With that, she walks away, and I can’t help but wonder what the hell I’ve gotten myself into.

Or more, what the hell did my mom get me into?

The holidays passed in a blur. I was thankful when Christmas morning came and went without mention – seems the boys aren’t ones for celebrating either.

I did, however, find a brand new iPod and wireless earbuds sitting under my pillow that night. By the way Maddoc frowned at the items, I knew he wasn’t the one who left it. Then, when I pushed play and the first song that hit my ears was “Bad Bitch” by Bebe Rexha, I knew it was Royce.

I should have figured as much right away.

Maddoc would have tossed it at me and told me not to argue but accept, while Cap would have walked in and sat down, placing it in my hands, but Royce? He’s the silent little lover type who hides his underlying sweetness with dirty innuendoes and flat out raunchiness. And somehow it totally works for him.

Captain pulls his SUV into the parking lot at Weston High, not one of us moving to step out when he puts it in park.

Both boys shift in the front seats so they can meet Maddoc’s eyes.

“If he steps on the court tonight, freeze him out. He doesn’t touch our ball, I don’t give a fuck what the situation is or who tries to force otherwise. Collins Graven is no Wolf, he won’t be treated like one.”

They agree and the four of us step out right as a few other cars pull in, parking beside us.

Mac steps out of one with a couple other guys from their team, and Leo steps from the other.

He doesn’t spare me a glance, not even a glare, in fact, but moves to the guys for some bullshit bro-shake. He purposely positions himself between me and Captain.

“You missed a couple bangers, man,” Leo laughs, shifting a little more right so I’m at his back, now blocked from both Cap and Maddoc’s view. “Bunch of gymnasts and shit were in town for some showcase. Helluva time.”

Only Mac laughs, entertaining his fake news.

In the same second, Maddoc reaches around him and drags me forward, my shoulder knocking into the dickhead beside me as he does. He spins me around, pulling my ass against him, so I’m face to face with Leo with him now at my back.

Leo falters a second when he sees Maddoc’s possessive hands on my abdomen, frowning at his feet a moment when I lean into him even more, but he catches himself quick and takes a half step back.

“Anyway, yeah, man. It was a good time.” He quickly looks to them. “You guys ready to go in yet?”

Maddoc drops against the bumper of the SUV. “We’ve got some business first.”

Maddoc gives a sharp tone I wasn’t expecting, and I force a straight face when really I’m on the edge of a smirk.

Leo can’t hold it in, though, and his scowl is caught.

“You can go inside,” Maddoc adds, officially coloring me curious in the shift between boy and master.

Leo licks his lips, glancing from one Brayshaw to the next, and I doubt he realizes it, but there’s a hardness tethered in fear staring back.

He’s angry, but more, he’s a scared little bitch.

“Yeah, all right.” He looks to Mac.

“Mac stays,” Royce adds, knowing Leo was about to call on him.

Leo gives a tight shrug before walking off, his grip on the strap of his duffle bag real fucking tight.

My eyes follow him and every rigid step he takes, so do Mac’s.

Only once Leo is far enough away does he move closer.

“Something I should know?” Mac asks in confusion.

“No.” Maddoc’s hold on me tightens. “Any word on if Collins talked?”

“Nah, man. He’s a dumb fucker, but he’s not stupid enough to run his mouth at Brayshaw.”

The guys don’t say anything, but their silence is enough for me to know they disagree. It isn’t something to be spoken out loud for another ear to hear, though.

“Let’s get in there,” Captain says and he, Mac, and Royce all move to grab their bags.

Maddoc buries his face in my neck and presses his lips right against my pulse there. He makes no other move, but it kicks harder from the simple contact and as if he was waiting for it, his lips stretch into a smile against my skin.

I roll my eyes even though he can’t see me and push off him right as the others step back around with his bag also in hand.

We only get a foot through the door before we’re rushed by their coach and shoved through a side door leading to an empty locker room.

Coach Brail grips Maddoc by the collar and shoves him against the cool metal.

I jerk forward but get yanked back by Royce.

“I told you to keep your fucking cool!” he shouts in his face.

Maddoc makes no sound, but quickly dislodges himself and in an instant, he’s flipped it, and the coach is slammed against the lockers.

His eyes widen then narrow.

“Watch your fucking hands, and your mouth while you’re at it.” He jerks him forward, slamming him again, then steps back.

“Your dad—”

“Isn’t here,” Captain supplies easily.

“Time you realize that.” Royce steps forward.

A chill runs down my spine and a smirk finds my lips.

I fucking love this shit, when they power up and the front line grows stronger, their reach further.

“We respect you, Coach,” Maddoc tells him. “We work our asses off and listen to what you have to say and perfect what you tell us to. We listen to every fucking word you say ... on the court. Not fucking off it, and not when it messes with my family. We did what you said, what he told you to tell us, and that didn’t work out well for any of us. No fucking more. From now on, you will do as we say, when we say it.” The coach’s features tighten, and concern fills his eyes.

“You won’t be seen as going rogue. He’s on board,” Captain speaks of their dad, letting the man know he can breathe a little easier.

Coach Brail’s shoulders relax some and he gives a very reluctant nod.

Maddoc backs away, shrugging. “It’s nothing personal. You know we’d take a hit for you, but Raven will take no more from any-fucking-body. No one gets a pass, it’s the only way to fix this mess. The leash needs to be tightened.”

The coach looks ready to argue, but instead a tight chuckle leaves him, and I tense when he steps forward. He smacks a hand down on Maddoc’s shoulder giving him a little shake and walks out.

What the fuck was that?

“Respect.”

I jump when Royce answers what I thought was an inner thought and the guys chuckle around me.

“Let’s go, we’ve got a game to play.”

Coincidently, Collins is a no-show to the game, but Perkins is front and center looking far too disappointed when his school’s team plays one sick ass game of ball and takes the win in the end.

“You ever gonna talk to me or you forever pissed?” Bass drops down beside me.

“Depends.” I tilt my head. “Can you be honest?”

“Ask your questions, Carver.” His grin’s easy.

“Why’d you come to me over them? Why not go direct to your bosses with the video news or tell them about it the second I went off the wall and tried to fix it?”

“Because you didn’t demand it. You earned it.”