Sandra

Sandra

Braxtyn

TODAY WAS ANOTHER grueling practice. My body hurts in places I've never experienced pain before. None of us got off the field without feeling some kind of pain. I don't know what the fuck crawled up coach's ass, but he's taking it all out on us. We've had a stellar season so far and haven't lost a single game. No, this is something that doesn't involve a single guy on the football team and only concerns our coach. He's been on a warpath for some time now and it's only getting worse every single time we have practice. The only time he ever eases up is when we're at a game. He's back to being our typical coach and we all have a good time. We'll figure out what the hell is going on with him one way or another. It's just a matter of time before it comes out and everyone knows what's going on with him.

After showering in the field house, instead of heading to the house we share on campus, I make my way to the parking lot so I can go home. I try to go home a few times a week so I can spend time with my little brother, Alex. I enjoy spending time with him and it's important for me to make sure he's on the right path and knows I'm there to help him with anything he's going through. Our parents certainly don't give a fuck about him and are never home to keep him in line. So, I've taken on the role of making sure my brother is doing okay and no one's hurting him for any reason. I've already scared bullies away from him in the past and I won't hesitate to do it again.

Pulling up in the driveway of the mansion I grew up in, I spot my father's car parked just outside the garage. He's never home and I'm shocked to know he's here today. Still, I park in a way that he can still get out when he leaves and make my way inside. Alex isn't anywhere to be seen as I head for the living room where I hear voices coming from. When I get to the doorway, I find my father sitting in his chair just in front of the windows with a girl sitting on the couch at his side. He's talking to her about something and I know exactly what's going on here today. This shit isn't fucking happening. We've finally gotten the door pried open with my Beauty and no one is worth her slamming that shit closed once again.

Like Kash's house, this one is just as cold and empty. There's expensive shit all over the place and we've never been allowed to play inside because when our parents are actually here, they don't want us to break anything in our exuberance. Alex and I spend most of our time outside and away from this place as we can. Every single room in the mansion is filled with dark wood and even darker accents. The only rooms here that have any color are the bedrooms Alex and I have here. We've got posters on the walls, our walls are painted in bright colors, and the bedding covering our beds are also bright. Those are the rooms we've made our own and when we can't go outside, that's where we spend our time. My baby brother and I don't want to live in a cold, sterile environment so we went all out for our bedrooms and are constantly changing them to suit our needs and wants as we grow older. Soon, I hope to never step foot in this mansion again and I can leave it all behind to live somewhere warm and filled with love.

"Braxtyn, I was getting ready to call you and have you stop over. It's good to see you here, son," my father says as he finally notices me standing in the doorway of the room.

The girl looks over to face me and if I were in any other situation, I'd say she's a beautiful girl. She's got long golden blonde hair with large, bright blue eyes that seem to sparkle even in the dim light of the living room. She's wearing a dress that goes past her knees as she sits down and doesn't expose a single inch of flesh that shouldn't be shown when she's wearing clothing. It's honestly refreshing after being surrounded by girls who dress in clothes that barely cover their bodies at all. Her hair is pulled back in a ponytail and it exposes her long, delicate neck. Yeah, if things weren't finally starting to change with Arabella, I would more than likely be all over this girl. However, that's not gonna happen and my father will learn this today.

"I just got out of practice and came here," I state, keeping all emotion from my voice because that's what's expected of me when I'm in the same room as my father.

If there's one thing he doesn't allow, it's any emotion to be seen. We're all expected to be nothing more than robots here to do his bidding and make sure the family name is one of respect and not full of chaos and scandal. It's horrible and I know that it's not how I want to live my life at all. That's why my body is full of colorful tattoos and I'm always the one joking around with everyone. I want to feel things, experience life, and know that at the end of the day, I brightened someone's day simply because we're humans and not fucking emotionless robots.

"I see. How are football and your classes going?" he questions me, completely ignoring the girl sitting quietly on the couch in the same room as us. It's rude as fuck and I know she feels the same way as a scowl appears on her face.

"Everythin' is good. Why did you want me here tonight, Father?" I ask, wanting to get the attention off of me and to the real reason we're here right now.

Patience when it comes to my father has never been a strong suit for me. He likes to draw things out and take his time instead of just giving the information the second he sees you. I don't believe for one second that he's ever going to change, but I'm over his fucking games and the way he treats everyone around him. Especially when it comes to my brother. I've lived with this shit my entire life and I can technically leave the house at any time and never come back again if that's what I choose to do. However, I'll never leave Alex behind and make him feel as if I don't want anything to do with him or care about him at all. Everything I do is for Alex and I hope he sees that when he thinks of me and the time we spend together.

"Well, I've entered into a contract with Sandra's father. You two will be wed within the next year. She's an acceptable choice to gain your seat at the table and eventually take over for me. I've still got plenty that I want to accomplish at the table and there are things we're still putting in motion to move forward. That gives the two of you time to get to know one another and be ready for the wedding to take place," my father finally states as he looks between the two of us with an evil smile on his face.

