“How long?”

She shakes her head as more tears build. “No, he, um...” she cries, but tries to laugh it off. “It’s track season, you know?” she rushes out, sniffling. “Mr. Carpo asked me to interview the team and when he found out I was meeting a couple at lunch today he... he didn’t mean.” She swallows. “It’s just—”

“Look at me, Tisha,” he cuts her off.

Her nose grows red, and finally she meets his eyes.

Something inside her breaks then, her cries growing uncontrollable.

Raven turns around, taking a few steps away.

He pulls her hands into his chest, whispering, “How long?”

“Couple months,” she breathes. “I... tried to break up with him, but he...” She shrugs.

Captain nods, letting her go and stepping back. “He’s gone.”

Her eyes slide toward the door he was drug through, and she asks, “What will he do to him?”

“Everything he could have possibly done to you, but worse,” Captain answers honestly.

“Will he kill him?” she asks.

“He might.” Captain shrugs. “There is no stopping Royce when it comes to something like this.”

“He was accepted into Brown,” she hesitantly offers. “For basketball, made me accept their offer, too.”

Captain glares. “We’ll take care of it, break both his legs.”

Her lip twitches and she nods, pulling her hair over her left shoulder to try and help hide the markings on her face. “I, um...”

Captain shakes his head, stepping back more and she offers him a tight smile before hustling off.

My chest settles as I watch her walk away, imagining the weight she must feel lifted.

This is why their people love and listen to them.

A small smile finds my lips, but it’s quickly erased when suddenly I’m the one caged against the wall.

He glares down at me, but the longer he looks, the more his gaze narrows, and then he jerks away. He takes slow steps toward where his brothers are and then spins on his heels, rushing out.

Raven scoffs, stepping up beside me.

“What?”

“Everything is what. You’re an idiot and cruising along like nothing, he’s being stubborn and allowing you to, Royce is... I don’t know yet, but something, and Maddoc thinks I’m made of glass.”

“You’re fragile.”

“And you’re running out of time.”

“Are you pissed at me or not, ‘cause I can’t tell anymore.”

“Me either!” she snaps, and I have to hold back a laugh at how frustrated she seems with herself. “And that’s the fucking thing. I want you here, don’t make me say I need you here. I’m having a fucking baby, Vee, and yeah, it’s gonna have a damn army behind it, but I want it to have more. Love from something tied directly to him or her like I never had. Like you never had.” Her shoulders fall and she shakes her head. “So stop fucking around. There is no way you’re not hiding more. Talk to him, make him understand.”

I frown. She has no way of knowing this for sure, none of them do.

Still I say, “He’s still too angry. He’s not ready for more.”

“Whatever you say, Victoria. Just remember, a week of hate for them burns like a lifetime.”

She slowly moves closer, as if she’s got more to say, but walks right by instead.

I stand there, staring at the door they all four exited from, not moving until students begin to show up, letting me know it must be getting close to the start of school.

Today sucks already.

Captain

Royce runs the towel through his hair, draping it across his neck as he drops onto the bench.

After he handled Jason, we had Mac get rid of him, and opened up the locker room attached to the gym, one only used during games so we could give him some time to recoup.

He leans back, knocking his head against the locker behind us, his eyes meeting ours as he tries to snap out of it.

“I’m good,” he rasps, a small grin appearing next. “Him, not so much.”

Suddenly the locker room doors open, and Victoria rushes in, Mac behind her.

“We said let nobody in.”

He lifts his hands. “I know, man, but she—”

“Where’s your phone?” Victoria cuts him off, moving closer. “Where are any of your phones?”

I frown, patting my pocket to find it empty.

Royce digs his out, waving it around. “Broke or dead.” He shrugs, his arm flopping back to his side.

Maddoc glances to Raven as she pulls his from her hoodie. “I didn’t hear it ring.”

He grabs it, looking to the screen. “Missed calls from Dad and Maybell.”

Panic sets in and I jump to my feet. I snag it, glaring from it to Victoria.

My dad answers on the first ring. “She’s okay.”

My shoulders fall, and I slouch against the locker, but then I hear her little whines in the background, and turn, my hand coming up to rub at the back of my neck.

“What’s wrong?” My chest constricts. “Was she crying?”

Royce tosses his towel and quickly finishes getting dressed while Maddoc stands, grabbing his and Raven’s backpacks off the floor.

Suddenly Maybell is on the phone. “Boy.”

My heart beats wild in my chest and I squeeze my eyes shut. “Talk, Miss Maybell.” I dig my keys from my pocket.

“She’s all right, but she’s fussin’, wants her daddy now.”

“Daddy!” Zoey begins to cry.

My stomach turns, and I nod, already rushing out, my brothers on my tail. “I’m... I’m on my way.”

I start jogging, but freeze, looking back to Raven taking quick steps to keep up.

She jerks to a stop, shaking her head with a glare. “Go. Now. We’ll get there.”

My eyes slide to Victoria just behind them. “She stays.”

Mac nods and I take off in a full sprint, Royce at my side, school forgotten.

Daddy’s on his way, baby girl.

Chapter 13

Victoria

“She stays.” Captain’s tone is hard and leaves no room for argument, but nobody could miss the heavy air of worry surrounding him.

He and Royce run off, and not a minute later, they’re peeling out of the parking lot.

Mac nods his head to the others, pushing the alarm button on his car.

Raven slides in front of me. “Don’t piss him off, stay here. I’ll find you if it’s serious,” she promises when she doesn’t have to.

My mind spins, considering if I should listen, behave as he wants me to.

I squeeze my eyes shut, a small growl escaping as I spin on my heels and head back inside the school. Maddoc, Raven, and Mac driving off behind me.

My steps slow when I spot Chloe leaning against the frame, her eyes following Mac. “We’ll never be on their level, will we?”

When I don’t respond, she looks my way.

“Come on, Victoria.” She tilts her head. “I know you fucked up somewhere, and it’s no secret I tried to fuck over Raven when she first came to Brayshaw.” She sighs and looks off. “I love Mac, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t jealous of his position with this family. My dad ran their security all my life, was their most trusted man, and mine isn’t even allowed to answer his phone if I’m in the same room. Every call, he steps out... away from me.” She meets my gaze only to look away again. “Worst part is it’s no one’s fault but my own.”