Page 32

CHAPTER 32

Raven

Alex thinks he’s winning.

I can see it in the way he walks into the dimly lit hall, his shoulders squared, his smirk lazy, his eyes gleaming with confidence. He’s convinced he has us cornered, that we’ve finally given in to his demands.

The arrogance is almost impressive .

I sit on one of the black leather chairs near the long table at the center of the room, legs crossed, back straight, my hands folded in my lap. Malakai stands next to me, silent and unreadable, his arms crossed over his chest and every inch of him radiating cold calculation.

And Alex?

Alex walks in like he owns the place.

“Smart move,” he says, grinning as he takes the chair across from me. “Finally seeing reason?”

I swallow hard, glancing at Malakai. His jaw is tight, his fingers twitching slightly, but he keeps up the act. We agreed before this meeting that I would be the one to break. To look uncertain. Scared. Like I’m on the verge of giving in.

I drop my gaze, my voice quieter than usual. “We don’t have a choice.”

Alex’s smirk widens. “No, you don’t.” He leans back, confidence oozing from every movement. “And honestly? I’m glad you’re finally coming around, Raven. This whole thing with Malakai? It never suited you.”

I stiffen but keep my expression controlled.

He keeps going, drumming his fingers against the table. “I knew you’d come back. You just needed to see that he’s not the guy you thought he was.” His gaze flicks to Malakai, his smile turning smug. “And you —I’ll admit, I didn’t think you’d cave in this fast. Figured you’d put up more of a fight.”

Malakai scoffs, shaking his head. “I know when I’m outplayed.”

Alex nods approvingly. “Good. Then let’s talk next steps.”

He leans forward, resting his elbows on the table. “First, you’ll help me destroy The Pantheon. You’ll hand over anything that can be used against them—records, receipts, names. Then, we release my evidence, take them down for good. Malakai ,” he grins, “you’ll publicly take the fall. And Raven?” His eyes soften, like he thinks he’s being generous . “You’ll be protected.”

I force my lips into a hesitant smile. “And my mom?”

His expression doesn’t change. “I’ll take care of her.”

Lies.

Every word that drips from his mouth is a lie .

And yet, he believes he’s untouchable.

He believes we actually trust him.

I keep my expression controlled, playing my part. “So… you’ll bring us in?” I glance up, widening my eyes slightly. “You’ll let us join you?”

Alex tilts his head, considering. “You’ll work for me . That’s what this is.” He smirks. “The Pantheon will not exist any longer. Malakai will do what I tell him to. Or he'll rot. When we started college, I had mad respect for The Pantheon and thought they can work miracles for me. I was wrong, of course, and I've been a stupid fucker. Now I know. The Pantheon is shit, and it will just cease to exist.”

Malakai inhales sharply through his nose, fists clenching at his sides.

I reach out, placing a hand on his forearm like I’m calming him.

But really?

I’m telling him to wait .

Alex watches me, eyes flicking to where my fingers press against Malakai’s arm. He smirks, like he still thinks he has all the power in the room.

He has no fucking idea what’s coming.

I exhale slowly, then nod. “Okay.”

Alex grins. “Okay?”

I nod again, looking hesitant, looking afraid . “If we’re going to do this… I need to know we can trust you.”

He leans back in his chair, spreading his arms. “Of course you can.”

I press my lips together, glancing at Malakai like I need reassurance. He keeps his gaze locked on Alex, his expression tense.

I take a breath, then say the words that will set everything into motion.

“Then let’s make it official.”

Alex tilts his head. “What do you mean?”

I glance toward the door.

The heavy double doors that lead to the real meeting.

The one Alex walked straight into without even realizing it.

Malakai smirks, pushing off the table. “I mean, it’s time we let everyone else hear your terms.”

The doors swing open.

And the entire Pantheon steps inside.

Alex’s face drains of color.

I watch the exact moment realization hits him. His shoulders stiffen, his eyes flicking to Malakai, then to me, then back to the entrance where every major figure in The Pantheon is standing.

Their expressions are unreadable, their presence absolute.

The sponsors are here. The real power in this game.

And Alex? He just fucked himself in front of all of them.

“W-what the fuck is this?” Alex stammers, pushing back from the table slightly.

I shrug, tilting my head. “It’s a meeting.”

He looks at me like I just stabbed him in the chest. “You set me up.”

I let out a small, innocent laugh. “ Me ? Alex, you’re the one who wanted to discuss business .”

His breath comes faster, his pulse visible at his throat as he looks around the room.

Nate steps forward, arms crossed, his gaze icy. “Go on, Alex. Tell them your plan.”

Alex stares, shaking his head. “This—this isn’t?—”

“Oh no,” Malakai smirks, voice dripping with mockery, “don’t stop now . Tell them how you planned to fabricate evidence. Frame your own people for crimes that didn’t happen.”

Alex’s nostrils flare. “You fucking set me up .”

Malakai lets out a quiet chuckle, shaking his head. “No, Alex. You set yourself up.”

The weight of the room settles.

