“Right,” he says but the corners of his eyes deceive him.
“Level with me, Royce. Am I about to be blindsided?”
“I have no idea, RaeRae,” he whispers. “I like to think not, but I won’t be okay with it if you are.”
There’s a knock on the door frame and we both shift to look.
Rolland’s stare bounces between both of ours and his forehead creases further. “Join us.”
Royce releases me, and Rolland turns, heading back toward the kitchen.
Royce chuckles and picks up my coffee mug and the creamer.
“What?” I ask, following him out.
“He’s royally confused.” He hits me with a grin. “He has no idea which one of us – if any – you’re fuckin’ and he’s too damn proud to ask.”
A laugh bubbles out of me before I can stop it. “But I was playing joyrider on Maddoc when we walked in last night.”
“Yeah, then Cap ran to your rescue when you fell, and now I had you hidden away in the farthest room in the house, wrapped in my naked arms while you felt up my strong, tattooed chest with your rough little hands.”
My face soothes out as I blink at him, making him laugh loudly.
“Kidding.” He lifts a brow. “But pretty sure it might look that way to a man who has no fucking clue what he came home to.”
“I’m betting he’s more aware of things than you guys realize.”
“Maybe.” Royce bends to whisper in my ear since we’re entering the kitchen. “But he don’t know how we feel, only what he’s told, RaeRae. Power? It’s always in the pussy.”
I laugh loudly and all eyes jump to me.
Maddoc glares but turns back to the coffee pot – the empty coffee pot.
Stove is cleared off, too.
I glance to Rolland and he winks, but I don’t acknowledge it, and head over to Maddoc.
He turns his head, running his lips across my temple mindlessly as he pulls down a few cups. “Why’d I wake up alone?”
“Couldn’t sleep.”
“That doesn’t answer my question.” He frowns.
I don’t get to respond because Rolland speaks next.
“We have much to talk about, but later.” His eyes zero in on me. “If you boys want to head out, I’ll get Raven dropped off.”
Silence.
Not one of them moves, not one of them speaks.
Rolland’s eyes bounce across the four of us, swinging my way when I snap.
“No.”
His brows jump. “No.”
“Hell no.” I cross my arms. “They go, I go.”
He crosses his arms now, leaning back against the table. “It wasn’t a question. I need to speak with you, privately.”
“About what?” Maddoc asks but gets ignored.
“You need to speak, speak here. I have nothing to hide, so unless you do, why hold your tongue?” I challenge, and his eyes intensify.
“I’m afraid, it doesn’t work that way,” he speaks slow. “I must speak with you, alone.”
“Too fucking bad,” I snap, and he glares.
Maddoc shifts. “She rides—”
“Listen, little girl—” his dad cuts him off, but Maddoc pushes forward, stepping in between us.
“I said she rides with us,” he affirms, and my stomach muscles tighten.
Yes, baby.
“We’re not changing that right now.” He then slowly glances at me over his shoulder. “We’ll be out front.” He holds my eyes, cutting them to my pocket and back, making sure I understand what he’s telling me without words.
They can’t hear me out there like they did at my mom’s, but they’ll hear it if I whip my knife out and throw it at the fucking window.
He doesn’t think I’ll need it. If he did, last night would have gone a lot differently.
He and I, we’re laced together with a tight needle and thread.
When I tear, it’s him who bleeds.
My apprehension has overrun me and seeped into him.
When Royce hesitates on the bar stool, I look his way.
He nods through his frown, they grab their shit and walk out the door.
I don’t pause but spin back to Rolland who, of course, is attempting to read my every movement.
“Your sons are impatient, so...” I roll my hand to get him speaking.
Rolland only leans back farther.
“Okay, fine. Clearly you’re waiting to feel me out. I’ll start. Did you plan this?” I ask.
“Yes.”
“Which part?”
“All of it,” he admits with ease.
My pulse kicks a little higher. “Why?”
“It was necessary, and to answer the question you won’t allow yourself to ask, my sons had no idea.”
My head pulls back slightly, and I step closer, bracing my hands on the bar. “Don’t stand there and pretend to know me. And don’t put words in my mouth. They told me they weren’t aware, I chose to believe that. But, hey, since we’re talking about it, what’s the purpose of all this? Why am I here?” I challenge, not expecting him to give any real reason.
But Daddy Brayshaw is a smart man and gives me absolutely nothing while giving something at the same time. “Because I need you.” He tilts his head. “Also, I never slept with Ravina, not a single time.”
My brows draw in and he stands.
“All those times I was there, I was simply paying her for her time to speak.”
“About?”
He eyes me. “Things. You.”
“Couldn’t have been a very beneficial conversation. She knew nothing about what I did or where I went. Why not hire a PI? Clearly, money was no object.”
“I couldn’t have people asking questions that I could not answer, and you’re right. Our talks weren’t always good ones, but you belonged to me at that point, so she made sure she found something to share when she knew I was coming.”
“You in the business of buying little girls, Rolland?”
His features tighten, and he sticks his hand in his pocket, producing a piece of paper. He holds it up but not out, simply trying to taunt me. “I have to tell you something.”
“What is it?”
“In a minute, but first, you have to give me your word you won’t tell my sons.”
My head snaps back. “Hell no.”
“It’s the only way.”
“It’s the wrong way.” I push off the counter and go to exit the kitchen, but he stands and blocks my path.