Chapter 19

The abandoned chemical plant reeked of acrid fumes. Adrianna was bound to a rusted iron chair, her wrists raw and bleeding from the ropes. She stared at the deranged Cecilia with unnerving calm. "You won't get away with this." "Shut up!" Cecilia's hand shot up, her nails raking three bloody lines across Adrianna's cheek. "When Derick arrives, I'll make sure you both die together!" Behind her, five burly men were wiring explosives. One of them asked nervously, "Ms. Reed, I thought we were just kidnapping her?" Cecilia pulled a thick wad of cash from her bag and threw it on the floor. "Take the money and keep quiet, or die here and now. Your choice." Adrianna's pupils constricted sharply. The bag of C4 at Cecilia's feet was enough to flatten the entire factory. The roar of an engine grew louder as a black SUV crashed through the iron gate. The moment the car door was kicked open, gunshots rang out. Derick dodged the bullets, then fired a shot over his shoulder, striking the arme