Crossroads

Chapter 71 "Help!"

The woman, brought back as a hostage, cowered in the corner, her body trembling as she begged, "No, please, don't..." Her face was swollen from being hit, and her long hair was a cluttered mess

"You want money, right? How much do you want? I can pay you. Don't touch me. Stay away from me..." Her lips turned pale with fear, her words trembling.

"Shut up, you old hag!"

The burly man was visibly impatient. Then, he grabbed her by the hair and dragged her out...

"What's going on here?"

The door was suddenly flung open with a clang A man dressed in a black suit had just returned, and he was also dragging another woman. "Two Jessicas?"

Stephanie, restrained by the man in the suit, looked up anxiously and was shocked to see Jessica crawling on the ground in the middle of the grimy, abandoned factory.

"Let go of mel" Stephanie struggled as the man gripped her jaw, his surprise was evident as he squinted, scrutinizing her and Jessica.

"Forget it. Just deal with both of them. Let's start filming and send the footage to Dominick. That bastard really thinks we're pushovers!"

"No, don't touch me! I'm begging you. Please let me go... Jessica looked up at the thug above her, disgust running through her as she trembled in fear, She struggled desperately, but her movements only made the man more impatient, his grip leaving bruises on her delicate skin.

With her face streaked with tears, Jessica turned her head and screamed, "Stephanie, help mel Help!"

"Stephanie?"

Hearing that name, the man in the black suit was stunned.

Then, the hand around Stephanie's neck tightened even more, his eyes bloodshot as he glared at her.

"So you're Dominick's wife," he spat out through clenched teeth, his tone sinister and full of hatred, Stephanie was met with his intense glare, and a wave of terror rose. "What do you want to do?" She fiercely forcefully, but couldn't overcome the man's strength.

The man burst out laughing. "I heard the woman Dominick brought home is pregnant, cartying his child..." His laughter was chilling and venomous.

"Hey! Turn the camera this way..." he barked at another man in front. "It's time to dissect this bastard child alive!

"Don't worry, I will send the corpse of this baby to Dominick... So the father can meet his child." He held a fruit knife in his hand, aiming it at Stephanie's belly.

The abandoned factory echoed with his cruel, chilling voice. An old lamp swung overhead, its dim yellow light glinting off the cold edge of a knife. The cold metal sensation, the sharp edge of the knife, traced across her abdomen...

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10:44 Sat, 22 Jun Chapter 71

"Not" Stephanie's face paled, her body rigid. "Stay away from my child..."

"It's confirmed. It was Randall's brother, Isaac, who sent the anonymous letters to Jessica. Ever since their father, Wyatt, took his own life at the Westerfield branch last week, they've waited for revenge....

"They used tonight's company celebration to grab Jessica, It seems to be a strike against you..."

Vincent rushed over urgently while police personnel quickly mobilized to search the areas.

But it wasn't Jessica. Suddenly, Dominick's phone buzzed with a new video message.

"Mr. Wellington, did you receive the message from the abductors? Any words of Ms. Carter..." a police officer said, looking towards him.

Dominick's face was grim as he glared at his phone screen.

He recognized that face, no matter how much someone else might try to look like hers.

It wasn't Jessica... It was Stephaniel Randall's people had actually taken her!

"Dominick, where are you going?"

Vincent noticed his troubled expression and silence as he got into the car, looking like he was urged to go somewhere.

"Mr. Wellington, any leads?" Several special agents hurried to follow him, quietly reminding him, "When negotiating with criminals, you must be patient to ensure the hostage's safety."

Dominick ignored them. He slammed his foot the gas, the car lurching into traffic. It swerved dangerously, barely missing other vehicles.....

"Mrs. Wellington did go to the banquet. Someone mistook her for Jessica and brought her inside..." The communicator crackled with updates.

"Blood found at hotel parking spot EC5620 confirmed as Mrs. Wellington's." Each message darkened Dominick's expression.

Dominick's lips were tightly pressed together, his grip on the steering wheel tight as he suddenly swerved the car, the tires screeching against the ground A sudden braking made the car shake with a sharp screech.

In a flash, Dominick was out the door and running.

Vincent and the others scrambled out after him, their heads spinning from the abrupt stop.

Noticing they were stopping at a hospital, they figured that Dominick must be there to find Randall "Sir, Randall still hasn't woken up, so we can't get any information..." a police officer ran up to him and added. They felt that rushing over now seemed pointless.

The hospital elevator shot upwards, and with a ding, the doors slid open.

"What do you want to do?"

