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.

Wellington, we got to go, now! This abandoned

Before the bodyguard could finish, Isaac burst into a

make you

will die together!”

was shocked

pocket, its red light blinking

turned icy as he reached out his hand, trying to snatch the

The remote m

tumbled

still

down, and a warehouse to the north exploded in

the sky,

the flames erupted like wild beasts,

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

criminals are under control, and Ms. Carter is safe.

on the east side raged

who had been positioned outside the chemical plant and waiting for their moment, stared at each other in horror at the sudden

in

conduct a rescue.

plant was now a blazing

ignited in an instant, exploding with loud bangs, sending shockwaves of fear through

crumbling walls. Each hiss echoed

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

“Shield against the fire! Head

strong at

surged and

fire roared, scorching their skin. Blinding light seared their

Chapter 72

the back door, now! Hurry!” someone screamed

there’s no

Dominick’s furrowed brows and his hesitation in the room. In urgency, they

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

is Stephanie? Where could she

running back towards the blaze. They no longer cared about

need to stop him. The massive stone column

kicked up, blinding them, with flames roaring close by,

“What do

the

in the midst of the

could do was wait

Explosions boomed. Screams pierced the air.

A thud camel

to the ground, its sharp sound softly cutting

emanated from a

flames, Dominick seemed to sense

collapsed with a

roar of the collapsing building spread far and wide, casting a plume

shockwave forced those outside the factory to immediately drop to the

heavy in

from the ground and looked around

burned, and they could barely

“Turn on all

[the car lights!”

Vincent spoken than he noticed some movement by the river

and others quickly ran