Everyone is watching Alex like he’s already a dead man walking.

I lean forward, resting my chin on my palm. “Do you really think The Pantheon would let you get away with something like this?”

His mouth opens. Closes. Opens again.

He knows .

He fucking knows .

Everything he built? Every lie he thought would save him?

Gone.

He looks at Malakai, his chest rising and falling fast. “You?—”

Malakai raises a brow, waiting.

Alex swallows hard, his fingers curling into fists at his sides.

I almost feel bad for him.

Almost.

I sit back, letting the silence drag, watching as Alex realizes the gravity of what just happened.

He didn’t just lose.

He got obliterated .

And now, with everyone watching?

There’s no way out.

He’s done.

Alex looks like he’s about to be sick.

He’s still trying to process what just happened, the weight of the Pantheon pressing down on him, the realization sinking in that he just destroyed himself in front of the most powerful people at this university.

But he has no idea that it’s about to get even worse.

I lean back in my chair and cross my legs, letting the silence stretch between us.

Then, I smile.

“Actually, Alex,” I say, my voice calm, almost sweet . “There’s something else.”

His head snaps toward me, his jaw clenched so tight I think his teeth might crack. “What?”

I take my time. Pull my phone out of my pocket. Scroll through my files, tapping on the one I prepared before this meeting.

Then I set my phone on the table, press play , and let the room burn .

“He has evidence. He’s using his father’s money to make it all look real. Bribes, illegal activities, drugs—it’s all bullshit, but he thinks it’ll be enough to take you down.”

My voice comes through loud and clear.

Alex goes still.

I watch his hands clench into fists, his throat working as he swallows hard.

But it gets worse.

"And he tried to bribe me.”

Gasps ripple through the room, heads turning sharply toward Alex.

He shakes his head, his breath coming fast. “No—this is?—”

I raise a hand. “Shhh.”

I don’t stop the recording.

“He told me he’d take care of my mom if I helped him. Said he’d make sure she was set for life if I played along.”

Malakai shifts beside me, his entire body coiled tight.

I don’t need to look at him to know that if Alex wasn’t already a dead man walking, he would be now.

But I’m not done.

Not yet.

The next part plays, and this one? This is the final nail in the coffin.

“Do you even know what your father has done? What he’s been covering up?”

A sharp intake of breath from the crowd.

And then Alex’s voice.

“Women of all ages throw themselves at him. Have for years.”

I hear Malakai’s knuckles crack from how hard he’s clenching his fists.

“Men in power have needs, sweetheart. The world runs on deals, and everyone has a price.”

Silence. No one speaks. No one breathes.

I let the recording finish, then casually lock my phone, setting it back in my lap.

Then, I look at Alex.

His face is pale. His chest is rising and falling fast. His whole body is vibrating with panic.

Because he knows.

He knows.

He’s not just losing his war anymore.

His father is about to go down with him.

He opens his mouth—maybe to deny it, maybe to beg—but it doesn’t matter.

Because Malakai is already pushing away from the table, stepping closer, his voice quiet but lethal.

“You’re done.”

And Alex Callahan Jr.?

He fucking knows it.

I thought exposing Alex would feel like the final move in this twisted game of chess.

But this?

This is checkmate .

The room is quieter now. The fire of Alex’s downfall still lingers in the air, but the real battle—the one that extends beyond campus walls, beyond the Pantheon—is just beginning.

And that’s why we’re here.

The meeting is held in one of the private clubs owned by one of the Pantheon’s more influential members. The room is stylish, sleek and sophisticated, with dark mahogany walls and a long glass table in the center. The kind of place where real power moves are made.

Seated at the head of the table is a man who makes even Malakai and the others sit up a little straighter.

Owen Langley .

The man isn’t just a sponsor—he’s connected . FBI, government deals, corporate influence—the kind of guy who exists in the shadows but has the power to flip entire industries on their heads.

And right now?

He’s flipping a gold pen between his fingers, watching us with mild amusement.

“So.” His voice is slow, measured. “Alex Callahan Jr. is finished. And now, you want to go after his father.”

Malakai sits beside me, silent but alert, his jaw tight.

Jameson and Nate are here too, flanking the table, both watching the exchange with sharp eyes.

I sit up straighter. “We don’t just want to go after him. We have to.”

Langley raises a brow. “And why should I care?”

I exhale, forcing my voice to stay steady. “Because you have the power to make sure a man like that never hurts anyone else again.”

Langley smirks, resting his chin on his hand. “You think this is about justice?”

I don’t blink. “I think this is about power.”

That makes him pause. His eyes flicker with something calculating.

I lean forward, gripping the table. “Alex Callahan Sr. has been running a cult disguised as a megachurch for years. He’s been covering up abuse, paying off families, making sure no one talks. And now? We have proof.”

Langley hums. “And why should I act on it?”

Malakai finally speaks, his voice smooth but edged with steel.

“Because we’re handing it to you on a silver platter,” he says. “No loose ends. No speculation. Just facts. And once it’s out there? You get the credit.”

