Chapter 10 - Blood on the Frozen Docks
An earth-shattering blast ripped through the warehouse’s concrete floor.
The steel drainage grates blew upward in a storm of fire and pulverized stone as Dominic’s strike force breached from the subterranean tunnels below. Flashbang grenades ignited with blinding brilliance, disorienting Volkov’s guards.
Dominic Vale emerged from the smoke like a vengeful demon, clad in tactical black armor, a modified submachine gun firing in controlled, devastating bursts. Every shot found its mark. Within ten seconds, six of Volkov’s elite guards were neutralized.
Volkov cursed in Russian, lunging forward to grab Emily as a human shield.
Emily didn’t wait. Rocking her chair backward with all her weight, she slammed the heavy iron frame into Volkov’s shins. The Russian stumbled with a howl of rage, dropping his blade.
Dominic closed the distance in a heartbeat. He tackled Volkov into a stack of wooden shipping pallets, the wood splintering into shards under the violence of the collision.
The two titans tore into each other in a brutal, no-holds-barred brawl. Volkov drew a concealed dagger, slashing across Dominic’s tactical vest, but Dominic caught his wrist, breaking the bone with an audible crack. With a roar of pure fury, Dominic drove his knee into Volkov’s ribs and hurled him across the concrete toward the open loading bay overlooking the frozen harbor.
Volkov crawled toward his fallen pistol, his face a mask of blood. “You... you can’t kill me, Vale... The Russian syndicate... will burn your family to ash...”
Dominic stepped onto Volkov’s outstretched hand, crushing the bones beneath his combat boot. He drew his SIG Sauer and pressed the muzzle directly between Volkov’s eyes.
“My family,” Dominic said, his voice dropping to a deathly calm, “is already protected.”
He pulled the trigger.
The gunshot echoed across the silent, snow-covered docks before fading into the winter wind.
Dominic turned instantly, rushing over to Emily. His hands, usually so steady and lethal, trembled as he sliced the ropes binding her wrists and ankles.
Emily slumped forward, completely exhausted, but Dominic caught her in his arms, pulling her tightly against his chest. He buried his face in her hair, his breath warm against her frozen skin.
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“I have you,” Dominic whispered, his voice cracking with emotion. “You’re safe, Emily. I’ve got you.”
Emily wrapped her bruised arms around his neck, letting the tears fall at last. “I knew you’d find me.”
