Chapter 1427 We Have to Avenge Them

• Only after the battle on the island ended did Sweden’s armed forces finally show up, dragging their feet. Dominic wasn’t surprised. Even though the authorities knew he was on that island, they wouldn’t dare send troops to back him up. They couldn’t afford to offend Clusia—but offending the West’s top dog was even worse. If they helped Dominic, the blowback would be brutal. As long as they stayed neutral and didn’t help those bio-soldiers hunt him down, Dominic was already grateful enough. A Swedish senior official arrived with the troops and started apologizing all over the place. Dominic couldn’t be bothered. He had Brandon deal with it. “Sir, are we heading straight home next?” Gareth couldn’t help asking. News that Dominic and Ms. Winona Schroeder had been hit by a terrorist attack had already shot around the world. Back home, tons of people were worried sick. Now that they’d wiped out the enemy, the safest move seemed to be flying home first. After all, no one could be sure the U.S. military district wouldn’t send more bio-soldiers after them. If they sent another unit of those things, even with elite operators like Gareth on the team, it would get ugly fast—and bloody. “Head home? Hell no.” Dominic’s face stayed calm, but his eyes went cold. “A few of our compatriots were gunned down. I’m avenging them.” The second he pictured those compatriots being shot, rage burned through him. To outsiders, it was just a headline—several Clusians killed. To Dominic, it was lives cut short and families shattered. As the War God of Aploth, failing to protect his own gnawed at him. They were innocent. They died because they got caught in his crossfire. So he had to make this right—for his duty, his conscience, and the ones who’d fallen. “But sir, shouldn’t we report to the Elders Council first?” Gareth asked quickly. “I’ll handle it.” Dominic waved him off. “Give me the satellite phone. I need to make a few calls.” His cell had been soaked in seawater and was dead. He’d been out of contact for too long. Yvonne had to be terrified after hearing about the attack. He needed to call and tell her he was alive. Gareth hurried over with the sat phone. For a special-ops team like theirs, roaming the globe on missions, a sat phone was non-negotiable. Dominic stepped aside with it and dialed Yvonne’s number. A moment later, the line clicked. Yvonne’s voice came through: “Hello, this is Yvonne. Who’s this?” “It’s me,” Dominic said quietly. “Babe, it’s you? Is it really you?” Her voice spiked with emotion. “The news said you were attacked over there. Is that true? Where are you now? Are you hurt?” It had only been a day, but for Yvonne it felt like a year. Ever since she’d heard Dominic was under attack in Sweden, her heart hadn’t settled once. Now that he’d called, she finally exhaled. “I’m fine,” Dominic said softly. “But a few crew members who came with me were shot by the terrorists.” “Honey, I probably can’t come back right away. I’ve got to take care of things here first. Don’t worry about me.” Silence fell on her end. “Okay. I get it,” she said at last. “Be careful. I’ll be home waiting for you.”