The Billionaire's True Heiress From Fake Jewel to Real Crown novel Chapter 1360

Although his old friend had long since retired, the man currently sitting in his chair was his former protégé. And that protégé was now mentoring the grandson—Silas Carl, Tilda's cousin.

When Walden's call came through, the retired official immediately patched him through to his former student.

The student was now the Director of the Security Bureau. Up to his neck in high-level operations, he couldn't personally rush to Apex, so he deployed Silas Carl in his stead.

The moment Silas got the briefing, he scrambled an elite strike team and headed straight for the city.

Meanwhile, Dane had completely lost contact with Claire.

His face turned ashen.

He immediately dialed Dewitt's number.

Dewitt gave him the rundown in three swift sentences.

"Don't lose your head. Claire went into this knowing she was acting as bait."

"We initially worried this Foster guy was clean and she was overthinking it. Who knew he was actually a massive threat?"

"He wants to drag her to Sundara, but he's acting like a fugitive. I guarantee he's got a massive bounty on his head!"

Dewitt's mind was moving at lightning speed.

"I'm on my way."

Dane had no desire to chat.

He knew Claire was fishing for a target, but he never expected things to go south this fast.

After all, she had just texted him moments ago.

If she had the time to draw those sketches and hit send, it meant she was safe at that moment.

As Dane floored the gas toward the harbor, he dialed the men he had assigned to shadow her.

"Where the hell are you?" Dane snapped, furious that the security detail hadn't updated him on her movements.

If anything happened to her, there would be hell to pay.

But it wasn't really the bodyguards' fault; Claire had explicitly ordered them to hang back and not alarm Dane.

There were six highly trained operatives on her detail: two from Pandora, two from Dane, and two from The Churchill Family.

Even setting aside the preemptive countermeasures she took before walking into the hotel, the drug itself was too weak to pose a threat.

She had simply played along and taken a nice little nap.

It wasn't until she heard muffled voices outside that she lazily opened her eyes.

Listening to the distant wail of a foghorn, she realized they were already on the water.

"Is she awake yet?"

Melanie's voice drifted through the heavy door, asking the guard outside.

The guard replied that he hadn't heard a peep, but Melanie unlocked the cabin door anyway.

The sedative was only supposed to keep Claire out for an hour or two.

Now that she was securely onboard, Melanie wanted to check on her prize.

"Claire, you're awake, aren't you?"

Claire didn't bother pretending. She sat up, looking at her captor with profound disappointment. "Melanie, what the hell is the meaning of this?"