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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he lifted his head to

he wasn't looking at a person-he was facing

figure out how some girl straight out of

to Jax, his voice

she doesn't go down, the Grayson family's

eyes locked onto Raven, brimming

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

it-brains don't mean a damn thing against

he turned to the

out everyone of them!"

Mid-Class Warriors, ten Base-Class Warriors,

yelled back in

jolted at the loud roar, her whole

hesitate,

fear, "Mr. Grayson, I'm Vivian from Regalhold's Jennings family-

eyes tightened. "Jennings family

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

general" landed, and a spark of curiosity

her off the hook yet, still looking

not here to

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

her out myself if I could. Help her?

ever!"

They won't touch

a big

glanced at Raven, then back at Jax,

Jax's crew would

to get even personally-and all the payback

toughs behind Jax, paused for a split

Franklin Valor from Regalhold, next in line

sake."

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16:18 Mon, 14 Apr

Chapter 24

Jax's brow furrowed.

Grayson Group

now? He didn't have the muscle to go head-to-head with a big name like the Valors

Jax's face and couldn't

smoothly, "he's still got his dad in the way-Franklin's spot

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

saves any trouble from the Valor family and could

she'd pieced together enough from his and

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was a bit rattled that Raven could pull off something this huge,

small-time nowhere. Taking down a little group and a weak crew

plan?" Jax asked, his voice edged

eyes

to get married," she said, lowering her tone. "I had my sights on Eddie at

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

"you'd have a military lieutenant general backing you. That's twenty years of climbing handed to you, no

breath caught at her

her whole future on the table

back at him.

flicked a glance at Jax-not because he cared

want this turning into a total

family's on board. You don't match their standards for a son-in-law. One bad step,

it through before you bite!" he warned, his

Jax didn't even

face for a few seconds,

nod.

"once we're done here, I'll think