The Almighty Dominance

Jericho Kane? What does he want with the Heaven Root?" Alex ed.

*I heard his daughter's suffering from a rare genetic heart condition, and he thinks the Heaven Root can save her," Kelly explanted, glancing at Alex

"Bella Kane?" Alex repeated.

"Yes," Kelly confirmed.

Alex let out a weary sigh. He imagined Bella hiding her pain beneath an elegant façade. No wonder Jericho Kane spoiled her every whim and excused her worst habits.

"Alex, how should we handle this?" Kelly asked, her tone unsettled by the news. "I've got to get my hands on that Heaven Root," Alex declared without hesitation. "There's no time to waste. I'll head to Vermont today."

He stepped outside the clinic and was stunned to see a group of homeless men clashing with two brutish thugs lugging a drum. The looks on those thugs' faces made it clear they were up to no good.

"What's going on here?" Alex demanded.

"Doc, these two louts were about to pour oil around the clinic," one of the homeless men said.

"We figure they planned on burning the place down."

Another homeless man nodded. "You treat us for free, so they must have a death wish trying to torch this clinic."

The two hulking men sneered at the ragtag group. "Mind your own business, you filthy beggars,". one spat.

He raised a foot and kicked at one of the homeless men.

Immediately, the others retaliated, hurling empty bottles and whatever they could grab.

Furious at the uprising, the man tried swinging at them, but the homeless group scattered, still pelting him with debris as they darted around.

Alex's eyes narrowed.

"Someone pay you to burn this clinic?" he asked, his voice low and dangerous.

one of the men snarled, "and they put

open a folding knife and

much?" Alex

grand," the

scoffed. "Your life sure isn't worth much,

ten grand

shock, his partner grabbed the same knife and drove it into

the first thug

own arm twist as if

in horror, stabbing each other again and again, unable to control

1/3

until they lay still in a crimson pool One of the homeless men edged closer to Alex, eyes full of shock. poc,

kill me. Couldn't even decide who'd claim the bounty, so they

man spat on the

right. They counted

through the dead men's pockets, taking

bodies would be dealt with soon

a cab. He had more important matters on liis mind: the Heaven Root was vital, and such a rare herb wouldn't come

arrived at the massive Kane

a commanding figure whose gaze burned with

asked, his voice cold and

stare head-on. "I'm here for the Heaven

"So, you know about that. Too bad for

disease," Alex said flatly. "The Heaven Root won't cure her for good-it's only a

disdain. "You're no doctor. You're just some Kingwell's dog with a knack for violence, so don't lie to me."

barked a laugh. "How convenient. Because you helped Bella the other day, I'll let that slide. Otherwise, I'd have tossed you

"You're not getting the Heaven Root. Dream on. Now

Alex exhaled slowly.