Chapter 49 FORTY-NINE
Jasper watched as the rogues gathered in the empty lot he now used as a hideout. The old house on the property had once belonged to one of his victims, and luckily for him, the police hadn’t discovered it yet.
Inside the house, three women sat crying, begging him to let them go. Their pleas only made Jasper grin wider. He loved seeing women afraid of him and powerless under him.
“This is how I like it,” he said to himself, his tone cold and cruel. His grin faded as he thought of Raven. That bstard had ruined everything, causing him to be sent to prison and exposing his methods of manipulating his victims. Jasper clenched his fists.
"This isn’t over," he muttered. He’d make Raven pay—no matter what it took. Jasper's phone suddenly rings. Jasper nearly rolled his eyes upon seeing who it was.
"What is it, Father?" Jasper asked as he answered the call. His tone was flat, almost uninterested. He glanced at a rogue nearby and motioned toward the women still crying in the corner. "Take them to my room," he ordered, his voice sharp. The rogue nodded and quickly followed his command.
"Where are you?" Derrick's voice was stern on the other end.
"At a friend’s place," Jasper replied casually, leaning against the wall.
"Listen to me, Jasper. Don’t do anything reckless," Derrick warned. "I’ll help you get your revenge on Raven Wolfgang, but you need to follow my lead," he added.
"I’m not doing anything reckless," Jasper said, staring at his hand with a bored expression. "I’m just talking to a friend," he added dismissively.
"Come back to the packhouse. We need to plan our next move," Derrick demanded.
"Alright, Father," Jasper replied, his voice neutral. He ended the call and slipped his phone into his pocket.
Of course, he had no intention of following orders. Derrick’s way was too slow, too careful. Jasper was already making his own moves, gathering his own force. His grin widened as he thought of the chaos he was about to unleash.
Raven gently held Brienne’s hand, offering her a reassuring smile. Over the past week, he had been searching tirelessly and finally found a hospital where they could learn their baby’s gender earlier than usual. Now, they sat together in the waiting area.
"It’s okay. I’m right here," Raven said, his voice calm and steady. Brienne nodded, her fingers tightening around his for comfort. Soon, the doctor appeared and called their names.
Inside the room, the doctor performed the test with a warm and professional demeanor, making sure Brienne felt at ease throughout the process. Raven watched closely, his protective instincts heightening as he observed every detail.
"When will we get the results, Doctor?" Raven asked, his tone polite but eager.
"In about a week, sir. I’ll send you a message as soon as they’re ready," the doctor replied with a smile.
After thanking her, Raven and Brienne left the room. Walking back to their car, Raven squeezed her hand gently.
"See? That wasn’t so bad," he said, trying to ease her nerves. Brienne nodded, a small smile forming on her lips.
"Thank you," Brienne said softly.
"Where do you want to go now?" Raven asked, giving her hand a gentle squeeze.
"I just want to go back to the hotel. I’m not feeling well," she replied, pouting slightly. Even though she wanted to eat, the dizziness was overwhelming, and all she could think about was lying down and resting.
"Alright, darling. We’ll order food to be delivered," Raven said, his voice filled with concern. They got into the car, and as Raven started driving, his phone rang. Slowing down, he glanced at the screen and raised a brow when he saw his father’s name.
"Hello, Dad?" Raven answered, sparing a quick glance at Brienne.
"Hello, son. It’s your mom," Cecil's voice came through.
"Mom? What’s going on?" Raven asked, a flicker of worry in his tone.
"Your sister has arrived," Cecil said bluntly. Raven sighed in frustration.
"Tell her we’re not ready to meet her right now." He glanced at Brienne and gave her a reassuring smile.
"I already did, but she insisted. She’s on her way to meet you," Cecil said, her voice heavy with exasperation.
Raven groaned as he pulled into the hotel parking lot. Just as he stopped the car, another car pulled up beside them. He recognized it immediately and felt his patience slipping.
"Hang on, Mom. I’ll call you back," Raven said hurriedly, ending the call. His sister exited her car with a confident stride.
"Get out of the car, little bro," she teased with a smirk. Raven cursed under his breath, running a hand through his hair. He turned to Brienne, whose face showed confusion.
"Darling, I’m so sorry about this. That’s my sister. I’ll talk to her and ask her to leave," Raven said, his voice apologetic. Brienne gave him a small smile and shook her head.
"It’s alright. I’ll meet her," she said gently, her tone reassuring. Raven stared at her for a moment. Taking her hand, he helped her out of the car.
"Ravena, sister," Raven said, his voice firm. "What are you doing here?" he added. Ravena rolled her eyes, brushing past him with ease.
"Hi there, little sister," Ravena said warmly as she stepped toward Brienne. Without waiting for an invitation, she embraced her gently. "It’s so nice to finally meet you. I’m Ravena, this idiot’s sister," she added with a teasing tone.
"Who are you calling an idiot—" Raven began but was quickly cut off.
"I wasn’t talking to you, Raven," Ravena snapped, shooting him a sharp glare that made him swallow his words.
"H-Hello," Brienne stammered, caught off guard by the sudden attention. Ravena stepped back, flashing a bright smile that softened her features.
"I’m sorry if I startled you, hun. Are you alright?" she asked, her tone now kind and understanding. Brienne nodded, still unsure how to respond.
"I brought a few things for you—essentials for a first-time mom. They’re in the car. Let’s head inside, shall we?" Ravena said cheerfully. She tossed her car keys to Raven without missing a beat.
"Little brother," she said with authority. "Take care of the things I brought for your wife. And don’t forget to lock my car. We’ll go inside first," he added. Before Raven could protest, she linked her arm with Brienne's and led her toward the hotel entrance.
Brienne glanced back at Raven, offering an apologetic smile. He sighed, catching the keys midair.
"She hasn’t changed one bit," he muttered to himself. Begrudgingly, he went to retrieve the bags.
They entered the room where Raven and Brienne were staying. Ravena immediately sat on the couch, gesturing for Brienne to join her.
"Brienne, right?" Ravena said with a warm smile, taking her hand gently. "I’m sorry for my idiot brother. And thank you." Her voice softened as she spoke.
"I’ve heard a bit about what happened, and I just want to say how much I appreciate you. Thank you for accepting him, flaws and all, and for keeping our secret," Ravena said. Brienne bowed her head slightly, her cheeks flushing.
"It’s alright. I understand him. I—I also kept my pregnancy from him for a while," she admitted, her voice trembling slightly.
"Hun, don’t worry about that," Ravena said reassuringly, giving her hand a light squeeze. "How are you feeling? Are you free right now? I have so much I want to share with you," she added.
"Y-Yes, I’m free, Ravena," Brienne replied shyly.
"Just call me Sister," Ravena said with a playful smile. "Are you hungry? Let’s order something to eat. I don’t want you or my future niece or nephew going hungry!" she added.
"Okay, Sister," Brienne said, her voice steadier this time.
As they continued talking, Brienne felt her nervousness fade. Like Raven’s mother, Ravena had a warmth that made her feel at ease. Though Ravena came off as a little bold at first, Brienne realized she had a kind and caring heart—the kind of sister she knew she could trust and lean on.