Come in 299
Posted on July 09, 2025 ยท 0 mins read
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Chapter 299

The moment Zinniaโ€™s car left the underground garage, the figures in the shadows sprang into action. They drove a van, following Zinnia.

โ€œTheyโ€™re finally gone. Time to settle the score. Damn, Iโ€™ve been feeling like someoneโ€™s been watching us, but I canโ€™t even tell if theyโ€™re really after us. I was too scared to go anywhere.

โ€œLucky for us, that dumb little bitch just had to go out and have some fun.โ€

A voice crackled through the earpiece with doubt. โ€œIsnโ€™t this a damn trap? Theyโ€™ve barely left the house for agesโ€“so why suddenly go out now? Could they be trying to lure us out?โ€

โ€œSo what if theyโ€™re trying to bait us? Itโ€™s just a weak girlโ€“no way theyโ€™d go to all that trouble for her. Itโ€™s said that securityโ€™s tight around the end of the year.

โ€œWe sneaked back in, so thereโ€™s no way theyโ€™ve actually spotted us, right?โ€ Snide remarks crackled through the earpiece. They believed with their skills, there was no way theyโ€™d ever get caught.

Another one added, โ€œZinniaโ€™s just a weak girl and Nathanโ€™s injured now. They can barely look after themselves. In Jinston, they have no one to turn to, and the entire Shaw familyโ€™s behind bars.

โ€œEven if sheโ€™s with Yannis, theyโ€™ve only just met. Yannis wouldnโ€™t care much about her. Men lose interest quickly and their thrill wears off fast. Havenโ€™t even seen them together much lately, so heโ€™s probably already lost patience with her.

โ€œDidnโ€™t Donald say both the Jenkins and Lynn families care about Zinnia? Something doesnโ€™t add up,โ€ one of them muttered.

โ€œDonโ€™t mention that damn cripple. Donald really pisses me off. Useless as hellโ€“didnโ€™t give us any fucking useful intel. All he said was that Zinniaโ€™s dumb as a rock and easy to fool.โ€

โ€œBullshit. If she was really that stupid, why would all those big families give a damn about her?โ€

โ€œWhere the hell is Donald now? If he werenโ€™t Zinniaโ€™s father and still had some use, Iโ€™d have ditched his ass ages ago.โ€

โ€œHeโ€™s holed up in the abandoned factory with both legs busted, moaning all fucking day. Canโ€™t even control his own piss and shitโ€“itโ€™s disgusting as hell. Once this jobโ€™s done, Iโ€™m gonna finish him off for good.โ€

The earpieces crackled with a barrage of complaints.

โ€œThere are two trained guys in Zinniaโ€™s car, and thereโ€™s a man in the back seatโ€“no 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. โ€œThat guy in the back seatโ€“could it be Nathan? Didnโ€™t they say he sneaked back into Jinston?โ€

โ€œNo, doesnโ€™t look like him. That guyโ€™s just plain-lookingโ€“nothing like Nathan. Iโ€™d recognize Nathanโ€™s face even if he was dust. Nathan would never look like that.

โ€œProbably just another bodyguard. Rich people are scared shitless, always gotta have someone tagging along wherever they go.โ€

โ€œYou fucking morons! That mysterious stranger said Nathan can disguise himselfโ€“maybe that was him.

โ€œI didnโ€™t expect Zinnia actually mattered this much.โ€ The earpiece erupted with a chorus of furious curses. โ€œHeโ€™s definitely trying to make us drop our guard. Good thing weโ€™re sharp enough to see through it.โ€

โ€œYes, Boss. Youโ€™re so sharp,โ€ someone flattered.

One added through the earpiece, โ€œPerfect. Nathanโ€™s out too. Weโ€™ll deal with them together.โ€

Another one also said through the earpiece, โ€œTch, these rich bastards canโ€™t even take a piss without an entourage of bodyguards. How ridiculous!โ€

โ€œSo what if theyโ€™re trained? Thereโ€™s just a handful of themโ€”you really think our whole crew canโ€™t take them down!โ€

โ€œRich bastards are so high maintenance, scared shitless, gotta have bodyguards tagging along everywhere. Once I get through this, Iโ€™m gonna live like a king too.โ€

The earpiece buzzed with a chaotic mix of voices, everyone talking over each other.

