Page 70 of A Duke's Scandalous Obsession
He immediately noticed that the door was open just enough to allow an adult person to slide in through. With a silent nod of understanding, the two men slipped through the door, their entry swift and stealth as they vanished into the depths of the abandoned dwelling, in hopes that it would bring them closer to the girls.
Inside, the air was heavy with the scent of decay, the musty odor of age and neglect clinging to the dilapidated walls like a shroud. The floorboards creaked beneath their weight as they moved with cautious precision, trying to make as little sound as possible.
With each passing moment, the tension in the air grew palpable. Dominic was acutely aware of the danger that lurked around every corner. Yet, despite the perilous nature of their endeavor, they pressed on, knowing that Reginald, Annabel, and Rosie counted on them all.
The corridors were too dark to see, even with the light of the moon oozing through the window. Suddenly, just as they were about to climb the nearest stairs, they found themselves confronted by two figures lurking in the darkness.
“Tim!” Dominic managed to exclaim, before he felt a swift and brutal punch to his cheek, making his entire head ring relentlessly.
He reacted instinctively, remembering everything he had ever learned or read about fighting, as both he and Tim tried to defend themselves against this sudden attack. Blows were exchanged with lightning speed, the sounds of fists connecting with flesh echoing through the stale air of the abandoned house.
With a swift and calculated strike, Dominic returned in the same manner, managing a strike that connected his fist to the ruffian’s jaw with a resounding thud sound. The force of the blow made the opponent stagger backward, momentarily throwing him off balance. Dominic continued to attack the man with each strike, delivering a publishing barrage of blows. His fists were a blur of motion as he was led by the desire to protect his new family.
However, no matter how hard he fought, Dominic found himself overpowered and subdued by the man who attacked him, his limbs restrained by the iron grip of the man in question. He threw a glance in Tim’s direction and could see that his friend was in the same predicament. They were caught off guard and that made them pay the price of defeat.
The two men proceeded to bind their hands in the back with rope, tightening it. “Move,” the other ruffian said, as he pushed Dominic towards the stairs.
Dominic wondered what this would mean. Now that they were bound, they wouldn’t be able to help Reginald. Was all lost, or would they still be able to find Annabel and Rosie?
The two men pushed them up the creaking staircase of the decrepit house. Each step seemed to groan in protest beneath their weight, echoing through the musty corridors like a mournful lament. That was exactly how Dominic felt. They had one chance to catch George off guard and they wasted it because they weren’t careful enough.
At the top of the stairs, a heavy wooden door stood sentinel, its weathered surface bearing the scars of time and neglect. With a rough shove, the ruffians pushed Dominic and Tim through the door, sending them sprawling into the dimly lit chamber beyond.
Inside, the air was even thicker, heavier somehow, as the room was illuminated by the flickering glow of guttering candles. Shadows danced along the walls, casting eerie shapes upon the cracked plaster, as Dominic and Tim struggled to regain their bearings. However, they immediately saw that there were two figures in the room standing opposite each other. The man who was facing them had a scar on his forehead. More importantly, he had a pistol in his hand.
“George Thompson?” Dominic demanded to know, despite the fact that he was in no position to make any demands.
The man looked at him, although he didn’t say anything. Not to him, at least. Instead, he turned his attention back to the man who was standing in front of him. Only now did Dominic see the black bag that contained the money, which was resting on the ground, between the two men.
“So, you brought these two to help you?” George said, laughing.
Dominic had to admit that he didn’t imagine him like that. He seemed like less of a villain in his mind, and more of a desperate man driven to such extreme measures by his situation. This man, however, seemed to enjoy the mayhem he was creating. And that was dangerous. That meant he didn’t care about anything but getting what he came for, and that was the money.
“Bad choice, Stanhope,” George spoke as if it was all nothing but a joke to him. That made Dominic furious. “You see, I also brought over some friends who agreed to help me for a small share of that money you’ve brought me.”
“You have the money,” Reginald spoke desperately. “Take it. Just tell me where the girls are.”
“Yes, about that…” George scratched the back of his head with his pistol as he pondered. “The deal was to come alone. You didn’t come alone. I hate when deals are not upheld.”
“But I brought you the money!” Reginald spoke even more desperately this time.
“You did,” George nodded, pointing the gun at him once again. “But you didn’t follow the rules. Now I don’t have to follow the rules either.”
Dominic listened intently as he tried to break free of the ropes that bound him. He purposely pulled his wrists as far apart as he could, while the ruffian was tying him up, so that there was some leeway when he moved. If he were fortunate, he would be able to wiggle one hand free, then the other would be free as well.
He would take out one of the ruffians, help Tim, then they could help Reginald together, but taking out both the other ruffian and George. However, that still left the question of the pistol unresolved. George seemed to be the sort of man who would shoot first and ask questions later. That made him dangerous. So Dominic knew that he needed to grab the gun somehow.
He glanced in Tim’s direction. The two ruffians were busy listening to their boss’ monologue, while Tim was also trying to free himself off the ropes. He nodded in Dominic’s direction twice, then gestured at his hands tied in the back. Dominic could only hope that Tim also managed to wiggle free.
Dominic continued to twist and strain against the ropes that bound him, his muscles straining with the effort as he foughtagainst the constraints. With each tug and twist, the ropes finally began to loosen more and more, the bindings growing slack beneath the relentless pulling.
Then, with a final burst of effort, Dominic broke free, nodding at Tim, who understood immediately. Tim wasn’t free yet, but he lunged at the ruffian next to him with the entire force of his body, slamming the man into the wall behind him.
Dominic attacked the first ruffian, evading blows, this time striking with much more precision and power. He couldn’t allow himself to be subdued yet again. With a flurry of blows and strikes, he fought with a newfound ferocity born of desperation and determination.
Just as he was holding the man in a chokehold, he glanced at George. That was exactly the moment when Reginald grabbed the black back and swung it through the air, in George’s direction. The bag hit the pistol, throwing it out of his hand. Dominic knew this was his chance. He tightened the grip on the ruffian, then released him from his grip, allowing his unconscious body to slump down onto the dirty floor.
He threw his body through the air in the direction of the pistol, his fingers inches away from the cold steel, when a sudden movement caught his attention. He was not the only one reaching for it. Before he could react, George lunged forward with lightning speed, his hand closing around the weapon with a snake-like grip.
