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“That’s not happening. I’m fine. No broken bones, some scrapes, no big deal.”
The woman gives a small nod. “Those things may be true, but that’s not why you’re in here. You passed out from exhaustion and dehydration, the crash only added to your weakened state.”
“I said I’m fine.”
“Are you formally refusing treatment, at least as of right now?” she asks gently. “I’ll need to document if you are, good practice, remember?”
I shrug, nodding, avoiding the frowns directed at me.
“Can I ask everyone to step out a moment, I need to go over a few things with Mrs. Brayshaw privately.”
I wince at the name, dropping my eyes to my lap, but then I realize what she’s asked and my head snaps up. “No, they can stay.”
Her eyes widen. “Are you... sure? I’d advise they wait—”
“Stop questioning me.” My eyes shooting to Rolland as he quietly removes himself from the room on his own.
He’s learning.
Victoria scoots closer to me, her hand covering mine. “Raven,” she says quietly. “Make them leave or better yet, you walk out with her, since it seems you can. Just you and her.” Her eyes widen, and she nods.
“Why?”
“Just do it.”
“Girl, you are out of line,” Royce snaps, glaring from her to me.
I look to the nurse, who gives a subtle shake of her head.
“Help me up, brother.”
My eyes move to Captain as he shifts in the bed, dropping his legs to one side.
Both Maddoc and Royce rush to him, standing close as he pushes to his feet and grips the rolling IV machine.
He starts for the door, and reluctantly, they follow.
Victoria stands when they exit, glancing back at me once more before leaving with them.
My eyes move back to the nurse. “There, I’m alone.”
She reaches up, turning back on the machine, and then reaches for all the little clips and monitors I took off. “May I put these back on?”
I drop back against the pillow slapping my arms out like an obnoxious asshole. “Whatever.”
“Raven—”
“Don’t,” I hiss, closing my eyes. “No talking, do what you need, give me whatever you want, but no talking.”“I have something you guys need to see.”
All eyes fly to Bishop.
“Fuck you just say?” Royce creeps toward him.
Bishop doesn’t spare him a glance, his eyes moving to Rolland. “Leo and Vienna weren’t as naïve as we thought.” He pulls a rolled-up paper from his pocket, holding it out to my dad. “I don’t know what they hoped to gain in attacking her, if anything, but I assume this” —he shakes the roll— “was intended for blackmail somewhere down the line.”
“What is that?” I ask, walking closer.
Our dad unrolls it, reading over the paperwork in his hand.
“Proof,” he says.
“Proof of what, exactly?” our dad asks him.
“Ravina Brayshaw didn’t run to run.” Bishop looks to me. “She ran because she was afraid, of Donley himself.”
“Surprised you didn’t give it straight to her,” Royce spits.
“Almost did.” Bishop shrugs. “But don’t wanna see her hurt worse.”
“How do we even know if this is true?” Royce shouts.
“It has to be,” Raven rasps.
Our heads jerk toward the doorway, where she stands, propped against the frame, her face blank, eyes void and focused on nothing. The hospital gown has her looking even thinner than normal, her cheeks a little hollower, but the closer I look, the more I can see it’s not the gown at all.
She is skinnier, the circles under her eyes darker, a different shade than the bruising surrounding it.
She’s not eating, not sleeping.
“All Donley ever wanted was someone to take over after him. Someone he could guarantee would be strong enough, someone he felt he could control, or gain from,” she says.
“He had Felix,” our dad reminds her.
“Yeah,” she rasps, her hands finding her throat. “He had a man in love with a Brayshaw, who came from Brayshaw High, who wanted to be Bray but earned a place with Graven first.”
Dad’s head pulls back slowly as if he hadn’t thought of that. His eyes move to her and finally she looks up and into his. Hers cut to where Maybell sits near and back to him.
“The maid...” He trails off. “The baby was his. That’s why he sent her away... he only wanted a son.”
“A female was of no use to him, so what purpose would a pregnant Brayshaw carrying a girl serve him? No wedding had happened yet, so in his eyes, she was still disposable,” Raven says numbly, shrugging. Her eyes slide to Victoria who stands frozen in the corner. “Coming in?”
Victoria gives a curt nod, stepping into the room, Raven disappearing behind her.
My eyes stay locked on the door.
“The fuck happened to her?” I whisper.
When no one speaks, I look around the room.
“I fucked up!” I shout. “I know this. I. Fucked. Up, but I love her, man. I fucking love her, just like you guys do but harder and with every piece of me. Tell me what happened. What the fuck did I miss? Who hurt her?”
