Mac is one of the few we can depend on. He’s been doing work for us for several years now, but only recently slipped in as our go-to man. Before that, though, he was a trusted friend.

“Day Royce goes out, suddenly there’s shit going down?” Maddoc leads.

“It’s not like people are allowed here,” Raven says, looking his way. “Maybe it was the first chance they had.”

I eye Maddoc, and while his brows dip lower, he doesn’t say anything, looking to the car in Raven’s hand instead.

She passes it over and his gaze meets mine. “Only one blue sports car I can think of.”

“Jason Rowe.”

He nods, looking to Royce.

“Who the hell is that?” Raven’s head tugs back.

She looks to Maddoc, her eyes narrowing slightly when a hint of a smirk finds his lips.

Royce chuckles, catching her attention. “’Member a few weeks after you got to the Bray house? When that guy asked to go to our Stop Light party and you showed up in green when Madman told you to wear red?” She smiles wide. “The night Maddoc wigged out and laid claim on your ass… and puss?”

She laughs, pulling her feet up on the cushion. “It went down a little different, but yeah. I remember.”

“That was Jason, dick bag, Rowe from our basketball team.”

“You don’t like him?”

“Come on, RaeRae,” he teases. “We don’t like anyone.”

“Right.” She grins, dropping back with a yawn. “So, what now?”

“Season ended a few months back,” I say, glancing to Royce, knowing they’re thinking the same thing.

His phone is already in his hand. “I’ll call Mac.”

Maddoc turns to Raven with a grin. “Time we get the boys together for a game.”

“Yeah—” I cut myself off when my spine shoots straight, and not a second later, the reason reveals herself.

“Zoey will love that.”

Our heads jerk in the direction Victoria’s interruption comes from.

Immediately after she’s spoken, Royce is on his feet and creeping toward her, but that doesn’t stop her. She steps from the billiard room, headed right for us.

Raven takes the car from Maddoc’s hand and slips it in her hoodie pocket, her eyes on Victoria who doesn’t so much as flinch at Royce’s advance.

“You’re either smart as shit or dumb as fuck, girl, and I gotta say I’m going with the last part.” He pushes his chest against her. “Maybe Maybell pretended not to see you hidin’ in corners at the group home, but this ain’t the place. You’ll be gone as quick as you came, and I’m not talking ‘bout your midnight thoughts of Cap.”

Victoria gives a lazy blink, unaffected and already accustomed to Royce and his protective, pounce first, ways.

Her eyes slide to mine. “She’d love to watch you play.”

My blood runs hot beneath my skin and I move forward.

“Well, that was mighty fuckin’ brave, VicVee.” He glares, calling her by the dumbass nickname he came up with for her as he backs away, knowing full well I’m ready to take his place.

She tips her head, brown eyes waiting to see what they’ll find in mine.

“I’m not sure you understand the situation here,” I draw out. “You’re not in this house because you earned it, you’re here because we can’t trust you outside of it. We can’t allow you to go around running your mouth about things the town isn’t aware of yet, but if you try and come in here and tell me what to do with my daughter like you know better than me, I will toss you out so fucking quick your head will spin.” I get in her face and she pulls her lips in. “And I’m not talking about out of this house, but out of our town.”

“You can try.”

My head tugs back and in my peripheral, I spot Maddoc pushing to his feet.

I crowd her but she doesn’t budge, her chin lifting to keep our stares locked. “And what will you do, hm? How will you stop me?”

Her hand lands on my forearm, in a warm, strong hold, attempting to soothe with her touch, with her eyes... as if she has the right.

My jaw flexes.

“I’m not being hateful or spiteful or anything else you’re working to convince yourself of,” she says for only me to hear.

Fuck me if that’s not worse than if she would have screamed it in my face.

I lower mine to hers. “Have you learned nothing, Victoria?”

When her eyes tighten, I continue.

“You want to stand here and act like you know us, yet still you whisper, hide your voice from my family? Have you not realized yet we don’t work like that? We talk, we fight, we fuck where we need, when we need. We don’t hide from each other.” My eyes begin to twitch. “You lied about knowing my kid, and you dare tell me what the fuck to do with her like your opinion or thoughts or wasted-ass whispers matter?” I toss her hand off me, taking a step back. “They don’t.”

She licks her lips, her focus shifting behind me a long moment before snapping back. Stronger, more determined. “They will.”

My eyes bulge before I can stop them, and damn if I’m not struck.

She’s fucking insane.

To my left, Maddoc slowly drops back in his seat as Royce shuffles a few feet away, but Raven, she leans forward on the couch, watching.

If Victoria notices they’ve let up a little, she doesn’t let it show.

She closes the gap I put between us, her hand shooting up to grip my chin so she can tip my head, but I don’t budge, and she doesn’t let fucking go.

My pulse pounds heavy in my throat as I glare down at the girl who ruined everything.

Hate to want you, Beauty...

“I’m not going anywhere, but I have a feeling if I tried... you’d stop me.”

A heavy strain tugs at my shoulder blades, but I cover it well. “If you think I’d chase you, you’re wrong. I said I wanted to fuck you, Victoria. I never said a damn thing about wanting you.”

“Oh, but you did, Cap.” She speaks slowly, anger darkening her cheeks. “Minutes before that little girl ran up to you in the orchard, you were clear about what you want.”

She calls me out, but I blanket her words with a mocking chuckle, almost missing the slight pinch at the edge of her eyes.

“Want.” My grin is far from playful. “I said I wanted you, Beauty.”

I lick my lips, forcing my eyes to flick over her carelessly.

“Not your mind, not your heart, not you. My want is groin deep, satisfied by a warm body I can play with.”

“Now who’s the liar?”

I smirk through my anger. “Hold on to that bit of confidence, it’ll feel good when I shred it to pieces.”

Something dims in her gaze, but it’s gone as quick as it comes. “I didn’t know you were such a dick.”

“You don’t know me at all.” My glare intensifies and I jerk my chin from her grip, lowering my face to hers on my own terms.

“Don’t touch me. Don’t talk to me. Don’t look at her.”

That gets her, a heavy strain tugging at her features instantly, and for the first time tonight, unease stares back. “You want me to run from a three-year-old? To deny her? Ignore her if she calls my name?”