The Accountant

Chapter 30 Princess Dinara

Where am I? Feeling like her head was splitting in two, she groaned. She tried to shift to lessen the

ache. It was no use. Everywhere hurt. Especially her shoulder.

Think! She couldn't. Her mind was blanked. So blanked.

Something was telling her, this was bad. Wherever she was. It was bad. She had to go back to her

family. Who were her family?

Her blue-violet eyes opened and her lips twisted. Glancing around, she tried to remember where she

was.

This was some kind of a warehouse. She was on a small cot, IV inserted in the back of her left hand

and she was in a Mickey Mouse shirt with bandages underneath. The room she was in was small and

poorly lit.

She was a captive. Someone took her from her family. Again, who was her family?

Fear made her hyperventilate. I don't remember anything.

***

It was evening when she came to. Her room was very dark, only a reflection of lights from the street

can be seen from a small window.

No one came to her. No one offered food or water.

On wobbly legs, she tried to get up. She was able to. It was a small victory.

More alert, she glanced at the window once more. Presumably, she was kidnapped, there was only one

sensible thing to do. Escape.

Go to the nearest police station and report herself missing. She snorted. She was one piece of work.

Maman had always told her so.

She was jolted from her musings. Who was maman?

It was really frustrating her to no end. She would make sure to try harder later after she escaped this

place.

***

She was being followed. Men. Two of them.

She didn't know she had skills, she was able to grab a gun from one of the guards and shot some of

the men guarding the perimeters of the warehouse and she did it without batting an eyelash despite her

injuries.

How to get rid of her tail? She was still hugging the shadows of the dockside, trying to look for the best

place to hide.

She scanned her surroundings. Maria. That was the name written on a cargo vessel docked half a mile

away. Okay. Think, girl! What else did maman teach you? Whoever she was, she had taught her a lot.

Maybe she also knew how to swim.

Let's put that to the test.

"Hey, stop!" She didn't need to look back to check if those men were her captors.

Without the slightest hesitation, she jumped in the frigid waters. It was clumsy and her body went deep.

She peddled her legs and arms weakly, spreading back and forth under the water, bringing her back to

the surface.

I can swim. But her injured shoulder would not be able to hold on for too long. Shit!

Then gunshots thundered in the distance. Holy shit!

____________

Dominic

Beau gave them the exact location of where the enemies were keeping Dinara.

It was a delipidated warehouse southwest of San Francisco Bay's western edge, near the Golden Gate

Bridge. A lot of legal and illegal activities circulated around the area.

His shipping line was among the bloodline of the docks and he was quite familiar with the place.

With night vision goggles, they slowly approach the building.

"Everyone in place?"

"Yes, tzar."

"Good." He raised his hand to signal his men. At the count of three.

3 2 1...

The largest of his men kicked the door open and in a practiced coordinated movement they had their

guns pointed to the men inside the warehouse.

"Drop your fucking weapons now!" Dominic growled. When one man hesitated, he unceremoniously

shot him between his eyes. Dead in a heartbeat, he fell to the ground. "I won't tell you again."

He had his sights pinned to a familiar trembling man before him. Jordan.

"Tzar, Samuel made me do it."

"Samuel is dead. I skinned him alive. Exactly what I am going to do to you. Where is my sister?" His

deep gravelly voice was harsh and promising death.

"She...she is not here." He continued to back away from Dominic.

"Search the area, Alec. Jordan and I will have a talk."

"No!" He began to cry and tried to run away from Dominic. One of the men effortlessly caught him and

brought him back." "Tzar, I'm telling you the truth, she's not here."

The mafia tzar prowled towards him, his favorite knife glinting. "Spread his hands on the table."

"No!" Thrashing has done him nothing, the men tightened their hold.

With a weapon so thin and sharp, it was so easy cutting his thumb and pointy finger. He screamed from

the intense pain. "Where is my sister?"

When no answer came, Dominic cut his middle and ring finger, the severed digits falling on the floor.

"Nothing? You are tougher than Samuel. Remove his pants."

"No...please...she escaped. Two of my men are following her. Please." Fuck!

This was a fucking waste of time. His sister was out there.

"Kill everyone. Bring Jordan to the prison. I'm not done with him. Alec, let's go."

Where are you Dinara?

***

Dominic had always known his sister was tougher than she looked.

The men she shot point-blank at the alley behind the warehouse was proof of that. They had taught her

well. Especially maman.

She was kept on a shed behind the building and she had escaped through the small window. Good girl.

But where could she be? He hoped she was on her way home. Beau and his mother would be happy to

see her.

Hoped bloomed in his chest. Nevertheless, they kept searching for the whole area. He had to be sure

she was no longer here.

After hours and hours of turning every stone and knocking on every door, still no signs of Dinara.

"She might be on her way home," Alec muttered. Breathing in and out from exhaustion.

He nodded. Agreeing. Though something was telling him otherwise.

"Assign men on every street from here to leading home. Send her picture to their phones."

"Yes, tzar." His general immediately began to make some phone calls while Dominic pressed his

Bluetooth device hearing the incoming beep.

"Detka,"

"Dominic, we found Antoine Lemonte." She announced breathlessly. It was so fucking good to hear her

voice, even better with positive news.

"We are on our way home." He signaled Alec.