I bite my tongue to stop myself from screaming, dig my toes into my shoes to keep from running, and glance at Cap, whose face grows tighter with Maddoc’s every step taken.

Royce steps up, his tone angry but his eyes soft. He whispers, “the girl was dad’s idea. She’s nothing, RaeRae.”

I nod, swallow, and plug my earbuds in as an excuse to ignore everyone around me, but the music isn’t enough.

Nothing will ever be enough.

I have no fucking clue how I ended up here, or how I got in for that matter, but I’m standing just inside the entryway, my back against the door.

I glance around, making sure no one is near, then push off the wall.

I’m sloppy on my feet – a half dozen shots will do that to you – so I stumble a few times, catching myself on the back of the sofa as I pass it.

My eyes cut across the darkened room, finding no one coming to check out the sound.

The staff must be off duty, guards who the hell knows where.

Not here.

I keep down the hall, gripping my bat tighter when the smell of a fresh cut Cuban hits my nostrils.

I blink hard, pulling in my focus as much as possible and straighten to my full height.

My footsteps are silent, my pulse screaming in my ears as I enter Donley’s office.

His chair is turned, only the silver of his hair to be seen over the edge of the seat. The smoke of his cigar fanning out over his head.

The piece of shit claiming what’s not his, threatening what’s ours, taking what’s mine.

My lip curls, my fingers twisting against the rubber grip.

I take a single step right, raise the barrel, and with every ounce of strength the alcohol allows, I swing.

A loud growl leaves me, the snap of a bone against metal following.

He falls from his chair, shrieking like a little bitch and I walk around.

My eyes narrowing when I find a random fucking face, bloodied at my feet.

In the same second, a hard object smacks against my spine, my shoulders bowing as I fall to the floor with a groan.

My head snaps around, finding Donley standing there with a glare, a security guard at each of his sides.

Guess I wasn’t as quiet as I thought.

When one of them raises a baton, I lift my hands to block it, but my movement is too slow, and in the next second everything goes black.

The loud screech of tires has me shifting in my seat.

Headlights shine through the trees, and I glance back at the line of cars parked.

Rolland’s, Maddoc’s, and Royce’s, all accounted for.

I slowly push my door open and step out right as the brakes squeal with a purposeful, last second stop.

Captain and Royce burst out the front, Rolland behind them and my head snaps back to the town car as the rear door is thrown open.

Maddoc’s body slams against the gravel.

I gasp and dart forward, but suddenly, Royce’s hands are around my elbows, Captain already at Maddoc’s side.

I let out a breath when he pushes to his ass, his head wobbling as he does, only for my anger to flare instantly when I spot the blood covering his temple.

My jaw tightens and I slice my eyes to Donley.

“Keep a better eye on your boy, Rolland.” He buttons his suit jacket. “Or we won’t bring him back next time.”

“Fuck you,” Maddoc spits, allowing Captain to drag him to his feet, only to yank away from him.

He doesn’t look at any of us, but storms into the house, Rolland on his heels.

“Get the fuck out, Donley. You’re not welcome on these grounds,” Royce forces past clenched teeth, letting me go and rushing into the house.

Captain walks backward toward me, and Donley’s eyes shift between ours a moment.

I step forward, my body shaking.

“Raven,” Captain speaks under his breath. “Don’t.”

My feet don’t stop until I’m inches from Donley.

“Ah.” He studies me. “Princess, fancy seeing you here, since I do believe you said you would not be.”

“You better watch yourself, Graven.”

“Watch myself...” He trails off. “The boy attacked me. Or, he tried, to.” He smirks.

I clench my teeth. “I don’t care if he rams a pipe up your ass. Touch him and I will fuck you over in every way.”

His eyes narrow and he hesitates a minute. “Should I be concerned over your loyalty?”

“You should be concerned if you expected anything different.”

His frown tightens, hardening before me and he nods. “I’ll assume you’re here to gather some things, perhaps what I had prepared for you wasn’t enough. I will note this as your one and only trip home needed.”

My hands ball into fists at my sides, and I stand there, unwavering, until he finally gets in the car. The second his taillights are gone, I spin, rushing for the porch only for Royce to block my way.

“Move.”

His brows crease. “You don’t wanna go in there.”

“I don’t want to kick you in the nuts, either, but I will, Royce. Move.”

He doesn’t, but allows me to push past him, following closely behind.

Captain stands off to the side, his entire fucking face crestfallen, at a damn loss.

Maddoc, drunk and sloppy as hell, bleeding, has Rolland by the throat and shoved against the wall.

Rolland stands still as a statue, allowing it, his expression just as tragic as Cap’s.

Maddoc continues to pull him close, only to slam him back, over and over again.

“Stop,” Royce shouts, hard put as ever.

“You,” Maddoc growls at his dad, ignoring his brother. “This is on you,” he tells him, going in for a headbutt that has me wincing.

Rolland blinks but still, he doesn’t fight his son.

“Does it hurt?” Maddoc screams in his face. “Does it?” He punches his ribs. “Do you even know what hurt feels like? Have you ever cared about a damn thing enough to feel pain from inside your fucking body?” He headbutts him a second time, stumbling a little from his own force. “From under your skin?!” he shouts.

Turmoil blankets Rolland’s face, low groans leaving him, but I have a feeling it has nothing to do with the power of Maddoc’s hits.

“Maddoc, fucking stop, man,” Royce tries again, but he doesn’t.

He lifts his fist, but before he can swing, I take a mini step forward.

“Maddoc,” I call him quietly, and he freezes.

Every muscle in his body locks, his arms slowly falling to his sides as his dad’s body slumps against the wall.

Everyone stays quiet.

Sluggishly, he turns to me and his face falls with his shoulder. Murky green eyes, lost and desperate, give up right before me.

Baby...

He stumbles toward me, so I take a quick step forward, ready to hold any of the weight he needs me to.

The pads of his fingers come up to skim across my cheek and I pull my lips between my teeth, my nostrils flaring.

Slowly, his eyes slide between mine and he nods almost imperceptibly.

He shifts closer. “I tried, baby,” he whispers, and a silent sob shakes my chest. “I tried.”

He jerks away suddenly, rushing down the hall with my heart in his hands, leaving his to bleed out at my feet.

Hopeless, that’s what we are.