Chapter 429: Intelligence
Lukas scoffed, running his tongue along the inside of his cheek when another figure caught the corner of his eye.
He shifted his gaze and saw someone approaching Tinie.
Nikki.
His brows furrowed as he watched her stop Tinie before he could get into the car. The two exchanged a few words.
"Nikki," he whispered. "Don’t tell me you’re involved in this too."
Lukas clenched his fist, his jaw tightening as he swallowed the lump in his throat.
His chest tightened—not because Nikki was talking to another man, but because ever since Lucian collapsed, everything she had done had gone against everything they believed in.
And now...
With Tinie on Lukas’s radar...
There she was.
"Why..." he whispered, his eyes glinting. "Why do you make it so hard for me to protect you?"
At the same time, Nikki folded her arms as she stood in front of Tinie.
"Care to give me a ride?" she asked with a smile, tilting her head. "My mechanic is still working on my car."
Tinie simply stared at her for a moment before letting out a quiet sigh.
He reached over, opened the front passenger door, then looked back at her.
Her smile widened. "Thanks!"
She walked past him, giving his shoulder a light tap before climbing into the car.
Tinie glanced at her briefly before closing the door. Then he walked around the vehicle, got behind the wheel, and drove away.
Silence filled the car as neither of them spoke.
Moments later, Nikki broke it.
"You’re going to the funeral?" She asked, keeping her eyes on the road ahead. "I heard what happened last night."
Tinie didn’t answer.
He simply continued driving, his attention fixed on the road. One hand rested on the steering wheel while the other leaned against the driver’s door.
Nikki glanced at him and smirked.
She settled comfortably into her seat as though she had nothing to fear.
"I’ve been curious," she said. "Gustav and Lukas have been working together rather quietly. They’ve kept everything confidential, so it was difficult to get any information."
She crooned. "Do you know what they found?"
As expected, Tinie remained silent. He didn’t even spare her a glance. He simply continued driving toward her apartment.
"They got footage of the shooter."
The moment those words left her lips, Tinie finally shot her a brief sidelong glance.
Nikki was already looking back at him, a faint smile playing on her lips.
"Do you know what I find interesting?" She asked, tilting her head. "The footage is surprisingly clear. It doesn’t show the shooter’s face, but it captures his profile."
She counted them off one by one.
"His build."
"The back of his head."
"The clothes he wore that night."
She slowly fluttered her eyelashes before turning fully toward him. Then, her smile vanished from her face.
"And coincidentally, the clothes he’s wearing look exactly like the ones you had on last night."
Tinie remained calm.
His eyes never left the road.
The investigation Gustav and Lukas were conducting was highly confidential. There was no way Tinie should’ve known they had obtained footage.
As for Nikki...
She had cultivated enough connections within Dominion to persuade someone to let her see it. Or at least, grant her temporary access.
It wasn’t surprising... even if Lukas had some problems with her.
"Tinie," Nikki said as she settled back into her seat. "It’s only a matter of time before they catch you."
"Gustav and Lukas don’t need to see your face. The moment this funeral is over, one of them will connect the dots."
She let silence settle between them before speaking again.
"I don’t know who you’re working for now or who convinced you to do this." Her voice remained calm. "I’m only telling you this because you’ve worked hard to get where you are, and I’ve always respected your talent."
"We worked together long before we came here to keep an eye on that useless Madam of Dominion." She lowered her voice. "But it seems you’re underestimating this faction, or overestimating yours."
She turned to look at him.
"For whatever it’s worth... pack your things." Nikki turned to him. "Don’t show up at the funeral."
Tinie remained silent.
"Lucian only needs one look." She slowly shook her head. "You won’t make it out alive."
The car eventually pulled up in front of her building.
Without hesitation, Nikki reached for the door and stepped out. Before closing it, however, she leaned back inside.
"Thanks for the ride," she said with a smile. "See you around, Tinie."
SLAM!
She didn’t wait for a response.
The door shut, and she walked toward the entrance.
Meanwhile, Tinie watched her through the windshield.
His finger rhythmically tapped against the steering wheel.
Everything Nikki had told him sounded like a warning. But beneath it, it was intelligence.
Taking a spare phone from the glove compartment, Tinie dialed the only number saved on it.
The line rang several times before someone finally answered.
"The Black Dragon is closing in on me," Tinie said quietly. "The job is done."
The person on the other end chuckled.
"Good work, Tinie."
*****
Meanwhile, Primo sat on the couch, his legs gently swinging back and forth.
He slowly turned toward the bed where Tommy lay sleeping. Staring at him with innocent curiosity, Primo wondered if it was just his imagination...
Or if Tommy had actually moved.
"Young Master."
Nolan’s gentle voice suddenly came from beside him.
Primo turned and saw Nolan holding out a phone.
With a warm smile, Nolan said, "It’s Madam. She wants to talk to you."
Primo nodded and accepted the phone, pressing it against his ear.
"Primo?" Ashley’s gentle voice came through the speaker. "Are you there?"
Primo tapped the phone to let her know he was listening.
Ashley smiled on the other end before letting out a quiet breath.
"Primo," she whispered, "Mama will be away for a little while. I’ll come back as soon as I can, okay?"
"..."
"So don’t be sad while I’m gone."
Primo pursed his lips before tapping the phone several times.
Silence lingered for a brief moment.
"Mama is fine," Ashley chuckled softly. "I just have work to do."
Primo nodded.
"Don’t worry," she continued. "Betty and Nolan will stay with you. And Auntie Liza will be there too, okay?"
Again, Primo nodded.
"Talk to you again soon, Primo."
Ashley stayed on the line for another quiet breath before the call disconnected.
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