Chapter 38
A couple more loud snaps echoed as fingers broke all at once.
“Crack! Crack!”
This time, Tyler didn’t even manage a scream–he blacked out from the pain.
“Mom, what do you want to do with them?” Raven asked, her tone as steady as ever.
Ruth blinked out of her haze.
She turned to Raven fast, her forehead creasing.
“Raven,” she said worriedly, “they said that bank card you gave me has a hundred million dollars. That true?”
“Yeah,” Raven said with a casual shrug. “Just take it for now. When it runs out, tell me–I’ll grab you another.”
Ruth didn’t perk up at that. Instead, her face tightened with worry.
She asked, “Raven, where’d you get money like that?”
Raven gave a small, easy smile. “It’s legit, Mom. Spend it, no worries–nobody’s coming after us.”
“But how’d you pull in that much?” Ruth pushed, still frowning. “Is it risky?”
Raven’s eyes flashed with a hint of surprise.
She’d thought Ruth was hung up on where the cash came from, not expecting her real fear was about her safety.
Her look softened, warming just a touch. “Relax. In all of Vyrdenia, almost nobody can lay a finger on me.”
Ryan overheard Raven’s big talk, and his stomach did a flip.
He knew she’d walked out of prison with some serious chops, but this? That kind of confidence was wild.
Still, after what he’d seen of her in Bastion Prison, he believed her.
His respect for her notched up, and it showed in his eyes.
Right then, Raven turned her gaze his way.
“These three just tried to kill me,” she said, her voice cold as ice. “I’m leaving the cleanup to you. Don’t mess it up.”
Ryan nodded quick, almost dipping into a bow.
“Yes, ma’am! Tyler broke the law he’s supposed to enforce—I’ll hit him hard,” he paused, and went on, “The other two? They’re in on it, plotting murder for a payday. At the very least, they’re all facing life in a cell.”
Raven gave a short nod, not bothering to glance at the trio again, and guided Ruth out of the holding room.
After that, she took Ruth to the hospital, telling Brynjar to stick around and watch her.
Just as she was about to head back toward the Fuller family, she got word: they were throwing a banquet at the Century Globe Hotel.
A bit later, she pulled up to the hotel’s front doors..
She’d barely stepped forward when a good–looking girl walking in stopped dead in her tracks.
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Chapter 38
“Raven?!” the girl yelped, eyes wide.
Raven raised an eyebrow. “Hailey?”
She remembered–back in junior high, the old Raven was a shy doormat, not exactly winning popularity contests.
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This Hailey Dale? The original Raven had saved her once, totally by chance, and she’d looked up to her like a hero ever since. Pretty much her only real friend.
Hailey hurried over at Raven’s voice, concern all over her face.
“Raven,” she said, touching her arms, “I waited outside Bastion Prison all day yesterday and didn’t spot you. Then I swung by the Henderson place- couldn’t even get near the gate. You alright?”
Raven saw the genuine worry in Hailey’s eyes, and her own face eased up a bit. “I’m fine.”
Hailey let out a big, relieved sigh.
She glanced at the Century Globe Hotel behind them.
Then she asked, “Heard the Fuller family rented out the whole place today. You here for their party too?”
“Yeah. You?” Raven threw back.
Hailey gave a small nod. “For people like us, school is the only way up. I got into one, but it’s nothing fancy.”
“Tonight at the party, Preston Fuller picks someone to recommend for Regalhold Common School,” she added.
“My dad pulled every string he could to get me an invite to the Fuller thing, hoping I’d have a chance,” Hailey said.
She reached into her pocket, carefully pulling out a red invitation.
“Look,” she said, holding it up. “My family dropped a hundred grand just for this–the cheapest invite they offer.“”
“Raven, what level’s yours? Can I check it out?” Hailey asked, curious.
Raven shrugged. She didn’t have one.
Hugmuinn had already put her on the guest list. She could just walk in.
Hailey throwing out that sudden invite question? Raven didn’t have one to show off.
She paused, then said quietly, “Raven, you’re not saying you don’t have an invite, are you?”
“Nope, but I can still get in,” Raven replied, totally chill.
Hailey’s face tightened, a little panic creeping in. “No chance! They’ve got people checking at the door. No invite, and the Fuller family’ll kick you out.”
“For you or me, that Regalhold Common School spot could be a game–changer,” she blurted out fast.
“I’m calling my dad right now–see if he can dig up another invite…” Hailey started reaching for her phone,
But just as she pulled it out to call her dad, a smooth, polished voice broke in.
“I’ve got an extra Fuller family banquet invite, if Miss Valor’s cool with it, it’s hers!” The tone was friendly but had a hint of respect woven in.
Hailey stopped cold, her head jerking up.
When she saw the woman walking over, her mouth fell open.
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Chapter 38
Raven glanced at the newcomer too. She was in sharp business suit, flawless makeup. The woman saw them and lifted an eyebrow.
Raven didn’t recognize her, but she was obviously not some nobody.
The woman stepped up to Raven, a touch jittery.
“Miss Valor, hey,” she greeted, “I’m Linda Foster, branch manager at Starspire Bank’s Bastion spot.”
Hailey sucked in a quick breath.
Her eyes locked on Linda, full of amazement.
Starspire Bank wasn’t just any bank–it was THE big name globally.
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And Linda? At twenty–eight, she’d landed the Bastion branch manager role, the youngest of all Starspire’s branch bosses. In Bastion, she was a heavy hitter.
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But Hailey never would’ve guessed that someone like Linda would stand there, facing Raven, and say in a voice so low it almost sounded like begging,
“Miss Valor,” she apologized, “I’m really sorry. I didn’t keep my team in check, and it caused you and your mom all that hassle.”
“I heard you needed a Fuller family invite,” Linda went on. “I had a spare–hope it comes in handy.”
With that, she pulled an invitation out of her bag and offered it to Raven with both hands. It was a slick black–and–gold one, the top–level kind.
Her fingers were shaking a bit.
Before walking over, she’d checked with Ryan and taken his heads–up seriously.
Right now, she just hoped Raven would buy her apology and let it go.
Otherwise, Dane and Jax’s endings were a sneak peek at her own future.
Hailey stared at Linda, practically bending over backward at this point, and her mind blanked out.
A big shot like Linda, saying sorry to Raven like this? Unbelievable.
And it was all because some Starspire staff gave Raven a rough time.
‘When did Starspire Bank’s customer service get THIS intense?‘ Hailey thought.
Raven reached out, taking the invite from Linda’s unsteady hands.
“It wasn’t your fault,” she said evenly. “But I’ll take the invite. You ever need something, reach out.”
Linda nodded fast, relief flooding her face.
“Thank you, thank you, Miss Valor!” she said, practically glowing with gratitude.
Hailey blinked at Linda, who looked like she’d just escaped a close call, and felt like the ground shifted under her.
Raven had walked out of Bastion Prison yesterday. And she’d turned into some untouchable hotshot in twenty–four hours? Absurd, really.
However, that was the only reason Hailey could think of, given Linda’s modest attitude.
Before Hailey could sort it out, Raven turned to her. “Let’s head in.”
With that, she started for the hotel doors/
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Chapter 38
Meanwhile, inside the banquet hall…
A girl, around twenty, stood out in a black military–style outfit that didn’t quite fit, catching looks from the group of girls around her.
“Whoa!” someone let out.
“Amber, that look is awesome!” another girl said, her voice tinged with jealousy.
Amber Jennings held back a smug smile, playing it modest.
“Awesome?” she smiled, “Nah, it’s no big deal. Though it’s got a little story behind it, I’ll admit.”
The group leaned in, their faces lit up with curiosity.
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