Chapter 299
The moment Zinniaโs car left the underground garage, the figures in the shadows sprang into action. They drove a van, following Zinnia.
โTheyโre finally gone. Time to settle the score. Damn, Iโve been feeling like someoneโs been watching us, but I canโt even tell if theyโre really after us. I was too scared to go anywhere.
โLucky for us, that dumb little bitch just had to go out and have some fun.โ
A voice crackled through the earpiece with doubt. โIsnโt this a damn trap? Theyโve barely left the house for agesโso why suddenly go out now? Could they be trying to lure us out?โ
โSo what if theyโre trying to bait us? Itโs just a weak girlโno way theyโd go to all that trouble for her. Itโs said that securityโs tight around the end of the year.
โWe sneaked back in, so thereโs no way theyโve actually spotted us, right?โ Snide remarks crackled through the earpiece. They believed with their skills, there was no way theyโd ever get caught.
Another one added, โZinniaโs just a weak girl and Nathanโs injured now. They can barely look after themselves. In Jinston, they have no one to turn to, and the entire Shaw familyโs behind bars.
โEven if sheโs with Yannis, theyโve only just met. Yannis wouldnโt care much about her. Men lose interest quickly and their thrill wears off fast. Havenโt even seen them together much lately, so heโs probably already lost patience with her.
โDidnโt Donald say both the Jenkins and Lynn families care about Zinnia? Something doesnโt add up,โ one of them muttered.
โDonโt mention that damn cripple. Donald really pisses me off. Useless as hellโdidnโt give us any fucking useful intel. All he said was that Zinniaโs dumb as a rock and easy to fool.โ
โBullshit. If she was really that stupid, why would all those big families give a damn about her?โ
โWhere the hell is Donald now? If he werenโt Zinniaโs father and still had some use, Iโd have ditched his ass ages ago.โ
โHeโs holed up in the abandoned factory with both legs busted, moaning all fucking day. Canโt even control his own piss and shitโitโs disgusting as hell. Once this jobโs done, Iโm gonna finish him off for good.โ
The earpieces crackled with a barrage of complaints.
โThere are two trained guys in Zinniaโs car, and thereโs a man in the back seatโno idea who he is.โ Frowning, the man who followed Zinnia watched as the car drove off into the distance.
A suspicious voice crackled through the earpiece. โThat guy in the back seatโcould it be Nathan? Didnโt they say he sneaked back into Jinston?โ
โNo, doesnโt look like him. That guyโs just plain-lookingโnothing like Nathan. Iโd recognize Nathanโs face even if he was dust. Nathan would never look like that.
โProbably just another bodyguard. Rich people are scared shitless, always gotta have someone tagging along wherever they go.โ
โYou fucking morons! That mysterious stranger said Nathan can disguise himselfโmaybe that was him.
โI didnโt expect Zinnia actually mattered this much.โ The earpiece erupted with a chorus of furious curses. โHeโs definitely trying to make us drop our guard. Good thing weโre sharp enough to see through it.โ
โYes, Boss. Youโre so sharp,โ someone flattered.
One added through the earpiece, โPerfect. Nathanโs out too. Weโll deal with them together.โ
Another one also said through the earpiece, โTch, these rich bastards canโt even take a piss without an entourage of bodyguards. How ridiculous!โ
โSo what if theyโre trained? Thereโs just a handful of themโyou really think our whole crew canโt take them down!โ
โRich bastards are so high maintenance, scared shitless, gotta have bodyguards tagging along everywhere. Once I get through this, Iโm gonna live like a king too.โ
The earpiece buzzed with a chaotic mix of voices, everyone talking over each other.
โNathan doesnโt even dare show his real face. Since he went through all that trouble to disguise himself, he probably just took Zinnia out for some fun. Doesnโt seem like much of a threat,โ their boss Jerry scoffed, his suspicions easing slightly.
