Chapter 304
โGo ahead and eat,โ Jerry said warily. โI canโt shake the feeling this is way too easy.โ
Jerry warily scanned the surroundings. The area was eerily quiet, with only the rustling wind breaking the silence. He could sense an invisible threat lingering in the air.
โItโs too quiet. Everythingโs going way too smoothly,โ Jerry thought to himself.
โBoss, whatโs got you so spooked? Weโre in Laystoland โ we sneaked back in and have been laying low this whole time. Nobodyโs onto us, so whatโs there to worry about?โ Zamir turned around, took in Jerryโs wary expression, and couldnโt help but snort.
Rick was cracking open a lobster while listening to their conversation. He chimed in, โCome on, Boss, stop worrying and dig in. This stuff tastes amazing.โ
โYes, Boss, you gotta try this. This is the good stuff โ we could never afford it back in the day. Get your fill, and then weโll be ready to roll.โ The rest of the crew called out to Jerry, encouraging him to join in.
Knowing how cautious Jerry always was, Nash spoke up to reassure him, โBoss, go grab some food. Zamir and I will keep watching.โ
Nash was mature and steady โ meticulous by nature โ so Jerry trusted him more. โKeep an eye out for a bit,โ Jerry said, still uneasy. โI canโt shake the feeling things are going too smoothly.โ
Jerry gave Nashโs shoulder a firm pat, his emerald-green eyes flashing with predatory intensity.
Nash advised, โYeah, honestly, Boss, I feel the same way. After this job, letโs get out of here.โ
After scanning the area one last time and making sure there was no real danger, Jerry watched his crew devouring their food like starved wolves. The sight stirred his own hunger. Reluctantly setting aside his unease, he sat down to join the meal.
Nash also kept a watchful eye on the surroundings. After a final check, he returned to his seat, reached for the wine bottle, and poured Jerry a glass of red wine.
โNo. Canโt drink today. Itโll mess things up,โ Jerry said, placing his hand firmly over the glass Nash offered.
โBoss, whereโs the other guys?โ Nash paused, lowered his gaze, and asked quietly.
Jerry said, โI left them behind as backup. If anything happens, weโve got support.โ
โHey, Zamir, got any more of the good stuff? Bring some out for us!โ one of the crew shouted.
โGot loads of good stuff in the kitchen,โ Zamir said, already heading off to fetch some.
Jerry watched Zamir walk away and barked, โRick, go with him.โ He gave the order to the blond man nearby.
โZamir can go alone,โ Rick protested with his mouth full. โIโm starving.โ He was holding a big lobster.
Jerry shot him a cold, warning glare. โGo.โ
Rick set down the lobster, wiped his mouth, and felt a sense of unease. With his guard up, he followed Zamir.
Zamir glanced at Rick, slung an arm around his shoulders, and grinned. โCome on, bro, Iโll show you where the real good stuff is.โ
โNot bad, bro. Youโve really been fitting in like a glove these past couple of days, huh?โ Rick slung his arm around Zamirโs shoulder, his eyes flicking to Zamirโs neck behind.
Zamir snorted, โFitting in? More like suffocating. Couldnโt do anything I wanted, and I still had to serve them. Itโs driving me nuts.โ His face twisted in frustration.
As the two left, Jerry heard the faint clatter of falling pebbles from the window. He instantly tensed, every sense on high alert.
โBoss, itโs nothing,โ Nash said reassuringly as he stood up. โWeโre in the mountain woods โ birds are everywhere. Sometimes they swoop down to peck at the ground. Iโll go check it out.โ
โIโm coming with you,โ Jerry said, immediately moving to follow Nash.
โBoss, itโs nothing. Just keep eating โ the drugs should kick in once weโre done.โ
โEnough eating. Nash, where are those two girls? Take me to them.โ Jerryโs gaze shifted to Nash.
Nash said calmly, โNo need to rush.โ
Jerry remained silent, his piercing emerald-green eyes boring into Nash with unsettling intensity.
