Page 83 of Serpent King's Prisoner

The risk of bringing her into my world, into this life, gnawed at me. But I had taken precautions. The collar she wore, a delicate thing to any onlooker, housed a GPS tracker—a lifeline that kept her bound to me in more ways than one. Surveillance cameras dotted around the house fed live footage to my phone, a silent guardian against any move Ba might make against her.

It was the only way I could ensure her safety from the very threat that loomed over us—my own family.

I ran a hand through my black hair, pushing back the strands that had fallen into my eyes, my skin taut with anticipation. Every step toward Ba’s office was measured, the click of my boots on the concrete floor sounding out my arrival. I was ready for the confrontation, ready to defend what I had claimed as my own. Abby was more than a fling, more than a simple affair—she was a fierce storm that had swept into my life, challenging the very foundations of my existence.

I was going to keep her—and if Ba wanted to argue, I was prepared to fight him on it.

Stepping into the Serpent’s Den, the stench of cigarette smoke and old whiskey filled my nostrils. It was like stepping back into a world I had momentarily left behind—a world where power plays were made over a deck of cards and the clinking of cash.

“Look who decided to show up,” Alex sneered from a corner of the room, his fingers dancing through stacks of bills with practiced ease. Neon and Javi flanked him, their laughter cutting through the smoky haze. “Bet you’re in deep shit now, Fangs.”

The three of them were high, little more than children playing gangster. I knew that better than most—but it didn’t stop the churning rage in my gut. Alex was getting too cocky for his own good, and if it meant any danger to Abby, there would be hell to pay.

I ignored the taunt, my gaze fixed on the closed door at the end of the hall. This was it—no turning back now.

A coiled serpent was painted on that door in bold strokes, a title that demanded respect and fear in equal measure. My hand hesitated on the knob before I turned it, bracing myself for the wrath of the man who had sired me.

“Ba,” I greeted, keeping my voice steady as I entered the dimly lit office.

“Sit down, Nathan,” he said without looking up from the papers strewn across his desk. His tone was deceptively calm, but I knew better. The air was charged with an unspoken threat, the kind that preceded a storm.

“Alex tells me you’ve been busy,” Ba began, finally lifting his gaze to meet mine. His eyes, so much like my own, bore into me with fury that could ignite the very air between us.

“Busy enough,” I replied, not giving away anything more than necessary. This was a delicate dance—one misstep, and I’d be tumbling into an abyss.

“Busy putting your cock in something.”

“Is that what this is about?” I shot back, feigning ignorance. “I didn’t realize my personal life warranted such interest.”

“Cut the crap, Nathan!” The controlled mask slipped, and Ba’s rage surfaced. “You think I don’t know? That girl’s disappearance last week. You’re responsible.”

“Maybe I am,” I conceded, tilting my head in challenge. “What of it?”

“Everything we do has consequences, son,” he hissed, the words slicing through the tension. “The Serpents can’t afford distractions, especially not from within our own ranks. And the attention on us…it isn’t safe. Running drugs and weapons, washing money…that’s one thing. But kidnapping? A white girl? A civilian? Are you stupid?”

I opened my mouth to answer him, but I had nothing.

He continued, tired, irritated. “Nathan, I don’t care who you kill, but don’t let it slip outside of our operation or you become a liability.”

“Understood,” I said, though my mind raced with the implications. Ba knew more than I had anticipated. If he connected the dots back to Abby, her life could be forfeit. I couldn’t allow that. Not now.

Not when I had just admitted to myself that she meant more to me than just a plaything to use.

“Stupid,” Ba spat, the word sharp as a knife—because clearly, he wasn’t done laying into me. “You were stupid to think you weren’t being watched.”

I stiffened at his accusation, a jolt of anger surging through me. “What do you mean, ‘watched’?”

“Did you really think I would let my own blood run rampant without keeping tabs?” Ba leaned back in his chair, his gaze never wavering from mine. “I’ve never had to surveil you before, Nathan. But ever since you started getting out of control, I’ve had eyes on you.”

“Out of control? That isn’t fair, Ba.” The words left my mouth before I could censor them, a mix of frustration and betrayal bubbling inside.

“Fair?” Ba’s laugh was devoid of humor. “Since when does our world care about what’s fair? I have people following all of you—your mother, Alex, Justin…even Lily. Power is a dangerous thing; it can make even family turn on each other.”

“Is that what this is? You’re scared I’ll come for your throne?” I challenged, standing up straighter. My blood boiled at the thought of being spied on by my own father, the paranoia now justified.

“Scared? No.” Ba’s lips twitched into a cold smile. “But cautious. Sometimes power becomes so intoxicating you’ll kill your own family for it. And I won’t let that happen. Remember, son, everyone has something to lose.”

He was threatening her.

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