Chapter 304

“Go ahead and eat,” Jerry said warily. “I can’t shake the feeling this is way too easy.”

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.

‘It’s too quiet. Everything’s going way too smoothly,’ Jerry thought to himself.

“Boss, what’s got you so spooked? We’re in Laystoland – we sneaked back in and have been laying low this whole time. Nobody’s onto us, so what’s there to worry about?” Zamir turned around, took in Jerry’s wary expression, and couldn’t help but snort.

Rick was cracking open a lobster while listening to their conversation. He chimed in, “Come on, Boss, stop worrying and dig in. This stuff tastes amazing.”

“Yes, Boss, you gotta try this. This is the good stuff – we could never afford it back in the day. Get your fill, and then we’ll be ready to roll.” 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, “Boss, go grab some food. Zamir and I will keep watching.”

Nash was mature and steady – meticulous by nature – so Jerry trusted him more. “Keep an eye out for a bit,” Jerry said, still uneasy. “I can’t shake the feeling things are going too smoothly.”

Jerry gave Nash’s shoulder a firm pat, his emerald-green eyes flashing with predatory intensity.

Nash advised, “Yeah, honestly, Boss, I feel the same way. After this job, let’s get out of here.”

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.

“No. Can’t drink today. It’ll mess things up,” Jerry said, placing his hand firmly over the glass Nash offered.

“Boss, where’s the other guys?” Nash paused, lowered his gaze, and asked quietly.

Jerry said, “I left them behind as backup. If anything happens, we’ve got support.”

“Hey, Zamir, got any more of the good stuff? Bring some out for us!” one of the crew shouted.

“Got loads of good stuff in the kitchen,” Zamir said, already heading off to fetch some.

Jerry watched Zamir walk away and barked, “Rick, go with him.” He gave the order to the blond man nearby.

“Zamir can go alone,” Rick protested with his mouth full. “I’m starving.” He was holding a big lobster.

Jerry shot him a cold, warning glare. “Go.”

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. “Come on, bro, I’ll show you where the real good stuff is.”

“Not bad, bro. You’ve really been fitting in like a glove these past couple of days, huh?” Rick slung his arm around Zamir’s shoulder, his eyes flicking to Zamir’s neck behind.

Zamir snorted, “Fitting in? More like suffocating. Couldn’t do anything I wanted, and I still had to serve them. It’s driving me nuts.” 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.

“Boss, it’s nothing,” Nash said reassuringly as he stood up. “We’re in the mountain woods – birds are everywhere. Sometimes they swoop down to peck at the ground. I’ll go check it out.”

“I’m coming with you,” Jerry said, immediately moving to follow Nash.

“Boss, it’s nothing. Just keep eating – the drugs should kick in once we’re done.”

“Enough eating. Nash, where are those two girls? Take me to them.” Jerry’s gaze shifted to Nash.

Nash said calmly, “No need to rush.”

Jerry remained silent, his piercing emerald-green eyes boring into Nash with unsettling intensity.

“Over here,” Nash said, lowering his gaze as he led Jerry toward Zinnia’s private hot spring suite.

Jerry’s icy gaze bore into Nash. “Nash, do you feel something’s off?”

“Yeah,” Nash said.

“Nash, something feels off about you.” 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.

“Boss, you sure took your time figuring it out,” “Nash” said.

“Boss!” The men behind him tensed, their faces darkening with menace.

Jerry’s 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 “Nash” in combat.

Jerry’s emerald eyes flashed with a deadly chill as he crouched low, drew a dagger from his belt, and lunged forward.

“Who the hell are you?” Jerry roared. “Nathan? No… no way. Nathan’s body is wrecked – he’s on death’s door. No way he could fight me like this.”

The man before him was clearly formidable.

With one hand, Nash – or more accurately, Yannis – 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.

“Yannis Perkins.” Jerry clearly recognized Yannis.

Yannis was an even tougher opponent than Nathan. In Jinston – or rather, across Laystoland – the Perkins family held significant sway.

Jerry’s 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, “We’ve got no beef with you guys. Why the hell are you coming at us?”

Yannis glared at Jerry and snapped, “You go after my girl, and you still say we’ve got no beef?” Yannis’s tone was ice-cold as he struck without mercy.

Jerry gritted his teeth as he parried Yannis’s blows, blurting out, “Your girl? Ms. Jenkins? Yannis, we’re after Zinnia, not her. This is all a misunderstanding.”

Jerry thought, ‘We’d planned to deal with Maisie too if she tried to cause trouble – handle both at once. But now, that’s off the table. Damn it, we’ve been under surveillance this whole time.’

“Who told you I only have one girl?” 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, “Yannis. So much for talking.” Jerry realized the one Yannis truly cared about was Zinnia.

‘Damn it, I must be the world’s biggest idiot to buy into Zamir’s bullshit,’ Jerry cursed inwardly. ‘Who would have thought Yannis would actually give a damn about just Zinnia?’

Jerry glanced back – 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 – maybe not the brightest, but their skills were undeniable.

‘Rick still hasn’t returned,’ Jerry thought, his unease growing. ‘Nash’s been impersonated, Zamir’s probably dead, and Rick’s most likely done for.’

Jerry’s eyes blazed with bloodlust as he yanked the gun from his waistband and fired at Yannis.

Jerry thought grimly, ‘I never wanted to mess with the Perkins family, but now that we’re after the same thing, there’s no avoiding it. Either way means death – so we might as well take our chances and fight like hell.’

Yannis’s gaze never wavered.

Jerry yanked out his gun and squeezed the trigger – nothing. “What the hell?” 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. “Idiot,” he sneered. “I already disabled your gun.”