"No offense intended, but I won't be marryin' this girl. I don't want to get to know her and I'm not about to waste my time with someone you've decided I'll marry because of The Faction. That rule is outdated and needs to be changed. We should be able to choose our own life partner without the input or meddlin' of our parents," I growl out, anger filling me with the notion that my father is finally putting a marriage contract in place for me.

I can tell this time is different simply based on the look covering his face. My father is going to make sure this wedding happens one way or another. He turns a glare on me for talking back to him in front of someone else. I know he won't say anything to me and make a scene right now because he doesn't want to have a witness for the way he typically talks to me. That wouldn't be a good look in his eyes and I know he won't lay a hand on me in anger. My father might be a lot of things, but he's not physically abusive like Kash's father. No, with my father, it's all about the mind games and never knowing what he's going to do next.

"I'm going to leave the two of you alone now. Spend this time having a conversation with Sandra and start getting to know her. The wedding will take place and that's the last time I'm going to say anything about it," my father states, pushing himself out of his chair and leaving the living room.

It's only a minute before I hear the front door close and know he's leaving the house once again. Sandra and I are left here alone to get to know one another. I'm sure the staff will tell him if I spend any time with her and how long before she actually leaves the house. So, I take a seat at the opposite end of the couch and turn to face Sandra.

"I couldn't agree with you more," Sandra says with a smirk on her face before I can think of anything to say since I find myself in uncharted territory for the first time in my life. "Look, I didn't know this was happening until my father called me into his office and told me about the contract. I had no choice in the matter at all and there's nothing I want less than to marry someone I know nothing about. The only good thing is that I don't have to change schools. I've heard the other fathers demand their daughters to attend the same university as you."

"Thank God! Like I said, it's nothin' against you. My best friends and I have been workin' on somethin' our fathers don't know about for a very long time now. Things are finally startin' to change and that's all I'm focused on. I don't want to mess anythin' up by acceptin' some marriage contract with someone else," I tell her honestly, completely at ease with her knowing she doesn't want to marry me anymore than I want to marry her.

"She's one lucky girl," Sandra says with a soft smile on her face as she looks at me from her seat on the couch. "You should know I'm already engaged to someone and he's the one I plan on marrying regardless of what my father does or thinks about the situation. The guy I'm with is from a good family and my parents have never had a problem with him. Not until your father showed up and started talking about this marriage contract between the two of us. This isn't just some strategically arranged marriage. Your father wants something of my father's, but I don't know what it is."

"What does your father do for a livin'? If I know that, I might be able to figure out why this is happenin'," I ask her, needing to know as many details as possible about this situation.

"He runs a shipping yard. You know those big storage containers that come in and out on barges and things? He owns one of the largest ones outside of High Point. His lands border the water so it's easily accessible to load and unload the boats. It's what he's done my entire life. If your father wants to be able to ship something, that might be the reason for our sudden marriage contract," Sandra informs me as my mind swirls with all the possible things our fathers would want to be able to ship without having extra eyes on them. The list is honestly long as fuck and it makes me wonder what they're doing without everyone else knowing.

"Does your father accept bribes from people wantin' to ship things through him? You know, to turn the other way and make sure everythin' goes through to look legit even if it's not?" I enquire, needing to know if that's a possibility.

"I'm not sure. I haven't heard about him doing that with anyone. But, I can't say that it's not something he doesn't do either. When it comes to my father's business, he keeps me completely separated. I only know what he does because my mom showed me the yard before. We're not allowed to go there or anywhere close to the area. I know my dad takes meetings at really weird times depending on who he's working with or helping. That might mean he doesn't always work with the most honest of people," Sandra states, her voice full of whatever she's thinking about right now as I ask her questions about her father's business.

"Can you give me the name of the business? I have a friend who is amazin' on a computer and he can dig up information we need to make sure this weddin' doesn't happen," I return, knowing this is just one more thing I'll be adding to Kash's already overflowing plate.

He's got enough to deal with as he tries to handle things with his father, avoid Marianna, and get things locked down to marry Arabella. For the first time in a very long time one of my best friends is happy and he's spending less time in his room all alone with the bottles of alcohol he keeps stashed in there. Kash doesn't believe we know about his drinking or the bottles he hides from us. We all know about it though. Kash has been spiraling out of control for a very long time and now that he's about to marry Arabella, his Song Bird, he's got a purpose in life and he's changing his ways for her. I have a feeling we're all about to change our ways for Arabella because she deserves nothing less than all of us at our very best.

Sandra pulls her purse into her lap and rifles through it before pulling out a business card. She hands it over and I take a look at it. I've heard of this place before and know exactly where it is. I don't know a single thing about her father though. He's a new player and we'll have to start a file on him.

