Yannis said seriously, “Zinnia, we should avoid going out for fun for now. At school, stay with Maisie. After school, never get separated from Emily and the others. I’ll also arrange for a few people to watch over you discreetly.”
Getting involved with international underground syndicates makes things really complicated. The syndicate was completely wiped out, so retaliation was inevitable. If they find the connection between Zinnia and Nathan, and since they’ve targeted Donald, Zinnia is likely their real target.
She had stayed with the Shaw residence for two months. There was a real chance they’d picked up on some of her daily habits. Things escalated unexpectedly, forcing Yannis and Zinnia to head straight back to Cloud Harbor.
Soon after Yannis and Zinnia left, a shadowy figure hidden in the darkness reached for his earpiece. “That girl always has people guarding her. Making our move won’t be easy,” he reported. “Not long ago, I tailed Zinnia. She had two highly skilled bodyguards with her, and they were extremely vigilant. I nearly got spotted last time.” A steely voice came through the earpiece.
“Tough or not, we’re doing this. Nathan wrecked us all. Since he cares about that girl, we’ll make damn sure he learns what it feels like to lose everything. We’ve lost a lot. If we can’t get to Nathan right now, we can handle that damn girl. Since he values her more than his own life, I’ll make sure he loses everything–even his life.” A cold, mechanical voice crackled through the earpiece.
One of them thought coldly, “Nathan destroyed everything we had. Now we’ll make sure he experiences true agony.”
Damn it, they would have thought Nathan still had someone planted back in Laystoland. Zinnia was under such tight security. If it weren’t for that woman, they would never have found out.
“But now she’s always by Yannis Perkins’ side. If we provoke the Perkins family, there’ll be no turning back. Enoch, back in the day, his ruthless purge of the cartels sent shockwaves across the globe. Laystoland isn’t our turf. It’s the Perkins family’s territory,” the man’s voice was laced with hesitation.
“Yannis won’t be glued to her forever. There’ll come a time when they’re separated.”
Yannis and Zinnia returned to Cloud Harbor. “Zinnia, go back to your room and do your homework first. I need to handle some company matters,” Yannis said. Yannis headed to his study. Zinnia returned to her room.
Yannis entered the study and immediately called Jackson. “Hey, Yannis,” Jackson answered, standing in Nathan’s office.
Jackson’s brows knitted as he stared at Nathan’s unnaturally pale face. Jackson couldn’t understand what kind of chronic illness could leave him in such a weakened state.
Yannis didn’t mince words. “The international underground syndicate must be targeting Zinnia. They’re probably the ones who took Donald.”
As the words fell, a series of urgent coughs came from the other end of the phone. Each cough sounded as if it might bring up his lungs. Nathan’s fingers, unnaturally pale, clutched a black handkerchief to his mouth.
Jackson replied, “Yannis, please look after Zinnia for me. I’ll be back as soon as I can. Something urgent comes up. Gotta go.”
Jackson watched as Nathan’s face rapidly drained of color, then quickly hung up the phone. “Damn your so-called chronic condition. This isn’t just some old problem, it’s a full-blown illness.”
Jackson’s brows furrowed so deeply they might knot together. His tone was sharp with irritation as he turned to pour Nathan a glass of water.
The office heating was cranked up high. Jackson felt hot in just a dress shirt, while Nathan, on the other hand, was bundled up in a suit with a trench coat draped over his shoulders.
Chapter 270
“Was that Yannis on the phone just now? Did he say those syndicate members have returned to Laystoland?” Under Jackson’s sharp, assessing gaze, Nathan lifted his head and met his eyes directly; his own eyes glinting with dangerous frost.
Knowing Nathan had heard, Jackson didn’t hide it. “Yes, I need to return.” With Zinnia’s safety at stake, Jackson had to return immediately.
“I’ll go back with you. Since they’ve already found Zinnia, there’s no need for me to hide,” Nathan said. His long, graceful fingers tightly gripped the water cup, his voice smooth yet laced with a chilling coldness.
Jackson asked, “Are you sure you’re really okay?”
He claimed it was just an old ailment, but whenever Jackson asked what it was, Nathan wouldn’t say a word. But with Nathan’s ghostly pallor and frail condition, Jackson simply couldn’t bring himself to take his word for it.
Jackson knew all too well how stubborn Nathan could be. Once he decided to keep something to himself, no amount of prying would get it out of him. Especially after seventeen years apart, Nathan was completely different.
“It’s nothing. Just been feeling run down lately. A little rest is all I need.” Nathan averted his gaze, avoiding Jackson’s probing look.
“I’ll have my assistant book the flights right away,” Jackson said. His gaze flicked downward again, noticing Nathan’s hand clenched tightly around a handkerchief, hidden beneath the desk, his lips pressed into a tight line.
“Mm.” Nathan lowered his gaze.
After Jackson left, all traces of Nathan’s usual calm vanished as he punched the intercom button. “Bring me Yelena now!” Nathan’s voice was glacial, his eyes radiating undisguised lethality.
The only people who knew about Zinnia were Nathan, Quincey, and Yelena. Quincey had always been by Nathan’s side. Betrayal was simply unthinkable. Nathan thought to himself, 'Only Yelena knew about Zinnia’s situation.'
According to Jackson, Donald disappeared a little over a month ago. He had just reassigned Yelena at the same period. Nathan suspected that Yelena was most likely seeking revenge.
Quincey stepped into the office, his voice gentle as he called out, “Nathan.” Before him stood Nathan, a bloodthirsty, razor-sharp presence, terrifying to behold.
“Zinnia’s been targeted by those syndicated bastards,” Nathan said bitterly. “No matter how many precautions I took, in the end, I still failed to protect her.”
Nathan’s fists clenched violently, blue veins bulging beneath his skin. His chest heaved, a leaden weight crushing his heart. In an instant, his lips lost all color and his face turned deathly pale. His hand instinctively clutched at his chest, his back arching in agony.
Quincey reassured Nathan. “Don’t worry. Zinnia’s going to be fine. The Perkins family has her back, and Yannis is right by her side. As long as she stays with him, those people won’t dare do anything for now. Easy now, Nathan,” Quincey said gently. “Don’t get so worked up. It’s not good for your health.”
Quincey rushed to Nathan’s side. Seeing his bloodshot eyes, he swiftly pulled out a porcelain vial from his pocket, popped it open, tipped two pills into his palm, and pressed them into Nathan’s mouth.
Nathan fought back the searing pain tearing through his chest, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he forced the pills down.
“Nathan! Get a hold of yourself! Zinnia’s still waiting for you back home.” Quincey’s broad, steady hand gripped Nathan’s shoulder firmly.
Nathan shut his eyes briefly, concealing the bloodthirsty chill within. “I can’t rush. Zinnia’s still waiting for me,” he reminded himself and his nails dug deep into his palms, drawing blood as he wrestled to contain the volcanic fury within.
“Nathan, stay calm. Zinnia is waiting for you back home.” Quincey gave Nathan’s shoulder a firm, steadying pat. Quincey was several years older than Nathan and had always treated him like a younger brother.
He had stood by Nathan through everything. He knew all too well just how much Zinnia meant to Nathan. Nathan cared so deeply about Zinnia that just knowing she was being targeted sent him into a frenzy.
“I’m going back to Laystoland,” Nathan ground out, his voice hoarse from the effort.
Quincey replied, “I’ll handle the arrangements. We’ll return to Laystoland at the earliest opportunity.” Quincey knew Nathan wasn’t asking, he was just informing him. It wasn’t up for debate. Quincey knew perfectly well, once Nathan made a decision, that was it.