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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his head

at a person-he was

now, he couldn't figure out how some girl straight out

turned to Jax, his

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

eyes locked onto Raven, brimming with killing

ice-cold. "You knew I'd drag almost every Cloudshade

now, I'll prove it-brains don't mean a damn thing against

that, he turned to the

out everyone of them!" he

ten Base-Class Warriors, and over

guys yelled back

jolted at the loud roar, her whole

hesitate,

I'm Vivian from Regalhold's Jennings

"Jennings family from

head was on a spring. "Yes, yes, yes! I'm the granddaughter of the family head.

a spark of

off the hook yet,

to help her?"

her head like crazy. "No, no chance! She got my grandpa killed,

take her out myself if

ever!"

back. They won't touch you," Jax said, his

a

at Raven, then back at Jax,

worried Jax's crew would just kill

happened, she'd lose her chance to get

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

from Regalhold, next in line to take over the family. I'm asking you to let Raven off,

sake."

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16:18 Mon, 14 Apr

Chapter 24

Jax's brow furrowed.

Crew and Grayson Group

to go head-to-head with a big name

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

his dad in the way-Franklin's spot isn't

fuss you don't need," she pressed on, "I've got an

from the Valor family and could put you back on top in Bastion-maybe

but she'd pieced together enough from his and Dane's

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bit rattled that Raven could pull off

a little group and a weak

Jax asked, his voice edged with

sharp eyes

married," she said, lowering her tone. "I had my sights on Eddie at first, but he's let me down big

a quick smile. "You, though-looks, style-you're way more my

said, firming up, "you'd have a military lieutenant

caught at

believe Vivian would throw her whole future on the table just to

back at him.

flicked a glance at Jax-not because he cared much

this turning into a total

don't mean the Jennings family's on board. You don't match

through before you bite!" he warned,

even

face for a few seconds,

nod.

a smug grin, "once we're