The Mocked Miss’s Hidden Crowns novel Chapter 2134

"Since The Stygian Syndicate knows who she is, they won't do anything reckless," Jackson replied, his face grim. "They want something else."

Her technical expertise, for instance.

"We wait until the event ends tomorrow. Once the students are safely in the air, we notify Anthony."

If they told him now...

He would completely level this entire country.

"..."

Adonis swallowed hard, terrified to even imagine how Anthony would react when he found out his wife had offered herself as a hostage.

The sky was going to fall.

—

Inside the car.

Charlotte's gun was immediately confiscated, and a thick black blindfold was secured over her eyes.

After speeding down the highway, she was ushered onto a speedboat.

If her guess was right, they were taking her to a fortified offshore base.

The Syndicate operated off a remote private island, completely surrounded by open ocean and dense rainforest borders.

The privacy and security were unparalleled.

It was a natural fortress, easy to defend and impossible to ambush.

That geographical advantage was the exact reason The Stygian Syndicate had remained untouchable for so long.

After half a day of rough waters, the boat finally killed its engines.

When the blindfold was yanked off, the blinding tropical sun made Charlotte wince.

Once her vision adjusted, she saw a heavily armed reception committee waiting on the docks.

Standing front and center was an aging Latin American man—Salazar Vargas, The Overlord of The Stygian Syndicate.

"Welcome to my home, Nine."

Vargas took a step forward, offering a courteous, shallow bow with a welcoming smile.

If she didn't know he was a ruthless cartel boss with a mountain of bodies behind him, he would have looked like a perfectly amiable grandfather.

"..."

Charlotte stopped right in front of him, her chin tilted up as she stared him down with complete apathy. "Release them."

"Rest assured."

Vargas clapped his hands, and the four battered members of The White Whale were dragged forward. "Get a boat ready. Send them on their way."

"Go home. Leave your captain to me," Charlotte said in fluent English. Vargas understood her perfectly, but the Syndicate guards looked visibly confused.

The surrounding guards stared at her in utter disbelief.

Was this girl crazy?

She was a traded hostage, not a VIP on a luxury vacation!

Why was she acting like she owned the place?

Vargas scrutinized the young woman lounging on his sofa as she calmly poured herself a glass of water, his brow heavily furrowed.

He never would have imagined that the mythical 'Nine' was just a girl in her early twenties.

"Have the kitchen prepare a meal."

Vargas remained completely on edge. In his line of work, the people who looked the most harmless were often the deadliest.

"Make it two portions. I doubt Donald has eaten either," Charlotte ordered casually. "Oh, and bring me a glass of milk. Make sure it's warm."

Vargas: "..."

The hardened cartel mercenaries: "..."

—

Goodnight.

The brother and sister-in-law don't have too many scenes left; the book is nearing its end.