Crossroads

Chapter 72

‘She isn’t here?‘

Dominick was anxious. He reached out and violently tore a large gap in the rusted wire fence in front of him, leaping into the factory.

The abandoned chemical plant lay on Havencrest’s northern edge, bordered by dense woods to the east and a wide, dark river to the west

It was near 11 p.m., the night moonless, starless. The only light came from the full moon, and the river air chilled the night to the bone.

The abandoned factory covered about 10 thousand square feet, with a large workshop containing heavy, abandoned machinery, three large warehouses, two quality inspection rooms, and an office. The walls and windows were filthy and in ruins.

Jessica and the five thugs were in the large workshop, but Dominick couldn’t find Stephanie.

He suppressed his impatience and softened his footsteps as he walked through the dimly lit factory, searching each room….

Suddenly, a smell of blood hit his nose. Dominick paused, and his heart skipped a beat as he looked toward a small room on his right.

Clutching the gun in his hand, he pressed his body against the wall and moved swiftly toward the door. The aged mahogany door in front of him was unlocked. He gently pushed it open, peering inside sharply.

The weak moonlight filtering through the window allowed him to glimpse something inside….

The next second, his eyes widened in shock. He couldn’t hold back anymore and burst inside.

The office was a wreck, with papers strewn everywhere and a long wooden desk smeared with blood. The dark red blood trailed down the

desk leg, dripping to the floor and mixing with the grime. It was sickening.

Dominick’s face was grim. He pressed his lips, raised his gun, and called out softly. “Ste…”

But then, he paused, his gaze fixing on something unusual.

He couldn’t fire recklessly, not until he had found Stephanie. Alerting those inside without knowing her location would be very risky.

She had to be safe first

Suddenly, Dominick heard a faint sound of painful gasps emanating from the room, barely audible.

He walked cautiously to the back of the desk, surprised to find Isaac slumped unconscious. His eyes narrowed as if wondering something.

Isaac was the mastermind behind this, but now, he had passed out there.

The sharp tang of blood filled the air. Dominick’s agitation flared as he yanked Isaac up.

“Where is she?” Dominick wished he could just shoot him.

Isaac, jerked up harshly, was dazed and pale, gasping for air. His eyes opened to see Dominick’s grim face, his expression twisting, but he was too weak to struggle.

Dominick slammed Isaac’s face onto the desk and pressed down hard on the wound at the back of his head. His patience had worn thin.

“Stephanie! Where is she!”

As Dominick pressed on the wound, Isaac gasped in pain, trembling “L. I don’t know.__”

10:44 Sat, 22 Jun G

Chapter 72

“Mr. Wellington, Ms. Carter’s by the workshop…” A bodyguard, part of their undercover team, spotted Dominick and rushed over, speaking

urgently.

we got to go, now!

got a gift for you, Dominick!” Before the bodyguard could finish, Isaac burst into a manic

father, and I’ll make you

will die together!”

shocked

his last ounce of strength, Isaac pulled a remote from his pocket, its red

turned icy as he reached out his hand, trying to snatch the remote from him, while the bodyguard also rushed forward to

The remote m

tumbled

was still

warehouse to the north exploded in a loud

the sky, shaking houses to

thick smoke billowed into the sky, and the flames erupted like wild beasts, their tongues of fire

leave, now! The whole place is going down!” a bodyguard shouted anxiously to

Wellington, the criminals are under control, and Ms. Carter is safe. We need to go,

watched the fire on the east side raged

and waiting

lose, they quickly shot at the large iron lock in front of them. Then, the police rushed past

conduct a rescue.

abandoned plant was now

discarded materials ignited in an instant, exploding with loud bangs,

walls. Each hiss

he watched the main support pillar slowly

Dominick barked. “Shield against the fire!

strong at

critical moment, panic surged and chaos erupted all

skin. Blinding light seared their

Chapter 72

now! Hurry!”

Wellington, there’s no

in the room. In

first…” Dominick shook them off stubbornly, his voice

is Stephanie? Where could she be?” His mind raced with

in shock as Dominick started running back towards the blaze. They no longer cared about respect, immediately grabbing Dominick’s arm and pulling him back with

stop him. The massive stone column ahead suddenly crashed

them, with flames roaring close by, their

“What do

now?” one of the

midst of the blazing inferno with no

was

that moment. Explosions boomed. Screams pierced the air. And

A thud camel

scalpel clattered to the ground, its sharp sound

frail voice emanated from a

seemed to sense something.

factory collapsed with a thunderous

building spread far and wide, casting a plume of black dust into the sky,

violent shockwave forced those outside the factory to immediately drop to

in the

scrambled up from the ground and looked around frantically. The abandoned factory before

and they could barely see in the pitch–dark

“Turn on all

[the car lights!”

sooner had Vincent spoken than he noticed some movement by the river

ran