The Real Heiress Rules the World (Sloane Rivers) novel Chapter 429

Chapter 429 The Calm Before the Sleep

Chapter 429 The Calm Before the Sleep

+20 Free Coins

With Sloane and Lucas joining the team, their pace quickened noticeably. Lucas used the satellite navigation system to chart the most efficient path, avoiding several treacherous quicksand zones; Sloane scattered her special medicinal powder along the way, driving off venomous scorpions and sand snakes.

“At this rate, we’ll reach the target area before nightfall,” Lucas said, pointing to a red dot on the electronic map.

Marcus watched the distance shrinking on the GPS screen and couldn’t help remarking, “It used to take us at least eight days to cover this stretch.”

Hart, who was helping Sloane reorganize her medical kit, looked up. “Dr. Rivers, what’s in that powder of yours? It’s incredible.”

Sloane handed him a small packet of pale yellow dust. “Mostly desert wormwood and cactus extract, mixed with a few other rare herbs.”

“Watch out!” Shawn shouted suddenly.

A sand snake shot out from behind a rock, lunging straight at Hart.

Sloane reacted instantly; she flung a handful of powder through the air. The snake twisted violently mid–strike, hit the ground, and slithered away in panic.

“Holy hell!” Hart gasped, still shaken. “Back in the day, something like that would’ve cost us a man.”

By dusk, the team reached a narrow canyon. Lucas raised a hand for silence. “There’s movement ahead.”

He pulled out an infrared scope and studied the landscape for a moment; then the corner of his mouth lifted slightly. “Found it. The raiders‘ base is on the other side of that gorge.”

Marcus immediately began issuing orders. “Team A, draw their attention from the front. Team B, flank from the ”

“Wait,” Lucas interrupted. “They’ve got heavy weapons; a direct assault would be suicide.” He turned to Sloane. “Your move.”

Sloane gave a small nod and gestured an OK sign. Then she pulled several sealed porcelain vials from her pack and handed them to the nearby soldiers. “Toss these downwind. They’ll take effect in ten minutes.”

As night fell, the raiders‘ camp grew quiet. The guards on the watchtowers yawned–then their eyes rolled back as they collapsed, one by one. Within minutes, the entire camp was fast asleep.

“Move!” Lucas ordered.

The team swept in and secured the area with surgical precision.

Once inside, Sloane and Shawn split up to search every tent; but after scouring the camp, they still hadn’t found Beth. Sloane felt a cold knot forming in her chest.

“She’s not here!” she shouted, running back to Lucas. “I checked everywhere–she’s gone!”

Lucas’s eyes hardened. He strode toward the bound raider chief, pulled out Beth’s photo, and held it up. “Where is this woman?” His voice was low, edged with steel.

The man grinned, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth. “You wanna know? Beg me.”

1/2

5:18 pm M

Chapter 429 The Calm Before the Sleep

+20 Free Coins

Marcus didn’t hesitate. He slammed a fist into the raider’s face, grabbing him by the collar. “Talk! Or I’ll knock every one of those rotten teeth out myself!”

The man spat blood and sneered. “That woman? We had our fun and dumped her in the desert for the vultures.”

A deadly chill flickered in Lucas’s eyes, but before he could move, Shawn lunged forward in fury. “You trash!”

He pummeled the man’s face with blow after blow.

“Let me handle this.” Sloane stepped closer, her tone calm but lethal. She stood over the battered man, the moonlight catching on the slender needle between her fingers–it gleamed with a cold, silvery light.

“I’ll ask one last time,” she said softly, her voice terrifying in its gentleness. “Where is Beth?”

2/2