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.

got to go, now! This abandoned factory is

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

make you pay! You

will die together!”

shocked upon hearing

pocket, its red light blinking continuously as

as he reached out his hand, trying to snatch the remote from him, while the bodyguard

The remote m

tumbled

still

a warehouse to the north

through the sky,

and the flames erupted like wild beasts, their

leave, now! The whole place is going

are under control, and Ms. Carter is

fire on the east side raged

waiting

shot at the large iron lock in front of them.

conduct a rescue.

plant was now a

in an instant, exploding with loud bangs, sending

crumbling walls. Each hiss echoed

widened in horror as he watched the main support pillar slowly

barked. “Shield against the fire! Head for the

way! The fire is too strong at the front door! We

moment, panic surged and chaos erupted

their skin. Blinding

Chapter 72

door, now! Hurry!” someone screamed

Wellington, there’s

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

go first…” Dominick shook them off stubbornly,

is Stephanie? Where could she be?” His

shock as Dominick started running back towards the blaze. They no longer cared about respect, immediately

to stop him. The massive stone column ahead suddenly

kicked up, blinding them, with flames roaring

“What do

we do now?” one of the bodyguards asked,

trapped in the midst of the blazing inferno with

was wait

freeze at that moment. Explosions boomed.

A thud camel

the ground,

frail voice emanated from a

flames, Dominick seemed to sense something. He abruptly turned

collapsed with a

early morning, the deafening roar of the collapsing building spread far and

the factory to

heavy in

from the ground and looked around frantically. The

flames still burned, and they could

“Turn on all

[the car lights!”

had Vincent spoken than he noticed some

others quickly ran towards it.