She ignores him. “And the rest of you, you’d all say the same, yeah?”

They study her, but don’t speak.

Raven’s bloody hand trails over the empty seat, and she slowly steps around it. Standing behind, where the seconds in command stand.

She looks to Alec, back in his place at the end, behind Trick’s chair, Trick who is still standing. She meets his eyes. “Do you trust Alec with your life?”

“My family’s, my town’s,” he answers instantly.

“Would you give him your seat today?”

“Without thought.”

She nods, looking to the others, all who nod in agreement.

Her eyes fly to Bass who jerks his chin moving to the security at the edge of the room.

They disappear down the hall.

Raven licks her lips, dropping her palms on the edge of the chair, and her eyes fly to mine.

Mine tighten, but hers never waver. They stay just as strong, just as clear and sure.

My feet carry me to her.

“Sit,” she demands in a whisper.

My head starts to pull away, to look to my brothers, to Captain who gave it all for her, but her eyes slim.

Trust her.

Everyone looks when Bass returns with several guards, all carrying a chair if not two in their hands.

They place one between each of the others, laying a few extras near the edges, creating a large U-shape before returning to their posts.

Raven looks to the men behind their guides, to Alec, and once they get the approval of their leaders, they move, taking the seats laid out for them.

Her eyes find my brothers, softening. “Sit,” she whispers.

Captain and Royce are slow in their steps, stopping right beside me.

Our minds work the same, our thoughts matching.

It’s Captain who steps closer, reaching for her hand.

Steadily she gives it to him, allowing him to lead her around the front.

“We will,” he whispers. “But not today. Sit.”

Her lips press together to fight her smile.

She sits, leans back and crosses her legs. “You have one man you trust with your worlds, I have three. This chair belongs to Brayshaw.” Her eyes meet my dad’s a moment before moving back to the others. “And anyone we should trust to sit in it.”

Raven looks to Victoria, who gives a small smile, but takes a step back, letting her know she’s not ready should Raven believe she is. Our dad shifts to stand beside her.

“Rolland.” The Greyson leader eyes him.

“I was once what was right for this town, but times have changed. Should I even deserve a seat, I won’t be taking it,” he admits, his chest rising with his decision.

“So, it’s settled.” Hacienda claps, sitting back. “The council is full.” He looks to Raven. “Welcome home, Mrs. Brayshaw,” he says and my gut clenches.

“Yeah,” Captain rasps, stepping forward again. His eyes move to mine, then Raven’s. “About that.”

Captain’s sheepish look has me holding my breath.

What the fuck else is—

My thought stops when Mac walks through the door, the reverend from mine and Captain’s midnight wedding right behind them.

“James?” Rolland worries, stepping forward. “What happened?”

“Mr. Carpo?” someone says from behind me.

He holds his hands up, a sympathetic smile pointed at me.

Carpo.

“Are you fucking kidding me?” I push to my feet.

“This isn’t a place to bring your town problems,” Mr. Henshaw says.

“Their arrival holds purpose,” Captain tells them, but his tension-filled eyes hold mine. “Raven.”

I look back to James, allowing myself to be a judgmental bitch as I take in the tattoos that cover his arms – the ones his black fucking robe covered the night I met him – and the slight ruffle at his belt and boot, a tell-tale sign of his weapons.

I scoff, looking to Captain.

Captain’s shoulders sag, his eyes sloped around the edges.

“Your just in case?”

He nods, giving a half smile.

“What’s goin’ on?” Royce asks, glancing around.

“She’s mine.” Maddoc glares. “He made sure she stayed that way.”

“So you’re not married?” Royce’s eyes widen.

“No, man,” Cap clears it up. “We’re not.”

My chest tightens, and I lick my lips. “You’re Chloe’s dad?” I look to James.

“I am.” He answers as if he was waiting for this moment, almost as if he needs it.

“So you’re head of Brayshaw security?”

“Yes.”

“And you lied.” I frown, shaking my head. “Straight to the face of one?”

“I did,” he admits with zero hesitation but complete sadness. “Which is why I will be leaving my position.”

Captain and Rolland both jolt forward. “James, no.”

But he holds his hands up again, focused on me.

“Serving Brayshaw has been a true honor, and the things they have done for my family will never be forgotten, but the Bray in me is telling me it’s time I become a member of our community rather than the monitor of it.”

I flex the muscles of my jaw, glancing to Rolland briefly.

“This is my doing,” Captain interrupts. “You were helping us. You helped protect the granddaughter of the man who first brought your family in.”

James shakes his head. “The very moment I even paused to hear you out, Captain, I knew it was my time to step back.” He turns to me. “At the same time, I also knew I had to do it, for you, and in the name of Brayshaw. You deserved more than what you were getting, you deserved to love freely, something they stole from your mother, and I had to do all I could to try and help.

“However, loyalty is loyalty, and trust ...”

“Must be earned.”

He nods. “We met on a lie, Ms. Brayshaw. In my line of work, there is no coming back from that, and I cannot be what is needed without it.”

I bite into my cheek, staring at the stranger in front of me. I don’t know why, but want to tell him we could try, to ask him to stay and remind him of all the trust he does have here, but the resolve in his eyes begs me not to say a word. This is hard for him, but he’s confident in his decision.

I nod, and he grins, reaching out his hand as if to ask for mine.

I allow it.

“Thank you for accepting,” he says, a deep breath leaving him.

“James,” Rolland starts. “You’re sure?”

He reaches out, gripping Rolland’s shoulder. “When I took over for my father, he told me one decision is all it took for him to know it was time to pass it over. It’s time, Rolland.”

“Your dad was head security?” I ask.

“He was.”

“And it went to you?”

James inhales deeply. “It did.”

“Chloe won’t be gaining your position.”

A chuckle leaves him, and his eyes widen. “Trust me, I know. Maybe, in time, you’ll come to believe in her,” he says, hopefully. “She’s got a lot of work to do before then.”

Rolland motions for the door. “We should step out, they have more to discuss before they can leave.”