Chapter 23

Felicia felt a chill run down her spine. She had walked straight into danger.
Immediately, she raised her hands in a gesture of surrender. Not just her; Lance and the incapacitated lackey, along with the two frothing at the mouth in the van, were all restrained by the gang of armed criminals.
With guns pointed at their heads, Lance trembled, nearly wetting himself as he begged, “Don’t kill me! Please, I’m begging you!”
His lackeys echoed his pleas, “Please, don’t hurt us! We’ll do anything!”
“Shut up! If anyone makes another sound, I’ll pull the trigger!” barked the leader of the gang.
Silence fell as fear washed over Lance and his lackeys, their faces pale and shaking.
Felicia, initially startled, regained her composure. She knew these criminals wouldn’t fire their weapons. lightly; they needed hostages.
Just as she thought, the vehicle pursuing the pickups stopped nearby. Armed men stepped out, looking like well-trained undercover agents.
Upon seeing the situation with the hostages, one of them signaled and began negotiating with the criminals.
Uninterested in discussions, the criminals pressed their guns harder against their hostages and shouted, Back off, or I swear I’ll shoot!”
As the standoff unfolded, the agents began to retreat, knowing that the criminals would escape if they didn’t act quickly.
“Three, two, one!” the gang leader counted down.
“Don’t harm the hostages! We’re retreating!” the agents shouted as they moved back, quickly distancing themselves.
During this time, Felicia and the other hostages were thrown into the bed of a pickup truck while the gang members hopped into their vehicles and sped off.
By the time the sun had fully set, the last light of dusk was replaced by the encroaching night.
Felicia kept her head down, mentally noting the direction they were heading to avoid getting lost if she had a chance to escape.
The further they drove, the more desolate the terrain became, surrounded by deep mountains and devoid
of life.
Here, even if someone were to be killed and disposed of, no one would ever know.
Lance, shaking uncontrollably, had no idea who these people were. Desperation drove him to name-drop anyone he could think of in a bid to save himself.
“Listen, guys, I’m connected to the Chavez family! You know, one of the four prestigious families in Khogend? We’ve got money and power! If you let me go, I’ll ensure Mr. Chavez treats you to a feast! You’ll be untouchable in Khogend!” The hardened criminals laughed derisively at his words, clearly unimpressed.
The Chavez family? The four prestigious families? They weren’t afraid.
One of them slapped Lance, then plunged a knife into his foot.
Lance screamed. It echoed through the valley, startling the birds from the trees.
“Quiet down!” the gang leader complained, digging at his ears. His grip on the gun tightened as he visibly lost patience, causing Lance to break out in a cold sweat and bite his tongue to suppress further cries.
Once the noise settled, the gang leader turned his attention to Felicia, eyeing her with interest. “This girl is surprisingly calm. Aren’t you afraid?”
Felicia kept her gaze lowered, remaining silent. The darkness cloaked her; no one would see the small folding knife that had mysteriously appeared in her bound hands.
She was carefully cutting through the ropes binding her wrists.
leader tilted her chin up to force her to look at him.
Noticing her silence, the gan Felicia complied, her heart racing. Chapplian
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