โOver here,โ Nash said, lowering his gaze as he led Jerry toward Zinniaโs private hot spring suite.
Jerryโs icy gaze bore into Nash. โNash, do you feel somethingโs off?โ
โYeah,โ Nash said.
โNash, something feels off about you.โ Jerry narrowed his eyes, sizing up the man beside him.
In a flash, his hand shot out to grab Nash. But in the next instant, his wrist was seized.
โBoss, you sure took your time figuring it out,โ โNashโ said.
โBoss!โ The men behind him tensed, their faces darkening with menace.
Jerryโs men moved to help, but suddenly, several agile figures in dark green tactical gear dropped down from above. In an instant, the two groups were locked in a fierce fight.
Jerry looked ahead at the people being blocked. He was no pushover. In a flash, he broke free and engaged โNashโ in combat.
Jerryโs emerald eyes flashed with a deadly chill as he crouched low, drew a dagger from his belt, and lunged forward.
โWho the hell are you?โ Jerry roared. โNathan? Noโฆ no way. Nathanโs body is wrecked โ heโs on deathโs door. No way he could fight me like this.โ
The man before him was clearly formidable.
With one hand, Nash โ or more accurately, Yannis โ effortlessly parried the incoming dagger. At the same time, he casually peeled off the flayed mask from his face, revealing strikingly handsome features that seemed almost unreal.
โYannis Perkins.โ Jerry clearly recognized Yannis.
Yannis was an even tougher opponent than Nathan. In Jinston โ or rather, across Laystoland โ the Perkins family held significant sway.
Jerryโs crew was afraid of Nathan, but now that Nathan was physically broken, he was no threat at all in a fight. But with Yannis in the picture, it was a whole different game.
Jerry demanded, โWeโve got no beef with you guys. Why the hell are you coming at us?โ
Yannis glared at Jerry and snapped, โYou go after my girl, and you still say weโve got no beef?โ Yannisโs tone was ice-cold as he struck without mercy.
Jerry gritted his teeth as he parried Yannisโs blows, blurting out, โYour girl? Ms. Jenkins? Yannis, weโre after Zinnia, not her. This is all a misunderstanding.โ
Jerry thought, โWeโd planned to deal with Maisie too if she tried to cause trouble โ handle both at once. But now, thatโs off the table. Damn it, weโve been under surveillance this whole time.โ
โWho told you I only have one girl?โ Yannis sneered. His face darkened dangerously when he heard Zinnia was the target. He was done playing cat and mouse.
Jerry glared at Yannis and snapped, โYannis. So much for talking.โ Jerry realized the one Yannis truly cared about was Zinnia.
โDamn it, I must be the worldโs biggest idiot to buy into Zamirโs bullshit,โ Jerry cursed inwardly. โWho would have thought Yannis would actually give a damn about just Zinnia?โ
Jerry glanced back โ his men were locked in brutal combat. The sharp cracks of gunfire clashed with the savage thuds of hand-to-hand fighting.
Anyone who made it out of that organization was no pushover โ maybe not the brightest, but their skills were undeniable.
โRick still hasnโt returned,โ Jerry thought, his unease growing. โNashโs been impersonated, Zamirโs probably dead, and Rickโs most likely done for.โ
Jerryโs eyes blazed with bloodlust as he yanked the gun from his waistband and fired at Yannis.
Jerry thought grimly, โI never wanted to mess with the Perkins family, but now that weโre after the same thing, thereโs no avoiding it. Either way means death โ so we might as well take our chances and fight like hell.โ
Yannisโs gaze never wavered.
Jerry yanked out his gun and squeezed the trigger โ nothing. โWhat the hell?โ he muttered, disbelief flashing across his face. This was his ace in the hole, and it had failed him when he needed it most.
Yannis pinned him down in one swift move. โIdiot,โ he sneered. โI already disabled your gun.โ