Chapter 14 - The Devil In The Clearing
A cold, suffocating fury unlike anything Dominic had ever experienced seized his entire body. He slammed his foot on the accelerator, the SUV roaring up the gravel switchbacks, tires kicking up sprays of dirt and pine needles.
Beside him, Elena stirred, groaning as she regained full consciousness. She looked at Dominic's white-knuckled grip on the steering wheel, then down at the phone display showing the destroyed lodge.
""Maya..."" Elena choked out, panic instantly overriding her physical agony. ""Dominic, where is she?!""
""Stay down and hold on,"" Dominic commanded, his eyes blazing with feral intensity. ""Nikolai didn't wait for the warehouse. He traced the signal when we cracked the ledger.""
They crested the ridge. In the wide, gravel clearing before the ruined lodge sat a long black luxury limousine, flanked by three armored SUVs. Standing in the center of the clearing, immaculate in a bespoke wool overcoat despite the morning mud, was Nikolai Morozov himself.
In his right hand, Nikolai held the leash of a massive Caucasian shepherd dog.
In his left hand, hanging by her jacket collar like a discarded doll, was Maya. Her face was streaked with dirt and fresh tears, but she was kicking violently at the syndicate leader's shins, clutching Barnaby against her ribs with her teeth.
Dominic rammed the SUV straight through the perimeter gate, locking the brakes to slide sideways across the gravel, creating a barrier of steel between his vehicle and Nikolai's men.
Dominic stepped out instantly, a fully loaded submachine gun raised to his shoulder. Elena scrambled out behind the passenger door, clinging to the frame for support.
""Let her go, Nikolai!"" Dominic roared, his voice cutting through the mountain wind.
Nikolai smiled serenely, resting a heavy, gloved hand on Maya's shoulder. ""A beautiful morning, isn't it, Vance? You brought down half my operations in a single night. But it seems you left your most precious asset unguarded.""
""She has nothing to do with this!"" Elena screamed, tears blinding her eyes. ""Take the ledger! Take everything! Let my daughter go!""
Nikolai's cold eyes widened slightly in mild amusement. ""Daughter? Well, well. The plot thickens. That makes her infinitely more valuable as leverage.""
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Maya looked across the clearing, locking eyes with Dominic. Despite the armed men surrounding her, despite the monstrous dog snarling at her feet, she stopped kicking.
""Dominic,"" she called out, her small voice steady and clear. ""Make it quiet.""