โListen, we canโt afford to fail this time. We have to succeedโno matter whatโand finish them off for good. That mysterious stranger said the antidote he gave us didnโt fully neutralize the poison in our bodies.
โWe wonโt get the real cure unless we make Nathan experience heart-wrenching agony. Only then will that guy give us the antidote,โ Jerry added cruelly.
One of them snarled, โAlright. Once we get that fucking antidote, I swear Iโll make that guy pay.โ
At the mention of the mysterious stranger, all of them gritted their teeth.
Jerry barked, โMove out. This time is our best shotโonce Zinnia and the others actually reach the resort, itโll be way easier for us to make our move.
โWeโre being followed,โ Emily muttered, checking the rearview mirror.
Maisie spotted the unmarked van and said calmly, โThey wonโt dare make a move while weโre still downtown. Besides, weโve got our people tailing them too.โ
โGet some sleep if youโre tired,โ Nathan said, glancing at Zinnia, who was yawning beside him.
Perhaps too excited about heading to the resort, Zinnia had stayed up unusually late last night and woken up early this morningโno wonder she was feeling drowsy now.
โNo, Iโm not sleepy.โ Zinnia shook her head stubbornly, her eyes locked on Nathan beside her.
Upon closer inspection, Zinnia noticed that Nathanโs face had been disguisedโa completely unremarkable one.
โNathan, seeing you with this face feels so strange to me.โ Zinnia looked at Nathanโs face. It wasnโt exactly plainโjust an average-looking guy. But compared to his usual striking features, it was almost disappointingly ordinary.
โSo with your face changed, will they not figure out itโs you?โ Zinnia asked, puzzled.
Nathan shook his head. โNo, if anything, theyโll only be more convinced that Iโm with you.โ
โThen why bother disguising your face?โ Zinnia asked. โIf you knew theyโd figure it out anywayโฆโ
โIf I didnโt do that, theyโd suspect itโs a setup,โ Nathan chuckled, gently pinching her cheek.
He added, โIf I showed up with my real face, theyโd be certain itโs a trap. They know I came back quietly, so they wouldnโt expect me to show up so openly.โ
Zinnia suddenly understood everything and thought to herself with a sigh, โSmart people really are on another level. His mind works like lightning - thereโs no way I could ever keep up.
โI thought he changed his face just to avoid drawing attention, but heโs already figured out exactly what the enemies are thinking.โ
Zinnia marveled inwardly, โNathan is truly brilliant. If he sets his mind to it, thereโs absolutely nothing he canโt figure out. Heโs a nightmare to his enemies. Thank goodness heโs my master.โ
โWhy am I not smart? Did you overdose me with medicine when I was little and turn me stupid?โ Zinnia pouted, propping her chin in a troubled look.
She wondered, โWhy is everyone around me so brilliant, like Nathan and Yannis? So why am I the only one whoโs not? Even though theyโve both taught me, I feel like Iโve barely grasped one-fifth of what they know.โ
But Zinnia wasnโt one to dwell on self-doubt, so she decided to pin the blame squarely on Nathan instead.
She thought, โAs a kid, especially before I turned three, I was taking tons of medicine non-stop. My mouth was always bitterโso bitter it still makes me want to cry just thinking about it.
โAll those meds mustโve messed up my brain. Thereโs definitely no way itโs my fault.โ
Nathan paused, not expecting the blame to fall on him. Still, he accepted it without hesitation. โSorry, itโs on me.โ
โOnce this is all over, youโve got to help me get smarter. Whenever Iโm with you and Yannis, I feel like my brainโs just decoration.โ Zinnia tugged at Nathanโs sleeve.
Maisie listened to the banter between Nathan and Zinnia, stifling a laugh. She thought to herself, โNo wonder Zinnia is so adorableโitโs all thanks to Nathan spoiling her rotten.โ
โAlright,โ Nathan said with a playful grin. โIโll figure it out to help you get smarter.โ