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! This

the bodyguard could finish, Isaac burst into a manic

roared, “You killed my father, and I’ll make you

will die together!”

was shocked

ounce of strength, Isaac pulled a remote from his pocket, its red light blinking continuously as he slammed his thumb onto

hand, trying to snatch the remote from him, while the bodyguard also rushed forward to help

The remote m

tumbled

still too

down, and a warehouse to the north exploded in

sky, shaking houses to

sky, and the flames erupted like wild beasts,

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

the criminals are under control, and Ms. Carter is

on the east side raged out of

waiting for their moment, stared at each other in horror at the sudden explosion and

lock in front of them. Then, the

conduct a rescue.

plant was

in an instant, exploding with loud bangs, sending

roared, devouring the crumbling walls. Each

in horror as he watched the main support pillar slowly tilt. He yelled in panic, “Dominick, get

barked. “Shield against the fire! Head for the

way! The fire is too strong at the

critical moment, panic surged and

fire roared, scorching their skin. Blinding light

Chapter 72

back door, now! Hurry!” someone screamed

there’s

furrowed brows and his hesitation in the room. In urgency, they grabbed his arm and dragged him

go first…” Dominick shook them off stubbornly, his voice

Stephanie? Where could she be?”

towards the blaze. They no longer cared about

didn’t need to stop him. The massive stone column ahead suddenly crashed

blinding them, with flames

“What do

one of the bodyguards

trapped in the midst of

they could do was

moment. Explosions

A thud camel

small metal scalpel clattered to the ground, its sharp sound softly cutting through

emanated from a

the flames, Dominick seemed to sense

massive factory collapsed with a thunderous

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

violent shockwave forced those outside the factory to immediately drop to

hung heavy in the air,

the ground and looked

and they could barely see in the

“Turn on all

[the car lights!”

than he noticed some movement by the river

ran towards it.