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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Chapter 24

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his head to

then, he wasn't looking at a person-he was facing a straight-up

figure out how some girl straight out of

turned to

down, the Grayson family's done for good!" Jax snapped out of it

locked onto Raven, brimming with

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

it-brains don't mean

he turned to the crew

force-wipe out everyone of

ten

guys yelled back in

loud roar, her whole

hesitate, leaping

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

"Jennings

nodded fast, like her head was on a spring. "Yes, yes, yes! I'm the granddaughter of the family head. I bet you've heard our

"lieutenant general" landed, and a spark of

didn't let her off the hook

to help her?"

"No, no chance! She got my grandpa killed,

take her out myself if I could. Help her?

ever!"

step back. They won't touch you," Jax

a big breath,

then back at Jax, clearly torn about something

crew would just kill Raven

lose her chance to get even personally-and all the payback she'd

a thing, Eddie glanced at the mob of toughs behind Jax,

in line to

sake."

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Chapter 24

Jax's brow furrowed.

his Cloudshade Crew and Grayson Group were still standing,

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

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

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

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

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

hadn't heard what came through Jax's phone, but she'd pieced together enough from his and

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a bit rattled that Raven could pull off something

a little group and a weak crew here? No big

your plan?" Jax asked,

dark, sharp eyes drilled into

"I had my sights on Eddie at first, but he's let me

a quick smile. "You,

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

caught at

would throw her whole future on the

back at him.

Jax-not because

turning

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

you bite!" he

Jax didn't even

for a few seconds,

nod.

said with a smug grin, "once we're