CHAPTER SIXTY-EIGHT - THE MYSTERIOUS TEXT

As they prepared to leave, Mara felt a mix of excitement and fear. They were closer than ever to finding Clarissa, but what would they find at the ranch? And who was Victor Calderone? Cassius placed a hand on her shoulder, sensing her unease. "Are you ready for this?" Mara took a deep breath and nodded. "Let's go find Clarissa." As Cassius's SUV sped down the desert highway, the neon glow of Las Vegas faded behind them, replaced by the inky blackness of the night sky. Mara fidgeted in her seat, her mind racing with possibilities. "What can you tell me about Victor Calderone?" she asked, breaking the tense silence. Cassius's grip tightened on the steering wheel. "He's a businessman, of sorts. Deals in things that aren't always... above board. He has connections all over Vegas, both legal and illegal." Mara swallowed hard. "And you think Clarissa might be mixed up with him?" "I hope not," Cassius replied, his voice grim. "But if those texts are coming from his ranch, we need to be