Finally, I look to Captain again, his stare still stuck on me.

It takes some masking, but I don’t acknowledge the two girls who have planted themselves at his sides, at least not until they turn to see what’s stolen his attention.

Both stick their hands out, demanding with actions instead of words like bratty children that their drinks be brought within reach.

Captain tips his head back the slightest bit, waiting, so I walk closer, surprising them all when I use the space between Captain’s open legs as my delivery location.

They wouldn’t notice, and I’m betting it was completely subconscious, but his shoulders lift off the cushion the teeniest, tiniest bit, bringing him a fraction of a hair closer.

To me.

My chest is in his reach and positioned right about his line of sight. Sure, my tits don’t spill from my bra and my top is tucked tight into my jeans, but I’ve got shape and it’s a shape he happens to like.

He inhales deeply, holding his breath as I lift my arms out at my sides, my chest pushing higher as I do, and slowly the girls grab their drinks.

Captain’s gaze quickly drops only to come right back as fast.

In my peripheral, the girls’ heads move from Captain to me, their pretty little minds spinning, I’m sure.

My focus falls to Captain’s mouth when his tongue sneaks out, licking across his full bottom lip, but he catches himself and hastily pulls it back in. The thick veins of his neck throb against his golden skin as his eyes angrily jerk left. To the girl Chloe mentioned, the one with the heavy lip gloss who wants what’s not free for the taking.

She leans into him, speaking in a low, seductive tone that makes me want to vomit. “This is my favorite champagne. I can’t believe you have it stocked.”

I scoff and her caked over lip coils, her beady eyes slicing to mine. She takes a second, making a public show of assessing me and deciding I’m less than she.

“What.” She pushes her lips out, her free hand curling over Captain’s shoulder as she tucks herself closer. “Jealous, group home girl?”

I pop a shoulder, letting my hands fall to my sides, the move has my fingertips skating across Captain’s jeans. “Not unless you’ve got a box of dye hidden in your vag.”

That gains the attention of Royce and his little toy.

Amber, as Chloe called her, tugs back. “Ew, what?”

Royce chuckles but quickly buries his face in the girl’s neck to hide it.

I place a palm on Captain’s knee, not missing the way his muscles clench as I do and lean forward, getting in the girl’s face. I flick her hair with my middle finger, and she jolts.

“He’s got a ban on blondes,” I whisper, and Captain twitches under my touch. “Your friend will have a better chance than you... but I’m pretty sure she’s calling dibs on the only other Brayshaw she’s allowed.” I slowly stand, keeping my brown eyes on hers, not much of a shade different. “Guess you’re out of luck unless he wants to take you on, too.” I look to Royce who is now paying close attention.

He shifts in his seat, spreading his legs out farther as if to invite her between them.

Awesome, so he’s gonna fix her little Bray-less problem?

“But uh, good luck with that,” I add, and all their eyes slide to mine. “I hear he only goes for three when it’s another dick involved.”

Royce’s frown is instant, and he moves the girl from his lap as he glares at me, but when I smack the bottom of the drinks of both girls that are in reach, sending the alcohol into their laps, he cracks a grin.

They shriek and jump up—away from my man.

I move toward the stage and up the small steps.

Amber’s arms are in the air as she looks at her soiled clothes in horror. “Who the hell do you think you are, trash?!”

“Watch it,” flies from Captain before he can stop it himself, but he quickly hides his frown in his drink.

My tongue slips between my teeth as I tip my head at her. “Guess I’m not just the ‘group home girl,’ huh?”

I put up two middle fingers, dragging each arm out and across the room, turn on my heels and walk the fuck out of the area, across the floor and to the lockers. I take the girl’s shit and slip from the damn building, quickly getting lost in the middle of the chaos outside.

I toss her bag and phone in one of the blocked off firepits and find a corner on the farthest end of this place. I climb up a few crates, planning to watch the weaklings fight until the main event begins in the next couple minutes.

I prepare to settle in, closing my eyes for a quick, deep breath.

He defended me without meaning to, and to a girl he was hoping could distract him tonight.

A small smirk finds my lips only to fall right off when a voice I could never forget but hate to hear calls out from below.

“There’s my girl.”

Oh.

Fuck.

Chapter 7

Captain

I tried.

Real fuckin’ hard, I tried to ignore the fact she stormed off, reminding myself over and over again I had all I needed for the night right beside me, but I only made it three leg bounces before Maddoc flew in here with a glare that meant one thing—she’s outside.

Royce is on his feet as quick as I am, waving the girls out into the main room as we follow behind.

He gets Mac’s attention, and Mac flies from his seat, letting us know he’s got eyes on the few we allowed in here tonight.

Raven steps up next.

“Andre was trying to watch where she went,” she says, talking about our recently promoted main man out here. “He didn’t know if he could leave the door since we were inside. Lost her.”

Of course he did, she’s not under Brayshaw protection.

I haven’t put her there.

To everyone around, as proved by the chick now covered in champagne, she’s simply a girl from our girls Bray House.

“The fuck man, she gonna be like you?” Royce frowns at Raven. “Taking off and shit all the time? This is bad for the heart, we’ll be on meds by the time we’re done with you two.”

Raven grins, shrugging a shoulder.

“She might have walked out, but she won’t leave.”

Maddoc and Royce scoff while Raven smiles wider.

I know what they’re thinking, we said the same thing about Raven before, and she took off on us more times than we can count, but Victoria isn’t Raven.

I pissed the girl off, yeah, but she’s here.

Raven looks to me. “Cap’s right. She’s just mad ‘cause you guys had girls in there. She’ll never allow that.”

My lips form a flat line and I glare at her.

“What?” A laugh bubbles from her. “It’s true. No matter what you think, in her mind you’re already hers.” She smirks. “She’ll push when she feels she has to.”

“Girl already did,” Royce scoffs. “Talked some shit, spilled some drinks, and according to the text Mac sent me before she even stepped foot in that room, spiked their shit with something heavier.”

Raven laughs. “I would say make her sweat, let her think you’re in there with the girl still, but I’d guarantee you she’s not stressin’ on that. She knows what we all do.”