Chapter 5 - Blood on the Floor of Room 14 at the Starlight Motel
The neon sign of the Starlight Motel flickered weakly against the torrential
downpour.
The Valente convoy cut their headlights as they pulled into the cracked asphalt
parking lot. Dominic kicked open the door before the vehicle had completely
stopped. Rain lashed against his face, but he didn't blink.
Clara’s silver minivan sat near the back dumpster, its rear window smashed and
both front tires shredded by spike strips.
Dominic moved with lethal military precision. His men fanned out, breaching the
motel perimeter with silenced rifles.
Dominic approached Room 14. The wooden door was hanging off its hinges,
splintered by a heavy boot.
Inside, the room was in ruins. A cheap lamp was shattered across the carpet.
Overturned chairs, broken glass, and dark red bloodstains marked the
floorboards.
Dominic’s heart seized in a way no bullet had ever caused. He knelt beside the
blood, touching it with his bare fingertips. It was still warm.
Near the bathroom door lay Sophie’s tiny yellow hair clip, snapped in half.
Marco rushed in behind him, radio in hand. “Boss! We caught one of Moretti’s
scouts hiding in the woods behind the motel. He’s alive.”
Dominic stood up, his eyes blazing with a demonic fire. “Bring him here.”
Two seconds later, a battered mercenary in a wet tactical vest was thrown onto
the blood-soaked carpet before Dominic.
Dominic rested his heavy boot on the man’s broken collarbone. “Where is she?”
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The mercenary spat blood. “Go to hell, Valente. Moretti has her. He’s taking her
and the bastard kid to the Old Foundry in Coatesville. You’re already too late.”
