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.

now!

for you, Dominick!” Before the bodyguard could finish, Isaac burst

as he roared, “You killed my father, and I’ll make you pay! You have more power than I

will die together!”

was shocked upon hearing

pocket, its red

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 too

down, and a warehouse to the north exploded in a loud

explosions ripped through the sky, shaking houses to their

into the sky, and the flames erupted like wild beasts, their tongues of fire dancing

have to leave, now! The whole place

approached. “Mr. Wellington, the criminals are under control, and Ms. Carter is safe. We

they watched the fire on the

had been positioned outside the chemical plant and waiting

large iron lock in front of them. Then, the police rushed past them to

conduct a rescue.

abandoned plant was now a blazing

in an instant, exploding with loud bangs, sending

devouring the crumbling walls. Each

pillar slowly tilt. He yelled in

Dominick barked. “Shield against the fire! Head for the

fire is too strong at the front door! We

panic surged and chaos erupted

roared, scorching their skin. Blinding light seared

Chapter 72

the back door, now!

Wellington, there’s

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

first…” Dominick shook them off stubbornly, his voice hoarse from

Stephanie? Where could she be?” His mind raced

Dominick started running back towards the blaze. They no

him. The massive stone

with flames roaring close by,

“What do

do now?” one of the bodyguards

of the

could do was wait

that moment. Explosions boomed. Screams pierced the air.

A thud camel

to the ground, its

woman’s frail voice emanated from a small room. “I’m here.

to sense

collapsed

spread far and wide, casting

violent shockwave forced those outside the factory to immediately drop to

heavy in the air,

his nose, Vincent scrambled up from the ground and looked around frantically. The abandoned factory before him had been

and they could barely see in the pitch–dark

“Turn on all

[the car lights!”

had Vincent spoken than he noticed some

others quickly ran