“His blood’s all over you,” Raven points out and he nods, looking away.

“You good, man?” Royce asks.

“Yeah.” He nods, not looking at us. “Can you guys give me a minute?”

Raven grabs both our hands and drags us out where we lean against the frame.

“He’s fucked up right now,” Royce says quietly.

“He’ll be fine when she’s home.”

“Will she come home?” he challenges.

“She has to.”

Raven closes her eyes, her hand coming up to her temple.

I frown, moving closer. “You look like shit.”

“I think I’m gonna be sick.”

Royce’s brows jump and he shoots across the hall, quickly coming back with a garbage can from the closest classroom.

She takes it as sweat starts to form at her hairline. “Shit, I need some air.”

“Come on.” I start toward the back exit, turning back to Royce. “Wait for Cap.”

We get outside, and she runs her hands down her face, taking deep breaths before dropping against the wall.

“No way I’ll make it through the damn day.” Her forehead scrunches, her hand flying to her stomach, and she starts to gag.

“Fuck, all right, we’ll go.”

“Go where?” Cap and Royce step out.

“She’s hungover as hell. Needs to go back home.”

“Just drop me off.”

“Yeah, fucking right.”

She rolls her eyes. “You guys have your championship pep rally bull, I’ll be fine.”

“Watch her.” I look to Royce who drops beside her while Cap follows me inside.

I head for my first period, the class I happen to share with Victoria.

The teacher cuts herself off when I walk in and all heads raise.

Victoria glares.

“Come on.”

She looks around. “What?”

“I said come on.”

“What are you doing?” she hisses. “People are staring.”

“So.”

“So, go away.”

Captain groans and moves to pick her up, but she darts from her seat.

“Okay,” she rushes out, lifting her hands. “Fucking fine. I’m going.”

We follow behind her into the hall then lead her to the back.

“I’m dropping you off with Raven. Don’t leave her side.”

“I’m not leaving school. I actually want to graduate.”

“I’ll pay you to sit with her, all right? I’ll get your workload and make sure you have no late marks on your assignments. Now, shut the fuck up and everyone to the truck.”

I wake up to the padding footsteps in the hall. Glancing over, I find Victoria passed out right beside me, so I quietly sneak from the room.

I freeze when I spot Rolland coming out of Maddoc’s room.

He too pauses, but he recovers quicker than me.

“You’re home.”

“Surprise.”

He nods, slipping his hands into his pockets. “I assume now is a better time than later, hm?”

“Sure.” I glare, then turn and walk down the stairs.

I drop onto the recliner and he chooses the ottoman.

“So you must—”

“Just be blunt,” I tell him.

“All right. First, know that I will deal with Donley Graven. He was specifically instructed to stay away until the time came.”

“What time would that be?” I eye him.

“There is much you’ll need to learn. This world is bigger than our town, but we’ll get to that.”

“So it’s true then, what he said?”

He holds my stare a moment before nodding slowly. “You are of Brayshaw blood, yes.”

“And you’ve known this entire time? Since I was young.”

“Why do you think I came for you?”

I scoff, calling him out. “Not because I’m Brayshaw.”

He tilts his head, regarding me. “Why do you say that?”

“Because if that were the case, you wouldn’t have taken no for an answer. I’d have been in your car regardless.”

“Yes and no,” he answers. “It’s more complicated than you realize.”

I nod. “An easy, clean answer. I should’ve expected that.”

“What makes you say that?”

“You know, you’ve trained Maybell real good in the act of ambiguity, too.” I eye him. “I’m a good judge of bullshit and that’s all you’ve given me.”

“That is something you learned from where I left you.”

“Thanks?” I snap.

He changes the subject. “Your mother was raised in this very house, you know. It’s quite fitting you being here now.”

“Yeah, about that.” I look around. “My money hungry mother would never stay away from a bankroll like this.”

“She’s the one who ran away,” he says.

“Call me crazy, but the Brays I know wouldn’t allow such a move.” I watch him closely and the muscle in his cheek twitches.

“What is it you’re trying to say, Raven?”

“Someone – maybe even you – was well aware of where she was the entire time. Maybe she never really ran. Maybe, she was hidden.”

He tips his chin slightly. “And what reason would one have to do such a thing?”

“Come on, it’s basic math, yeah? I’ll be eighteen in a few months, which means she was pregnant with me when she ‘ran.’ So, tell me, who’s my father, Rolland?” I ask him point blank.

He hesitates a moment and then lifts his hands slightly. “I don’t know.”

“You can stick with that, for now, but you have to know the truth will come out eventually. If I know my mom, it’ll be when she’s ready to claim what she thinks she’s owed.”

“She relinquished her rights to everything related to the Brayshaw name when she left.”

“That’s not how her brain works.”

“That’s how we work,” he says. “We do not bend for those who break loyalty.”

“Yet you spent eleven years in prison and paid her all through that time. Weird.”

“I did what I had to do.” He glares. “I could have easily been free, but there was a bigger role that needed filled.”

“So you admit to a crime you didn’t commit, to what?” I use air quotes like an asshole. “Protect me?”

“I had to keep your existence a secret. It was the only way to fix what she ruined. It was my sacrifice.”

“And they were your chosen sons.”

His jaw ticks. “They had a good life.”

A humorless laugh bubbles out of me. “A parentless life.”

“I did what needed done,” he reiterates.

“In order to what?” I sit forward. “What is your goal exactly?”

“My goal remains the same,” he states calmly. “To see the Brayshaw name stay on top, continue to be the strongest and best there is. To stop Graven from trying to overthrow what no longer belongs to them.”

“You were doing all that just fine, Rolland. If all that is true, you had no reason to bring me here.”