chapter 24

As Dominic stepped out of the elevator onto the ground floor, his phone jolted to life. He pulled it out, his brow furrowing at the sight of Rosie's name on the screen.

"What's she calling for?" He wondered, recalling the tension-filled afternoon and her abrupt departure from the office. She was still furious with him, and he'd expected her to keep her distance. But before the call could ring out, he answered, and her panicked voice crackled through the line, her words tumbling out in a frantic stammer.

"Help me, Dominic…"

The desperation in her tone sent a jolt through him.

"I think someone broke in. He; " Rosie's words were severed mid-sentence as the call abruptly cut off.

His eyes widened, his face tightening with concern. "What...what's wrong?" He muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. His lips trembled, and his hands shook as he hastily redialed her number, but the call went straight to voicemail.

"Pick up, please…" He urged, his voice laced with desperation as he tried her number again. But she still didn't answer, and the call went to voicemail once more.

With a surge of adrenaline, he shoved his phone into his pocket and quickened his pace, his long strides eating up the distance to the parking lot. He yanked open the car door and slid inside, his chest heaving as he panted.

He started the engine and stepped down on the accelerator, the tires screeching as he sped out of the company's parking lot. "What's going on?"

***

"Come on!" Dominic growled, grinding his teeth as he leaned on the horn, the blaring sound echoing through the air.

"Move!" He yelled at the slowpoke in front of him, his frustration boiling over. He spotted a gap in the next lane and swooped into it, cutting off another driver.

As he approached the intersection, he groaned in dismay, spotting the red light ahead. "No, no, no!" He gunned the engine, ignoring the signal and speeding through the intersection, the rush of adrenaline fueling his reckless drive.

Rosie's terrified voice still lingered in his mind, fueling his desperation to reach her. He yearned to sprout wings and fly to her side. But reality cruelly denied him that power, leaving him to rely on his car. So he drove like a madman, weaving through traffic with a daredevil's abandon.

The risk of an accident barely registered in his mind; all that mattered was getting home, getting to Rosie. Skidding tires, blaring horns, and screeching brakes accompanied his frantic journey, his sole focus fixed on reaching her before it was too late.

As he turned onto his street, the darkness seemed to swallow everything whole. He parked his car a few houses down, not wanting to alert whoever might be inside.

With a calculated stealth, he approached the house, easing open the gate with barely a whisper. He slipped off his shoes and padded silently toward the window, his eyes scanning the living room. The flickering light cast eerie shadows, making it hard to see clearly. He bit his lip, his hands curling into fists at his waist.

"What now?"

He entered the parlor. A sliver of light from Rosie's room beckoned him, and he fumbled for his phone, turning on its flashlight. With bated breath, he crept toward her room. At the door, he paused, his heart racing as he steeled himself for what he might find.

He exhaled sharply and burst into the room. "Who's there!" He said, ready for a fight. But the room was empty. His gaze landed on Rosie, lying motionless on the floor beside the bed. His voice dropped to a worried whisper.

"Rosie."

He rushed to her side, kneeling beside her. A scarf gagged her mouth, and a thick rope bound her hands behind her back. She lay unconscious, her body limp. He put his phone aside and gently lifted her head, cradling it in his lap.

He yanked the scarf from her mouth and swiftly untied the rope binding her wrists. "Rosie!" He called out, trying to rouse her. But his voice was interrupted by a deep, masculine voice from the doorway.

"Are you; " the words died on the man's lips as he spotted Dominic. In a flash, he turned and sprinted out of the room.

Dominic gently laid Rosie down and took off after him. His leg nearly betrayed him on the slick floor, but he managed to keep his balance. He burst into the parlor, scanning the room frantically, but the man was nowhere to be seen.

His eyes narrowed, suspecting the intruder might be hiding behind the curtain. He crept toward it, his senses on high alert.

The man came from behind the curtain, his arms wrapping around Dominic's neck in a vicious chokehold. Dominic struggled to break free, his hands clawing at the man's arms as he gasped for air.

"I'm someone you shouldn't have seen!" He snarled, his hot breath on Dominic's ear.