"Thank you, Sandra. I really appreciate this. I'm sorry you were dragged into this mess," I tell her honestly as I slide the card into the pocket of my sweatpants that I put on before leaving the locker room in the field house after practice.

"It's not your fault. You're nothing more than a pawn the same as me. But, I have a plan in place to get out of this no matter what you discover when your friend digs into my father," she says with a real smile on her face now that we both truly understand that we're both on the same page when it comes to this.

"Do you mind me askin' what you plan to do?" I question her, not wanting to see her hurt for any reason even though we've just met.

"Not at all. I've already told my fiancé, Gregor, what my father has done. He's pissed as hell about it as you can imagine. We've been together for three years now and were only waiting to get married until we both graduated at the end of the year. Gregor and I have been taking extra classes just to graduate early. Instead of waiting now, we're going to elope. It upsets me because I want my family there with me on my wedding day, but my father won't accept my marriage to him now. So, I'm going to take the choice away from him. Gregor wants to do this as much as I do," she tells me with a soft smile on her face as she talks about her fiancé. It's nice to see a girl so loyal and in love with her man instead of fucking around and looking for the next bigger fish to keep her in a life where she has to do nothing she doesn't want to.

"If you need any help at all, let me know. I'll make sure you get what you want, Sandra. Thank you for not makin' this hard at all. There's three girls my friends have been entered into contracts with and they're so fuckin' vile. None of us want anythin' to do with them. All they do is lie, fuck all the guys they can, and keep every female away from us by beating them and talking shit. It's so fuckin' exhaustin' havin' to deal with that shit on a daily basis. You're the first person my father has brought around in a very long time and this is workin' out better than expected," I tell her, not sure if she'd accept the help from me since we just met, but I mean the words all the same.

Sandra and I spend a few more minutes talking before I lead her to the front door so she can head home and get the hell away from here. After watching her leave the driveway, I turn to go in search of my brother. He's not here it seems after I ask Mrs. Wells. She's been a maid here for as long as I can remember and is always helping Alex and myself out no matter what's going on with us. She's taken care of us more than either one of our parents. I talk to her for a few minutes to catch up on her life before finally leaving the mansion and heading back to campus. I'm ready to talk to the guys and figure out what's going on with Sandra's father so we can put more plans in place to take down the assholes who need to be taken down.

***

By the time I get back to campus after stopping to grab something to eat, everyone is home and waiting for me. They knew today I was going to see my brother. All of them go with me every now and then because they enjoy spending time with Alex. He looks up to all of us and they're not going to make him feel left out because they don't want to be at the mansion. Today I needed it to just be some one-on-one time with my brother so they all stayed home.

Walking in, I pull the card from my pocket and hand it over to Kash. He just looks down at it for a minute before looking up at me again.

"So, I got to the mansion to find my fuckin' father there. He's entered me into a marriage contract with a girl named Sandra. Her father is the one who owns that shippin' yard. I don't know what's goin' on, but it's definitely somethin'," I inform them as they all look at me with their mouths hanging open.

"You're supposed to marry this girl now? Did you meet her tonight? When does she start goin' to school here and becomin' just as fuckin' bad as the rest of the skanks?" Dante questions me, his voice hard and cold as I start laughing because that's the best part of this entire situation.

"She's not gonna start goin' to school here at all. I did meet her tonight and once my father left us alone to get to know one another, we learned we were on the same page about everythin'. She doesn't want to marry me anymore than I want to marry her. She's already engaged to another man and plans to elope with him so her father can't do anythin' to stop it from happenin'. They've been together for three years and her parents didn't have a problem with him until my father interfered and signed this fuckin' contract between her father and him on our behalf," I tell them, my voice full of laughter as they all take a minute to process my words and see how funny this situation truly is.

"You're shittin' me?" Fallon says, leaning back in the recliner he usually sits in when he's home and not locked away in his room.

"Not at all. We had a long talk about the situation and I asked her flat out what she was plannin' on doin'. Also told her to get in touch with me if she needs any kind of help. I can't wait to see the look on my father's face when he realizes he's lost. We need to get movin' forward with bringin' those fuckers down and Kash marryin' Arabella sooner rather than later so all this shit stops," I answer Fallon as Kash stands from the couch where he was sitting and heads for his room without a word to anyone.

It"s not unusual for Kash to simply walk out on us when he's got a new project to start. Sometimes it's all he can think about and he remains quiet and withdrawn until he finds every piece of information there is to find about something. After telling the guys goodnight, I head for my room where I strip down to my boxers and climb into bed. I've got homework to do and a paper to write, but exhaustion outweighs it all. After practice and all the bullshit going on, I just want to sleep. It doesn't take sleep long to claim me as dreams of Arabella fill me. I'm sure a smile is on my face as I don't toss and turn and sleep peacefully for the first time in a long time despite not seeing my brother today.