Dominick's gaze was dark as he strode directly to the first room on the left, where two police officers stood guard.

Yet, he suddenly stepped forward, snatching a gun from the officer's holster.

10:44 501, 22

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The other officer, confused, drew his weapon and aimed it at him. Vincent and the others rushed over, yelling, "Stop it!" Vincent's words were cut short as the hospital room door flew open with a loud bang

"Ah!" Inside, a nurse was changing an IV bag for Randall. Startled by Dominick's sudden intrusion, she screamed.

"Where is she?" Dominick's voice was a low growl. His left hand fisted in Randall's hospital gown, and his right jammed a gun against the man's temple.Exclusive © content by N(ô)ve/l/Drama.Org.

"Dominick, killing him won't help. He's been unconscious from loss of blood since you threw him down. Calm down!" Vincent burst into the room, his eyes wide with panic, immediately trying to defuse the situation.

"Mr. Wellington, this isn't how we do things... The officer behind him was visibly shaken by what Dominick did.

"I'm asking you one last time. Where is shor"

Dominick narrowed his eyes, glaring at the man on the bed. Then, he ripped out Randall's oxygen tube and all others, hauling him off the bed.

Randall choked, coughing weakly, unable to open his eyes.

Vincent wanted to stop Dominick, but Dominick just threw Randall into the corner of the room. Randall gasped in pain as his body slammed into the comer.

"Mr. Wellington, you can't do this!" the officer said, grabbing his arm. "Our priority is to save the hostages, not..."

Dominick shook off the officer and stepped forward, stomping on Randall's injured left arm. The pain made Randall cry out, "Stop!" he exclaimed, his eyes bulging with pain.

"Bring her back, now!" Dominick demanded, raising the gun and pointing it straight at Randall's forehead. His voice was menacing and threatening.

Randall's face turned pale as if he were shocked. Then, he burst into laughter.

"Dominick, you care so much about Jessica." He coughed between laughs, his voice hoarse and filled with spite. "Even someone like you cares...

His eyes filled with hatred, fixing on Dominick. "My brother took her. He'll kill her, and you'll never see her again!"

Three gunshots suddenly rang out.

"No, stop!"

Vincent screamed in panic, but it was too late to stop it. Bullets were fired O

at Randall all of a sudden, the all terrifying sound of gunfire silencing the surroundings, sending shivers of fear through everyone.

The bullet whizzed past Randall's temple, a hair's breadth from death.

He trembled violently, the terror making him wet himself... Dominick crouched, his face grim. His left hand tightened around Randall's neck, while his right hand held a gun, one bullet left in the chamber.

"Where is shel"

At 11 p.m., police sirens blared across the highway, drawing the attention of cars and cars and pedestrians of NO alike. Everyone wondered what was severe enough to warrant such a response.

The police reached an abandoned factory on the outskirts of town and quickly surrounded the area.

Dominick stepped out of the car, and the officers behind him cautioned, "You don't have to go in. We'll handle it...

After all, this was the Wellington heir. The officer assumed he was one of the rich playboys who was good for nothing, and he couldn't afford the consequences if something happened to Dominick,

"Officer, you and your team stay here on guard. My people will handle it..."

Vincent addressed the police chief. Soon, a squad of stern-faced bodyguards arrived, fast and organized.

"Dominick is scouting the situation. Wait for the right time to act, and remember, the safety of the hostages comes first," Vincent instructed, adding. "Use force if you have to."

"Yes, sir."

The bodyguards vanished into the darkness, navigating the abandoned factory with practiced ease. These were clearly not ordinary bodyguards. "Officer, we appreciate your assistance tonight, and we will take it from here."

Vincent loaded his gun skillfully, his tone serious and devoid of its usual playfulness. They were never ordinary people.

He couldn't say if Dominick's impatience was for Jessica or Stephanie, but one thing was for sure. Randall and Isaac were in deep trouble.

They had messed with the wrong people..

This night was never meant to be ordinary. Shadows gathered, poised to strike.

Meanwhile, Dominick swiftly vaulted over the perimeter wall.

He landed with a soft thud, gripping a handgun. Body pressed against the wall, he scanned the dust-filled window.

Under the dim light, two men were guarding the front while three others sat in the center, casually drinking and eating snacks, with a DV camera beside them.

Perhaps these men never expected their hideout to be discovered so quickly, chatting carelessly.

At the far end of the old assembly line, a woman was tied up with thick ropes, looking utterly disheveled. It was Jessica.

But then Dominick's eyes narrowed, his grip on the gun tightening Jessica was here, but he couldn't find Stephanie. She wasn't here.