โ€œNathan doesnโ€™t 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. Doesnโ€™t seem like much of a threat,โ€ their boss Jerry scoffed, his suspicions easing slightly.

โ€œListen, we canโ€™t afford to fail this time. We have to succeedโ€“no matter whatโ€“and finish them off for good. That mysterious stranger said the antidote he gave us didnโ€™t fully neutralize the poison in our bodies.

โ€œWe wonโ€™t 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, โ€œAlright. Once we get that fucking antidote, I swear Iโ€™ll make that guy pay.โ€

At the mention of the mysterious stranger, all of them gritted their teeth.

Jerry barked, โ€œMove out. This time is our best shotโ€“once Zinnia and the others actually reach the resort, itโ€™ll be way easier for us to make our move.

โ€œWeโ€™re being followed,โ€ Emily muttered, checking the rearview mirror.

Maisie spotted the unmarked van and said calmly, โ€œThey wonโ€™t dare make a move while weโ€™re still downtown. Besides, weโ€™ve got our people tailing them too.โ€

โ€œGet some sleep if youโ€™re 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 morningโ€“no wonder she was feeling drowsy now.

โ€œNo, Iโ€™m not sleepy.โ€ Zinnia shook her head stubbornly, her eyes locked on Nathan beside her.

Upon closer inspection, Zinnia noticed that Nathanโ€™s face had been disguisedโ€“a completely unremarkable one.

โ€œNathan, seeing you with this face feels so strange to me.โ€ Zinnia looked at Nathanโ€™s face. It wasnโ€™t exactly plainโ€“just an average-looking guy. But compared to his usual striking features, it was almost disappointingly ordinary.

โ€œSo with your face changed, will they not figure out itโ€™s you?โ€ Zinnia asked, puzzled.

Nathan shook his head. โ€œNo, if anything, theyโ€™ll only be more convinced that Iโ€™m with you.โ€

โ€œThen why bother disguising your face?โ€ Zinnia asked. โ€œIf you knew theyโ€™d figure it out anywayโ€ฆโ€

โ€œIf I didnโ€™t do that, theyโ€™d suspect itโ€™s a setup,โ€ Nathan chuckled, gently pinching her cheek.

He added, โ€œIf I showed up with my real face, theyโ€™d be certain itโ€™s a trap. They know I came back quietly, so they wouldnโ€™t expect me to show up so openly.โ€

Zinnia suddenly understood everything and thought to herself with a sigh, โ€˜Smart people really are on another level. His mind works like lightning - thereโ€™s no way I could ever keep up.

โ€˜I thought he changed his face just to avoid drawing attention, but heโ€™s already figured out exactly what the enemies are thinking.โ€™

Zinnia marveled inwardly, โ€˜Nathan is truly brilliant. If he sets his mind to it, thereโ€™s absolutely nothing he canโ€™t figure out. Heโ€™s a nightmare to his enemies. Thank goodness heโ€™s my master.โ€™

โ€œWhy 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, โ€˜Why is everyone around me so brilliant, like Nathan and Yannis? So why am I the only one whoโ€™s not? Even though theyโ€™ve both taught me, I feel like Iโ€™ve barely grasped one-fifth of what they know.โ€™

But Zinnia wasnโ€™t one to dwell on self-doubt, so she decided to pin the blame squarely on Nathan instead.

She thought, โ€˜As a kid, especially before I turned three, I was taking tons of medicine non-stop. My mouth was always bitterโ€“so bitter it still makes me want to cry just thinking about it.

โ€˜All those meds mustโ€™ve messed up my brain. Thereโ€™s definitely no way itโ€™s my fault.โ€™

Nathan paused, not expecting the blame to fall on him. Still, he accepted it without hesitation. โ€œSorry, itโ€™s on me.โ€

โ€œOnce this is all over, youโ€™ve got to help me get smarter. Whenever Iโ€™m with you and Yannis, I feel like my brainโ€™s just decoration.โ€ Zinnia tugged at Nathanโ€™s sleeve.

Maisie listened to the banter between Nathan and Zinnia, stifling a laugh. She thought to herself, โ€œNo wonder Zinnia is so adorableโ€“itโ€™s all thanks to Nathan spoiling her rotten.โ€

โ€œAlright,โ€ Nathan said with a playful grin. โ€œIโ€™ll figure it out to help you get smarter.โ€


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