The Valkyrie Returns and Slays (Raven)

Chapter 23

Chapter 23

The crew behind Jax stared at the phone on the ground, swapping confused glances.

They couldn't figure out what kind of call could shake Jax enough to make him drop it like that. The guy always kept it together.

Next to him, Dane sat in his wheelchair, watching Jax's stiff posture. A sick feeling churned in his stomach.

"Jax, what's up?" he asked, his brow wrinkling.

Jax didn't say a word, just stood there quiet.

Then he slowly turned his head toward Raven, his glare cold and piercing.

"You behind this?" he asked, voice low.

Raven looked back with a small smile.

"Told you," she said easy, "I'd show you what regret feels like."

Jax's fists tightened, knuckles cracking from the pressure.

Dane caught their back-and-forth, and panic hit him hard.

"Jax, what's going on?" he pushed, his voice jumping with worry. Jax took a deep breath, his words coming out rough and gravelly. "The Group-it's finished," he said, heavy and slow.

Dane's eyes widened. He was dumbfounded.

He scrambled for his phone, pulling it out of his pocket in a clumsy rush.

It'd been on silent before they got here he hadn't even noticed till now.

When he got it out, the screen lit up with a call coming in.

He sucked in a shaky breath, his trembling finger tapping accept

it's over! The Group's done!" the voice on the

He jumped in

"What happened?" he snapped.

could the

the files. You know a ton of that stuff can't hit the light. The cops are already moving in, and we can't handle heat

went wide, shock all over his

locked tight. The Group had killer programmers-They were supposed to keep

it was some world-class hacker," the voice added, sounding helpless. "Our firewall was like paper

sucked in a breath

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16:17 Mon, 14 Apr

Chapter 23

we fix it?" he

dragged on before

a done deal. Maybe... you could hit up Mr. Jax Grayson to bankroll a new

"Smash!"

the phone down in a

the ground, breaking apart. It didn't touch the anger burning in his chest, though-his

in minutes. Hopelessness ate

he couldn't stomach a hit like this. His fists clenched hard. Then he swung his head toward Raven, eyes flaming with hate, locked on her. "Jax, kill her! Do it!" he bellowed, teeth

a tiny nod, barely noticeable, then set his eyes on Raven

you fast," he said

big-shot CEO line and shook her head, half-smirking, half-

back then-and she'd still snapped his

tired of wasting words on Jax

patience," she said, her voice cool. "Give me

I'll take a little more from

burned darker, his whole vibe turning

Raven,

what you've got,"

Grayson family would feel