Langley smirks. “You are good at this.”

Malakai leans back, eyes dark. “I know.”

The tension stretches. The room feels like it’s balancing on a knife’s edge.

Then Langley exhales, flipping his pen onto the table. “Alright.” He nods. “Send me everything you have. The accounts, the payouts, the testimonies. If it holds up, we’ll run with it.”

I grip my phone tighter. “And what happens next?”

He smiles, slow and satisfied.

“Then?” He leans forward. “We watch an empire fall.”

I clutch the bunny plushie against my chest, my fingers kneading its soft fur as I stare at my phone screen.

I need to call her.

But my stomach is tight, my heart hammering just a little too hard.

Because once I say the words out loud, once I tell my mom what I’ve done—there’s no undoing it.

I swallow and tap her contact before I can talk myself out of it.

It rings once. Twice.

Then a soft, familiar voice answers.

“Raven?”

A lump forms in my throat. “Hey, Mom.”

There’s a pause, and I can already hear the concern in her voice. “Honey, it’s late. Is everything okay?”

I exhale slowly, squeezing the bunny plush tighter. “I need to tell you something. And I need you to listen before you say anything.”

Another pause. Then, “Okay.”

I take a deep breath, steadying myself. “I exposed the Callahans.”

Silence.

The kind that makes my stomach drop .

“… You what? ”

I close my eyes. “Alex tried to bribe me. He wanted me to help him take down Malakai and the Pantheon, and when I said no, he held you over my head.”

Her breath catches. “Oh, sweetheart?—”

I press on before she can go full mom mode . “I played along. I let him think I was on his side, and then I ruined him. In front of everyone.”

She’s quiet again. But this time, I hear something else.

Fear.

“Raven… the church.” Her voice is thin, fragile. “His father has so much power?—”

“I know.” My voice is firm. Strong. “But it’s over. The FBI is on it. The Pantheon’s connected. They’re taking him down , Mom.”

She exhales, shaky. “And you ? Are you safe?”

I hesitate for half a second. Because the truth is… I don’t know.

I’ve spent my whole life in the shadows of that church. Dependent on their money, their control, their promises. And now? Now I’ve set fire to all of it.

But I look around Malakai’s bedroom—the space that’s become mine in a way I never expected.

The bunny plush in my arms. The soft blanket draped over the edge of the bed. The hoodie Malakai left on his desk, the scent of him still clinging to it.

I think about the way he looked at me earlier. The way he stayed when I thought I was alone in this fight.

I breathe. And I know.

“Yes,” I tell her, voice steady. “I’m safe.”

She doesn’t answer right away. Then, in a small, broken whisper?—

“I’m so proud of you.”

My throat tightens. I never expected to hear those words. But now that I have, I don’t know what to do with them.

I let out a shaky laugh, brushing a hand over my face. “You shouldn’t be. This was reckless as hell.”

She sniffles, but I can hear her smiling. “Maybe. But you did what no one else would. You fought back.”

My chest aches.

And for the first time since this entire thing started, I don’t feel alone.

We say our goodbyes, and when I finally hang up, I let out a long breath, setting my phone down on the nightstand.

I press the bunny plush tighter against me, closing my eyes.

“Cute,” a low voice rumbles.

I jolt upright, my heart slamming into my ribs.

Malakai is leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed, his expression far too amused.

I gape at him. “How long have you been standing there?!”

He smirks. “Long enough to hear you plotting the downfall of an entire empire while cuddling a stuffed animal.”

I groan, burying my face in my hands. “Oh my god.”

He chuckles, pushing off the wall and strolling toward me. “Seriously, though.” His voice softens just slightly. “You okay?”

I hesitate, then nod. “Yeah. Just… processing.”

His eyes flick to the bunny plush still clutched in my lap. His smirk deepens.

I scowl. “ Don’t say it.”

He flops onto the bed beside me, his shoulder brushing mine. “I wasn’t gonna say anything.”

I narrow my eyes.

He grins. “I mean, I could mention that the girl who just took down one of the most powerful men in the city is also snuggling a fluffy little bunny, but?—”

I smack his arm.

He laughs, deep and real, and something warm curls in my stomach.

I shake my head, rolling my eyes. “You know, Malakai… I don’t even recognize you anymore.”

He raises a brow. “Oh?”

I smirk. “I thought you were supposed to be some terrifying, ruthless hockey god. But here you are—bantering with me while I hug a plushie.”

His grin fades slightly, his gaze dipping to my lips.

My breath catches.

When he speaks, his voice is lower. Rougher.

“You think I’m not dangerous anymore?”

I swallow, my throat suddenly dry.

Then I smirk. “Maybe.”

His eyes darken.

And before I can blink, he moves .

One second, he’s next to me. The next, I’m flat on my back, the bunny plush shoved aside, his body pressing me into the mattress.

His fingers trail up my side, slow and teasing.

He leans down, his breath warm against my ear. “Wanna test that theory, Lamb?”

Heat explodes in my veins.

I bite my lip, grinning. “I think I do .”