“That’s what I thought.” I nod. “Look, I don’t trust you, but I know you’re aware of what’s going on on the inside of things. You’re at least sneaky if not purposely informed.”
“If you’re referring to how you change guys as often as I change handbags, news flash, Rae, you’ve made it disgustingly obvious so no snooping would be necessary,” she sasses, but when I only stare, she rolls her eyes and looks away. “I found out about the contract the day you and Captain signed it. I didn’t know about the Captain and Principal Perkins thing though. Sucks for you I guess,” she says and damn if it’s not half sincere. “You really going through with it?” She studies me, an expression I can’t quite read, but has me wondering if she knows even more than she should.
I ignore her question. “I need your help.”
Her eyes narrow. “With what?”
“I need you to be what you should already. Stand up for people, show them they can trust those who trust Brayshaw. There’s been too many shifts in the last few months, you have power. Use it.”
“This is about that Graven Prep bitch being on Maddoc’s jock, isn’t it?” she crosses her arms.
“No,” I tell her honestly. “It’s not, but it is about Graven. We can’t let them come in and think they can take over where they don’t belong. This is still Brayshaw grounds, and they need to remember it.” I get in her face. “You considered this your school before I got here, right?”
She glares but can tell I’m not being a pompous ass about it.
“I don’t need the school, Chloe. I have the town. You can have a part in it, too, if you can prove it’s your people you care about more than yourself. Keep the fear you, no doubt, worked hard to create but direct it toward the right people.”
“Why are you standing here saying this shit?” She studies me.
“Because, before I got here, your entire world was different. In your eyes, I came in and took from you. All you wanted was one of them on your arm. I know what it’s like to have someone take what you think belongs to you from right under your fingers and not being able to stop it. It’s fucked up.”
Her eyes fall to the blacktop but raise back to mine just as quick.
“What the girls here don’t seem to realize?” My brows lift, and I give a slow shake of my head. “You don’t need a Brayshaw... to become one. All you have to do is earn it.”
As if she’s never thought of it, her face goes slack.
I leave her with the thought, turning to meet Captain a few feet away.
Royce steps up with Victoria right as I do.
“What’d you say to her?” Victoria asks.
I glance over my shoulder, finding Chloe smirking after me. “Nothin’.”
I look back to Captain, who side-eyes his brother, before moving his stare back to me only to ask Royce a question a moment later.
“Where’s Maddoc?” Captain frowns.
“Not here, brother. Not fucking here.”
Fuck.
Royce takes a few backward steps, saying nothing else on the matter. “Let’s go see what dear old dad wants from us this time. Maybe our fucking souls, huh?”
With that he spins on his heels, not waiting for us to reach his sides as he steps through the doors.
Something has me looking over my shoulder, but when no one stands there, I push through.
Mac meets us just inside, letting us know Rolland is in Perkins’ office again, so we rush straight there.
Both their heads jolt as we step inside, and Perkins even attempts to hit the back button on his screen, but Royce reaches across and knocks the keyboard off the desk before he can.
Rolland glares at Perkins, then looks to the boys.
“You fucking kidding me?” Royce spits angrily. “Hiding shit, again?”
Rolland stands straight. “If I were hiding, I wouldn’t be here in plain sight. Why Connor panicked, I don’t know, but I had every intention of coming to you all after.” He looks across the three of us and frowns. “Where’s your brother?”
“Probably still drunk and in bed,” Royce bites.
I scowl but say nothing.
Captain turns the screen, and we all freeze.
A picture of Zoey sitting on her porch, Maria at her side reading her a story fills the screen.
It’s a side angle, so taken from somewhere on the property, not from the outside gate.
“What the fuck is this?” Captain’s voice rumbles with rage and he whips his phone from his pocket, dialing. He brings it to his ear.
“This was sent to me this morning, addressed to you,” Perkins tells him, tension lining his face.
“And you called our dad instead of Captain?” Royce shouts.
“Maria,” Cap says into the line in the next second. “Where’s Zoey?”
I grip Royce’s wrist as we wait for another word.