of them would get a hit on her.” “None are brave enough to try.”

“We gotta find out. We already made it clear no one’s to touch her after that bleach shit...

I drop my grin to my feet before looking back up ... and then I’m pulled back. “What the fu—” I glance over my shoulder, and my

but all three of my latest pain in the asses stand behind me. I try to jerk free of Maddoc’s hold, but I’m only shoved down the line until Royce is gripping my forearms.

“That was some badass shit there, RaeRae,...

“This where you been sneaking off to late at night, to beat bitches’ faces in?” Royce jokes.

“Why you fighting?” This comes from Maddoc. “Because it’s just so much fun.” I roll my eyes,

“Money,” Cap guesses as if there would be any other reason.

“Stop fucking walking,” Maddoc complains and I stop all right, spinning to face him with a glare. “Back the fuck off. Why are you guys even here? Shouldn’t you be at your little party making sure no peasants make it through the door in the kings’ absence?” Royce grins at that and I roll my eyes. Idiot.

“Our boys are questioning us. You show up to school with random cuts and bruises and it’s making people talk. We may be a lot of things, bastards in every way, but putting our hands on a woman when it’s not part of fucking her, isn’t our forte.”

“Fuck it.”

“The fuck...” Royce trails off.

“What’s she doing?” comes from Cap, followed up with a, “Fuck if I know,” from Royce. “Stop fucking looking,” growls Maddoc and then his hands hit my upper thighs, forcing my bottoms to stay where they are, halfway off my ass. “I’m wearing Spanx under. Let go.” “What are you doing?” “Distracting.”

“I don’t fucking think so.” “I’m not asking,” I force through clenched teeth

“I don’t know about you, but I gotta get back.”

“Can’t get caught, brother. Not here.” “You expect me to let her—” He cuts himself off before finishing his sentence.

“Give me your wife beater.” He doesn’t hesitate to slip it off, leaving him shirtless.

Not a bad view at all – strong, solid back. Maddoc growls as I pull it over my head, the black cotton hitting just at my thighs.

The boys sneak past us at the rear of the vehicles, Maddoc’s eyes hitting mine for a brief moment as they silently pass.

We pull up in front of the girls’ Bray house and Cap screeches to a halt. Simultaneously, all their glares fly to me. “What?” They say nothing. With a roll of my eyes, I go to hop out, but Captain hits a button, and gee look at that, child fucking lock.

“You could have gotten yourself hurt.” “Newsflash lost boys, this life isn’t new to me.

“You did all that so we could sneak off,” Royce says,

I look off instead. “I did it so I could get back before Maybell found out I was gone.” “Bullshit,” Maddoc drags out

“Why else would I?” “Don’t be a pussy, Raven,” he calls...

“Fine. You guys were trippin’ on those men. You knew them or of them, something. Either way, you recognized the voices and didn’t want to be found for a reason. I, on the other hand, don’t fucking care so I figured I’d distract them for you.”