Chapter 21
Soon, Eddie had shoveled nearly all the food on the floor into Vivian’s stomach.
Raven, gripping Zack’s arm after helping him up, rubbed his soft little hand. It was still raw and almost bloody from earlier.
She cast a cool glance at Vivian.
“Break the hand you just used to smash that plate,” she said, her tone flat, like she was asking her to slice a lamb chop.
Vivian’s eyes shrank to pinpricks.
She couldn’t believe it—a small–town nobody with a Mid–Class Warrior watching her back? And she was this cold–blooded too?
“I messed up, okay? I know I screwed up! Whatever you want, I’ll give it to you–just let me go, please!” she begged, her voice shaking.
“If I get someone else to do it, it won’t just be one hand,” Raven shot back, ice in her words.
Vivian’s panic hit full throttle.
“Ten million bucks!” she blurted. “I’ll give you ten million to let me off!”
“Three!” Raven started counting down.
“Two!” Her voice didn’t waver.
Raven didn’t even get to “one.”
Vivian’s eyes flew wide, and she screeched, “You bitch, don’t push me too far!”
The second her words hit the air-
“Crack!” The sound of snapping bone rang out.
“Crack!” Another followed right after.
The twin snaps echoed sharp and clear.
“Ahh!” Pain ripped a shrill scream from Vivian’s throat.
Raven barely spared her a glance. “You should be glad we’re not on some overseas battlefield. Or, I wouldn’t stop at just your hands.”
Then she turned to Brynjar. “Take her out of here. Don’t let my mom or brother see this.”
“Yes, boss!” Brynjar replied quick and firm.
A few seconds later, Vivian was gone from the hospital room.
After that, Raven got Hugmuinn on the line and had the manager from Century Globe Hotel bring over some real food.
Zack dug into the best meal of his life, a satisfied grin spreading across his face.
When they were done eating, Raven fished a gold bank card out of her pocket.
“Mom, take this. If you need anything, just hit up the bank,” she said gently.
“No, you keep it! I don’t need it,” Ruth brushed her off,
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Chapter 21
Raven coaxed patiently, “Zach’s growing like a weed. Even if you won’t think of yourself, think of him. Don’t worry–it’s not a ton of cash.”
Ruth hesitated when she heard Zack’s name, then finally took the card.
Just like that, it was 4:30 p.m.
Raven told two Valhalla guys next to Brynjar to stick with Ruth and Zack, then headed out with Brynjar and Eddie to meet Jax at Cloudridge.
By now, Eddie had the gist of things, and his brow creased tight.
Thinking about how Dane nearly bled Zack dry, he itched to take that monster out himself. Anger simmered in his chest.
But what Eddie didn’t expect was pulling up to the base of Cloudridge and spotting Vivian–both hands wrapped up like swollen pig trotters.
His forehead knotted as he stared at her, puzzled.
“What are you doing here?” he asked, voice low and gruff.
Vivian let out a laugh.
It was a creepy one, though. She fixed Eddie with a frigid stare.
“Why am I here? I came to Bastion for that little tramp!” she spat through gritted teeth.
Eddie froze for a second. “What’d you say?”
“You don’t know, do you? That witch–she’s the one who killed my grandpa five years ago!” Viviansaid, her voice burned with rage.
“Grandpa took a shine to her back then. It was an honor for her whole family. But she thought he was too old and offed him the night he tried to sleep with her!” she went on, venom dripping.
She snarled, teeth clenched, “My plan was just to drag that tramp back to prison, let her rot there for life.”
“But since she’s too dumb to take a hint, don’t blame me for getting nasty,” she hissed, hate thick in her tone.
Eddie’s breath caught hard at her words.
He hadn’t talked to Ruth in almost twenty years, so Raven’s past five years were a blank to him.
Hearing Vivian now, his heart jumped, thoughts racing.
If Gerald really died because of Raven, the Jennings family’s lieutenant general wouldn’t let her off easy.
This was getting messy, he thought. Real messy,
Eddie chewed over how he might back Raven up, wondering what it’d take to get the Jennings family to ease off her.
Next to him, Raven’s eyes flashed cold as she zeroed in on Vivian.
Her gaze right then was pure ice—like she was staring down a dead body, sharp and unnerving.
But before Eddie could sort out his next move-
A thick crowd of figures popped up in the distance, closing in fast.
As they got closer, a heavy, brutal energy poured off them, so strong it felt like it could choke you.
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Chapter 21
When Eddie picked up the vibe from the three leading the pack, his eyes went wide.
“Three Mid–Class Warriors?!” he mumbled, floored.
He clocked the enemy’s setup in a flash, his voice shaking just a bit. “No! Not just three Mids–there’s ten Base–Class Warriors too, and almost two hundred regular guys…”
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