Chapter 14
Jonah stood there, quiet, watching the madness unfold right in front of him.
He’d tried to fade into the background, but somehow, they still yanked him into the mess.
This whole thing was giving him a pounding headache.
He had no idea how to take control of it.
They’d pissed Raven off, and Jonah knew he didn’t have the clout to call the shots.
Around Raven, he barely dared to breathe, let alone open his mouth.
Margaret, clueless about the storm churning in Jonah’s head, kept pushing.
She took his silence as him weighing Raven’s fate.
“General Yardley,” she said, voice firm, “forget I’m her grandma for a minute–breaking someone’s legs in broad daylight? That’s straight–up jail time, no question.”
She barreled on, “She’s got zero respect for me, but I’m not gonna sink to her level and ditch family.”
Her tone eased up a bit. “No need for the death penalty–just lock her up, toss the key, that’s plenty.”
Jonah stayed mute, still locked in place.
He was silently begging for a way out of this.
Handing Lieutenant General Valor a life sentence? Yeah, right–pure fantasy.
If he even tried that, the only one staring down a firing squad would be him.
The Hendersons didn’t notice how Jonah’s face went rigid.
They frowned at Margaret’s words, clearly not buying it.
“Margaret, come on,” one of them muttered, “you’re going easy! A creep like her gets life, she’ll sweet–talk her way to parole and come back to wreck us all over again.”
Another chimed in, nodding fast. “Yeah, Margaret, she doesn’t even see you as her grandma–quit acting like she’s your kid. Death penalty’s the only fix.”
Someone else cut in, done with the back–and–forth. “Margaret, stop yakking–just tell General Yardley to green–light the death penalty already!”
Margaret’s lips curled into a smug little grin, the family’s support pumping her up.
Even the ache in her smashed–up knees seemed to lighten.
She straightened up, eyeing Jonah. “Sir, I’m not heartless, but this girl’s gone rotten. The whole Henderson family agrees- death penalty’s not overkill.”
Jonah’s heart nearly broke his ribs at how casually Margaret tossed out a death sentence for Raven.
He could let Margaret dig her own hole all she wanted–just not drag himself into it.
Just as Jonah was about to buckle under the heat from Margaret and the Hendersons, Raven turned her head slow, a small
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Chapter 14
smirk playing on her lips
“Jonah, she said, smooth and relaxed, “you catching at thi
-The Henderson bunch blinked, thrown by her question
They couldn’t piece it together.
Raven’s vibe—chill as ever with death row hanging over her–had them stumped.
They figured she knew the end was near and had quit bothering to fight.
Margaret’s face twisted with fury. “You little brat! You don’t get to throw General Yardley’s name around like that!”
She pointed hard at Jonah. “Sir, tell your guys to grab her–execute her right here, right now. The Hendersons won’t bat an eye!*
Jonah didn’t even flick a glance at Margaret.
He stood tall, putting on his toughest game face.
He stood tall, putting on his toughest game face. He snapped at the guards the Hendersons had brought, “Take her down!”
Margaret and the family let out a group sigh, the tension melting as Jonah finally piped up.
Their eyes swung to Raven–some with pity, some smirking,
Poor Raven, they thought–five years locked up, free for a single day, and now her loud mouth was shipping her back.
Not for five years this time, but for good.
They didn’t pin it on anyone else.
Raven was just too clueless, they reckoned.
She didn’t know how to play it smart.
She’d crossed the Hendersons–a line no one could ever step over.
Ruth’s voice broke in, wobbly and frantic. “No, please–we’ll leave, we’ll head out right now, just don’t hurt Raven…”
Ruth’s eyes went wide at Jonah’s command. She lurched forward, pushing Raven behind her.
But years of barely getting by with the Hendersons had worn her down–half–starved and frail.
As she tried to cover Raven, a wave of dizziness slammed her, her head swimming.
Raven’s hand darted out, catching Ruth’s arm just before she hit the ground.
She guided Ruth toward the car, voice quiet but solid.
“I’ve got it, Mom. Take a breather,” she said.
Raven shut the car door with a soft click.
Loretta slid up to Jonah, plastering on a slimy grin.
Then she started, “General Yardley, don’t let that little troublemaker mess up your day–why don’t you come inside… Ugh!”
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Chapter 15
