His opponent is quick and spins, jumping to his feet and steps back in the next second.
I glance behind me and see the rest are in a standoff, except Royce. Seems he refused to let go and has got his guy’s arms lifted from behind, his knee in his back.
“Raven?” the guy who just attacked me whispers, looking from Maddoc to me.
Maddoc’s eyes cut to mine.
I step forward, but Maddoc yanks me back in the same second.
“G?” I ask, my eyes widening when I realize it’s him.
He nods, blood in his teeth when he grins.
“What the fuck are you doing here? And what the fuck is this?” I throw my hands toward the rest of us.
“Raven,” Maddoc growls behind me.
I lift my hand over my head, and slide it along Maddoc’s neck, leaving it there in an attempt to soothe him. It works and he shifts, breathing against my palm a second, so I lean farther into him.
“Tell your people to get away from mine,” I tell him and his eyes pinch, but he nods.
He looks over, and Maddoc takes advantage of his eyes being elsewhere and puts some distance between us and them.
“We good?” the tattooed guy calls over – he must be the boss – and G nods.
He looks to me. “I need you to tell the other one to release mine.”
His?
“RaeRae?” Royce calls, having heard him.
“Down boy,” I tease to be an asshole and laugh.
“Mama said you’re free, little bitch,” Royce jokes, pushing off him and coming to stand beside us.
I look back to G and his jaw ticks, his eyes locked on Royce.
“Hey,” I snap, and his attention comes back to me. “What the fuck is this? Why was he tailing us?”
“Can you have her put that down,” the tattooed guy looks to Victoria.
Captain rolls his eyes at her, tearing the bat from her hand, and she growls, crossing her arms.
“We need to talk to you guys, but not here,” tattoo says.
“And you fucking are?” Royce glares stepping toward him.
The guy stands tall, a lazy tip of his head that almost reminds me of my boys cocksure attitude. “Name’s Alec.”
“Pansy ass fucking name,” Royce goads him and I fight a grin.
I look up at Maddoc. “Where can we talk?”
“Here,” he forces through clenched teeth, glaring at me for suggesting we let them decide.
“Brother,” Cap calls, his eyes sliding to mine.
Maddoc’s features tighten, but after a moment he agrees.
“Fine.” He steps back but keeps me at his side.
He lets his eyes travel Gio then move to Alec. He gets in his face and Alec stands against him. “You get in one vehicle. Pull out behind my brother, I’ll be behind you. You think about taking off, I’ll run you into a fucking canal.”
Alec eyes him, but the blonde at his side tugs on his arm and when he looks down at her, his entire demeanor seems to soften and he nods, reluctantly agreeing.
They start to walk toward their vehicle, but Royce pops off again.
“Pussy whipped fucker.”
Alec spins, but Gio steps in front of him.
“Just go, man. We’re here for a reason.” Gio looks back at me and winks.
Instantly my eyes fly to Maddoc’s finding his jaw set tight, angry eyes on G.
“Maddoc,” I call, and he shakes his head no, moving for his SUV.
“All you in Captain’s, group home girl, too.”
What the fuck?
Yeah, right!
I dart forward, but Royce wraps his arms around mine and lifts me off the floor.
“Royce—”
“Nope. Not this time, RaeRae. You’re in trooouble.”
“I’m not going,” Victoria snaps.
Royce spins around, his laugh obnoxious and right in my ear.
Yeah, I know how this goes...
Captain frowns as he steps toward her, and her back straightens.
In one swift move, she’s over his shoulder.
“Are you fucking joking me right now?” she shouts, banging on his back.
When Captain moves along like nothing, she growls, lifting her head to look at me being carted away a few feet in front of her, my back flat against Royce’s chest, arms stuck beneath his hold.
“Really?” she says flatly. “This is how things happen when you fight them?”
I don’t bother responding, dropping my head against Royce’s shoulder instead.
He kisses my temple and I roll my eyes. “Yeah, blondie, it is. Now quiet, ‘less you wanna show my bro there what else that mouth can do.”
“Oh, how original.”
“Damn right I am, one of a fucking kind, baby.”
“Shut up, and get in,” Captain gripes and then we’re on the road.
Victoria glowers in the back seat but doesn’t try to escape like I did the first time they threw me in.
She’s handling it better than me.
Captain drives past the Bray houses, rounding the opposite side of the property and pulls onto a small dirt road, parking mid-way down.
Everyone jumps out at once, still cautious of each other.
Maddoc’s eyes lock with mine as I make my way to him, satisfaction flashing in his eyes when I move to stand right beside him.
“Giovanni Acri,” Maddoc says, eyes still on me, quickly cutting them to Gio. “Born in Stockton, California. Graduated three years ago, and no record since.”
When they frown, Royce laughs.
“You really drove a truck registered to you to fuck with people like us?” Maddoc speaks slowly. “What kind of fucking amateurs show up with a clear job without doing research? Or at least a fucking rental car if not a stolen one?”
“Excuse me—” the girl talks, so I dart forward, but Gio slips an arm between us and my three step forward.
A frown takes over all their faces and they relent.
“Fine. All right, relax.” Alec wraps his arms around the girl. “My name is Alec Daniels. This is my wife, Oakley, my brother Rowan, and Gio is one of my men.”
“Why are you here?” Captain asks, frowning at Victoria when she hops up on his hood looking bored.
“You’re Brayshaw,” Alec says.
“And?” Royce growls.
“And we’re part of the Rivera family. We never meant to fucking fight with you today, but your girl—”
“My fucking girl,” Maddoc cuts Alec off and I’d swear his lip twitches slightly.