The Valkyrie Returns and Slays (Raven)

Chapter 24

Chapter 24

The instant Jax's dropped phone started ringing, he and Dane both froze, holding their breath.

A split second later, they whipped their heads toward Raven, eyes wide with pure shock and fear.

Raven gave a small smile and flicked her hand in a laid-back "go ahead" motion.

That little gesture dialed the tension in their chests up to max.

Jax hesitated for two shaky breaths before bending down, grabbing the phone, and hitting accept.

"Yeah?" he mumbled, keeping his voice low.

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"Sir, we're done! A dozen guys just hit Cloudshade Crew HQ-bodies are dropping fast, and the crew's about to break!" The voice on the line came quick and panicked.

The words slammed into Jax, and he staggered back a step, thrown off.

But maybe because he'd steeled himself before answering, he pulled it together fast.

“Just a dozen?” he asked, leveling his tone.

"Yeah! All Warriors, every single one-we can't keep up!" the guy fired back, sounding desperate.

"How long can you hold?" Jax pushed, his voice turning grim.

The answer came shaky and rough.

"We can't-can't hold... ahh!" he yelled.

A scream ripped through before he could finish.

"Thud!" The sound of a body hitting the ground came next.

The call didn't cut off, though.

A moment later, a clean, sharp voice-cool and almost cheerful-slid into Jax's ear.

"Tell Raven Valor for me-mission complete. Cloudshade Crew's finished!" the guy said viciously.

Then he hung up, leaving a sharp beeping sound behind.

That hit Jax like a brick to the head.

Jax's mind went blank in an instant.

It was over. For real this time.

Everything he'd sunk half his life into-gone in minutes!

With Cloudshade Crew wiped out, the Grayson family's biggest edge in Bastion was ash.

The high-and-mighty Grayson family might collapse in no time. Dane stared off, dazed.

While Jax stood there on the brink of losing it, Dane looked like he'd checked out too.

He'd been close enough to hear every word from the call.

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16. 16.

Mon,

Chapter 24

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lifted his

he wasn't looking at a person-he was

some girl straight out

later, he turned to Jax, his voice rougher than

"if she doesn't go down, the Grayson family's done

Raven, brimming with

said, voice ice-cold. "You knew I'd drag almost every Cloudshade Crew big shot here

I'll prove it-brains don't mean a damn

to

force-wipe out everyone of them!" he

sir!" Two Mid-Class Warriors, ten Base-Class Warriors, and over

guys yelled

the loud roar, her

didn't hesitate,

Grayson, I'm Vivian from Regalhold's Jennings

eyes tightened. "Jennings

yes! I'm the granddaughter of the family head. I bet you've heard our name. My uncle's Lieutenant General Drake

and a spark

her off the

here to help her?"

no chance!

my hands-I'd take her out myself if I could. Help

ever!"

touch you," Jax said, his

a

back at

Jax's crew would just kill

lose her chance to get even personally-and all the

glanced at the mob of toughs behind Jax, paused for a split second, then clenched

Eddie, grandson of Franklin Valor from Regalhold, next in line to take over

sake."

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16:18 Mon, 14 Apr

Chapter 24

Jax's brow furrowed.

family. If his Cloudshade Crew and Grayson Group were still standing, he wouldn't

muscle to go head-to-head with a big name like the

in Jax's face and couldn't help feeling like

still got his dad

worried about him kicking up a fuss you don't need," she pressed on,

and could put you back on top in Bastion-maybe even

hadn't heard what came through Jax's phone, but she'd

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bit rattled that Raven could pull off something this

down a little group and a weak

plan?" Jax asked,

eyes drilled into

the perfect age to get married," she said, lowering her tone. "I had my sights on Eddie at first, but he's

smile. "You, though-looks, style-you're way

you marry me," she said, firming up, "you'd have a military lieutenant general backing you. That's twenty years

breath caught at

Vivian would throw her whole future on the

back at him.

a glance at Jax-not because he cared much about

want this turning into

don't mean the Jennings family's on board. You don't match their standards for a son-in-law.

before you bite!" he warned,

even

young, good-looking face for a few seconds, then gave

nod.

"once we're done here,