Marcus was bleeding.
Dominic could see the crimson streaks running down his friend's face as the camera zoomed in on him. His wrists were bound behind his back, his head slumped forward. The flickering light in the warehouse cast eerie shadows over his battered form, but Dominic could see his chest rising and falling. He was alive for now.
Volkov's voice crackled through the speakers, dripping with amusement.
"I assume you recognize the man on the screen," he said. "He put up quite a fight. Impressive, really. But we both know how this ends if you don't do exactly as I say."
Alyssa's hands clenched into fists. "You son of a"
Volkov tsked. "Ah, ah. No need for insults. We're all professionals here."
Dominic's grip on his knife tightened. His pulse pounded in his ears, but his face remained unreadable. Losing control wouldn't help Marcus.
"What do you want?" he asked, voice cold.
Volkov's grin widened. "I'm glad you asked. You see, you've been quite the nuisance, Dominic. Taking my weapons, killing my men it's becoming a problem. So, here's the deal: you bring me back what you stole, and I let your friend live."
Dominic didn't answer right away. He knew Volkov was lying. Even if they returned the weapons, there was no guarantee Marcus would walk out of that warehouse alive.
Alyssa turned to him, her voice low. "We can't trust him."
"I know," Dominic murmured.
Volkov sighed theatrically. "I'd love to give you more time to think, but unfortunately, patience isn't my strong suit."
On the screen, one of Volkov's men grabbed Marcus by the hair, forcing his head up. Another pressed a gun against his temple.
"Decide quickly," Volkov said. "Or I put a bullet in your friend's skull."
Dominic's eyes burned with fury, but his voice remained steady. "Fine. We'll make the trade."
Alyssa shot him a look. "Dom"
He held up a hand. "We'll bring the weapons. Tell us where."
Volkov clapped his hands. "Excellent! I knew you were a reasonable man. Bring them to the docks in one hour. No tricks, no backup or Marcus dies."
The screen went black.
A heavy silence filled the room.
Julian's voice came through their earpieces. "Please tell me we're not actually handing over those weapons."
"We're not," Dominic said.
Alyssa crossed her arms. "So what's the plan?"
Dominic turned to the team. His voice was ice-cold. "We're going to the docks. And we're going to kill every last one of them."
One hour later, the docks were silent except for the gentle lapping of the waves. Fog rolled in from the river, casting everything in a thick haze. It was the perfect place for an ambush.
Dominic, Alyssa, Eleanor, and Julian arrived in an unmarked black SUV. The trunk was filled with crates decoys, filled with scrap metal and explosives.
Julian tapped his earpiece. "I've hacked their security feeds. They've got snipers on the rooftops, men on the ground. Heavy artillery. This isn't a trade it's a slaughterhouse."
Alyssa cocked her gun. "Then let's turn it into one for them."
Dominic's gaze hardened. "We stick to the plan. Get Marcus out, kill anyone in our way."
Eleanor pulled out a detonator. "And blow this place to hell when we're done."
Julian smirked. "Now you're speaking my language."
They stepped out of the SUV, hands raised in mock surrender. The crates were carried by two of Volkov's men toward the center of the dockyard, where Volkov stood waiting.
He looked smug as ever, dressed in an expensive black suit, flanked by his armed guards.
Marcus was on his knees beside him, hands still tied, a fresh bruise on his jaw.
Volkov spread his arms. "Dominic! Alyssa! I knew you wouldn't disappoint."
Dominic's jaw tightened. "Let him go."
Volkov chuckled. "Patience. First, let's see the merchandise."
He nodded at his men, who pried open one of the crates. The moment they did—
BOOM.
A deafening explosion rocked the docks as the crate erupted in flames, sending shrapnel flying.
Gunfire followed immediately.
Alyssa moved first, pulling two pistols from her holsters and firing at the nearest guards. Dominic lunged forward, taking down the man closest to him with a brutal strike to the throat.
Eleanor and Julian took cover behind a stack of shipping containers, picking off snipers from above.
Chaos erupted.
Marcus, seizing the distraction, slammed his head into the man holding him and twisted, knocking him off balance. Before the guard could react, Dominic was there, driving a knife into his chest.
Alyssa reached Marcus, cutting the restraints off his wrists. "Can you stand?"
Marcus wiped blood from his mouth. "I can fight."
She grinned. "That's what I like to hear."
Volkov, realizing the trade had been a setup, scowled. "Kill them all!"
His men surged forward.
Dominic ducked behind cover, reloading his gun. "Julian, how long until the charges go off?"
Julian checked his watch. "Two minutes."
"Make it one."
Julian grinned. "On it."
Alyssa and Marcus fought back-to-back, taking down anyone who got too close. Eleanor threw a grenade into a cluster of Volkov's men, sending bodies flying.
Volkov, realizing he was losing, started to retreat toward a waiting speedboat.
Dominic saw him. He wasn't getting away.
Gun in hand, Dominic sprinted after him, dodging bullets as he closed the distance. Volkov turned, firing wildly, but his aim was off.
Dominic tackled him just as he reached the boat, slamming him onto the dock.
Volkov groaned, reaching for his gun, but Dominic kicked it away. He grabbed the Russian by the collar, dragging him up.
"You should have killed me when you had the chance," Dominic growled.
Volkov smirked, blood dripping from his lip. "I still might."
Dominic didn't give him the chance. He drove his fist into Volkov's face, then again, and again, until the man slumped, barely conscious.
Julian's voice came through the earpiece. "Boom time in three… two…"
Dominic turned and ran.
The docks exploded behind him.
Fire erupted into the sky, swallowing everything in a wave of destruction. The blast sent Volkov's body flying into the river, disappearing beneath the dark waves.
Dominic reached the others, breathing heavily.
Marcus clapped him on the back. "That was insane."
Julian grinned. "Beautiful, wasn't it?"
Alyssa smirked at Dominic. "You okay?"
He exhaled. "Yeah."
She stepped closer, brushing a stray lock of hair from his forehead. "You know," she murmured, "for a billionaire, you sure get your hands dirty a lot."
He smirked. "And you like that, don't you?"
Alyssa's eyes glinted mischievously. "Maybe."
Without warning, she grabbed his collar and pulled him in for a kiss.
It was rough, heated, and filled with adrenaline-fueled desire.
When she pulled away, she grinned. "That was for saving my ass."
Dominic smirked. "I think I deserve more than one for that."
Marcus groaned. "Not in front of me, please."
Julian laughed. "Too late."
As the fire raged behind them, Dominic knew one thing:
This wasn't over. Not by a long shot.