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She’s out before she can even scream, her body instantly flopping over and crashing to the ground.
Raven lifts her foot, ready to kick her but instead bends, whispering something in her ear.
She isn’t hearing what she’s saying, girl is knocked out, but nobody points it out.
Raven stands and looks to Bass. “Leave her there. No one helps her up, out, or home...not that she has one to go to anymore. Tell her if she sets foot in the Bray house, she won’t make it out.”
She starts walking and we follow, not a word spoken on the entire ride back, but when we turn onto the property, Raven says, “Get Victoria.”
Cap slows to a roll, meeting my eyes in the mirror.
“Tomorrow—” I start, but she cuts me off.
“I said ... get Victoria.” Her bloodshot eyes lift to mine.
I grind my teeth together, ready to flip the fuck out, but I know Raven. She’ll only talk if I make her think the decision is hers.
It’s not, but I’ll play along. For now.
I climb out and up the front porch.
Maybell steps out right as I reach the door. “Boy?” she asks worriedly.
I place my hand on her arm and slip past her into the house.
All the girls are sitting around the living room and look up when I enter, gawking.
All but Victoria, she sits in the corner, frowning at the TV, doing a double take when I step right in front of her.
She slowly sits up, cutting a glance at the others.
“What?”
“Get up, let’s go.”
“I ... what?”
I stare at her and after a minute she stands and follows me to the door. We walk out without another word.
Victoria slides into the backseat, her eyes bouncing all around, finally landing on a blood-splattered Raven.
Victoria doesn’t ask and we don’t explain, all climbing out once Cap puts the SUV in park in front of our house.
Raven starts up the steps and Victoria glances to me with a what now expression.
“Follow her.”
She frowns but does, and the two disappear into the house.
“What the fuck is happening?” Royce asks.
“She shouldn’t be in there,” Cap says, glaring at the front door.
“I have no fucking idea what’s going on. We need to talk to Dad, I’m over these fucking surprises.”
“Fuck man, Raven a Brayshaw?” Royce whistles. “Crazy ass shit, but fuck if it wouldn’t make sense.”
“Nothing makes sense.”
Me and Royce head up the stairs but Cap opens the back door and fishes around inside.
“Cap?”
“I’m coming.” He pauses a second, stuffs something in his pocket, then lifts her sweater in the air, and we head inside.
“I don’t think he’s here,” Royce says.
“He’s not.” Cap frowns at his phone. “Guess he texted me, says he’s at the Empire tonight, he’ll be back in the morning.”
“Great, now fucking what?” Royce asks.
Captain moves for the bar, pulling down a few shot glasses and a bottle.
“Long fucking day, man.”
I nod, moving for an empty stool.
Cap pours us shots and we take them one right after another.“Raven,” Victoria calls and I blink, looking around. “You’ve been standing still for the last five minutes.”
I clear my throat and dig through my shit, pulling out some weed and papers and slap them in Victoria’s chest, then turn back to yank some clothes from the drawer then dart across the hall. When she doesn’t move with me, I look back.
She frowns and follows, shutting and locking the door behind her.
I turn up the water, hot as I can get it and strip down completely.
I step inside, hissing at the water, but forcing myself under it.
I lather the soap between my fingers and scrub across my body, but the filth won’t wash away. It grows heavier and heavier, and before I know it, I’m frantically breathing, my hands flying over every inch of me.
“Are you a virgin?” Donley’s words echo in my head, growing louder and louder until, until it wraps around my organs and squeezes.
Why did he need to know this? What does he want with me? If I’m Brayshaw, why would he dare touch me?
I gasp, trying to breathe, but my lungs refuse to allow it. My vision clouds, the water beating into my eyes.
Or maybe it’s tears?
Slamming my palm into the wall, I growl, but it comes out broken and sharp, and my knees give way, sending me crashing against the tile beneath me.
With my knees bent, I drop my forehead to the floor.
My body shakes with what must be my own tremors, and I again gasp for air.
Two arms wrap around me and suddenly my back is covered, arms locked around my knees.
Victoria lays across my back, clothes on and all, whispering in my ear like I imagine a mother would a child and eventually my lungs expand and I close my eyes.
The irony, though, is closing our eyes is what puts us at risk.
Demons love to play in the dark.
