Captain’s eyes move between mine.

More worry.

No.

“Do it,” I rasp, swallowing past the clog in my throat, trying for air that won’t come.

He keeps staring.

“You wanted words, Captain.” I scowl. “Everyone is around, everyone is watching. We can confirm this right now.”

“Raven—”

“I said do it.”

Captain tugs me closer. He’s mad. “You don’t want this. You’re doing this because you’re pissed off and hurt and it’s the first time you’ve laid eyes on him since he asked you to walk away from him, since you did.”

I jerk against his hold, but his tight grip makes it unnoticeable to the prying eyes.

Maddoc spots it though, his brows disappearing under his frames.

I move my eyes back to Cap. “I was asking you to kiss me before he got here. Don’t I have the right? I’ll be your wife in three months, forever fucking you in four. I should have your mouth on mine anytime I want.”

“If I kiss you right now, he will never be able to erase it. He’ll lie awake at night, like I’m bettin’ he has the last several, and play out every move he anticipates we’ll make. He’ll think about the ways you touched him and how you’ll touch me. He’ll think about the things you liked him to do and how I’ll learn of the same. You make me kiss you right now, Raven, and those fucked up fears become his fucked-up reality. They won’t only keep him up at night, but they’ll follow him with every step.”

“That’s the thing, Cap,” I whisper, forcing my arms around his neck.

His forehead tightens, and in my peripheral, I notice Royce drops his eyes to the gravel.

“This is our reality now, and he knows it.” I push to my tippy toes and align my lips with his. “You know your brother, acknowledge what he’s doing. He took a few days to process and now he’s back. He brought her here. He’s being strong.” I swallow, then whisper, “Show him you can be, too.”

Captain’s palm slides up my back, his fingers sprawling out across my spine. His eyes are heavy with guilt, his jaw set in anger. He slides his lips across my cheek to my ear as his other hand comes up to sink in my hair.

“No,” he whispers. “Not yet, and not here. Our touching, eye contact, and private conversation is enough for now, but if you have to hold me tighter when you see him or if you need a connection when you feel you’ve lost one, you take what you want from me and I’ll give in return, ten fucking fold. But only for you.” He strokes my hair, kissing my temple. “Not for the sake of anyone else.”

His words hit hard, and shame follows.

His concern is me, and I’m not giving him the same. This is hard for him too. He’s admitted to feeling like he fucked his brother, more and more with every day that passes and every move he makes and I’m over here forcing his hand.

So, I do as he said, laugh it off and move back a step. I force myself to grab his hand and the others take it as their cue to move toward us.

The six of us walk for the entrance with our heads held high knowing every eye around is locked on us.

The six of us come to a screeching fucking halt when we spot Donley, Rolland, and Perkins waiting just inside the hall.

Victoria spins on her heels and heads right back outside, while the girl walking a step behind Maddoc slows. We keep forward.

Maddoc steps toward the three men. “The fuck is this?” he demands.

“Donley showed up, asking for a tour of the school,” Perkins announces as he glances around, then quietly adds, “And unlimited access to the surveillance, so I called your father.” His eyes slice toward Captain when he says it. “Seems I’m missing something.”

“Suddenly you’re on our side now?” Royce spits.

“There are no sides.” Donley grins, holding out his hands as he moves his smirk to me. “We’re all on the same team now. I’m simply... looking out for my... investment.” His eyes drop to our hands, and a gleam fills them. His smirk grows into a smile and he nods. “Safe to assume Collins isn’t causing too much trouble?”

“We’d handle it how we wanted if he was,” Royce spits.

“The surveillance,” Perkins attempts to get them back on track.

“Ah, yes.” Donley claps. “Perhaps you were left in the dark, where you belong, Connor, but your blood has agreed to become mine.”

Perkins’ eyes move to Captain, but Donley keeps speaking.

“He will take the name you were offered with your brother but couldn’t honor. Captain will become Graven, and Raven will be his bride.”

Perkins’ eyes slice to mine, then Maddoc’s and back to Captain. “Why would you agree to this? Everything was handled, your life wouldn’t have been affected.”

“What do you care about my life?”

“I’ve spent eighteen years protecting it!”

“You didn’t protect shit. You got in the way, stepped in where you were never and will never be wanted.” Captain steps toward his biological father. “You thought you could tip them off that Raven existed, they’d take her, Zoey’d come home and everything would go away?”

“It should have been that simple, yes.”

“Except you weren’t bold enough to get the job done, and we grew close to Raven while you sat back and waited for someone else to do the dirty work. You may know no loyalty, but we do, and she has ours. Always.” Captain gestures in his face. “Just so you know, I didn’t agree to anything, I asked for this, and I’d have begged for her, on my hands and fucking knees if I had to because that’s what she deserves.”

My eyes zero in on the tight fists at Maddoc’s sides.

When I look to him though, you’d never know he was staring at me, his glasses are directed at Donley, but I feel him.

Tortured, angry, ready to burst.

Me too, Big Man.

“Right, well, I have places to be.” Donley smooths his blazer down. “Perkins, if you will, email me the links and passwords to the cameras.”

“No.”

All eyes fly to me when I speak.

“No?” Donley tilts his head. “I’m afraid that isn’t your call, little girl.”

“I’m afraid this isn’t your school, Donley.” I push forward. “It’s ours, as will be this town in a matter of days. Get used to it.”

I wanted him to get angry, but the bastard smiles, seemingly proud. “Oh, I am more than ready for you to hold the Graven name, until then I need to make sure the bargain is being held. Call it a protection plan.”

“She said no.” Captain steps forward. “Terms were set when we left, this wasn’t in it. These are our people, we handle what needs handling. That’s not changing.”

Donley eyes him and after a few moments a deep, satisfied sigh leaves him. He turns to Rolland who wears no expression at all and pats his back. “This is the start of a beautiful thing, I can feel it in my bones.” With that, he walks away.

With a strange frown, Perkins follows after him.

Rolland steps up to Maddoc, but Maddoc says nothing, shouldering past him, past us all and takes off down the hall.