Page 38 of Serpent King's Revenge

"Does my father know what’s going on?"

She nodded once, the motion barely visible. "He does. But he believes you should get out of this on your own if you want to prove yourself."

A sigh escaped me. At least Ba wasn’t behind this, wasn’t trying to erase his own son. That was something. It meant I wasn't fighting against my blood—not yet.

"Have you heard from Abby and Lily?" I asked, my voice barely more than a hoarse whisper.

Her eyes softened behind the mask, turning kind. "Yes, Nathan, they're safe. Your family is safe."

I took a shuddering breath, relief mingling with so many other emotions that it felt like a dam breaking inside me. Tears, hot and unexpected, spilled down my cheeks, and I couldn't stop them. Maybe it was the drugs pumping through my veins, the pain that held my body in a tight grip, or the sheer weight of everything crashing down on me at once.

"Sorry," I choked out between sobs, feeling both foolish and lost. "I didn't mean to—"

"Shhh." She reached out, her touch light on my arm. "No forgiveness needed, Nathan. You have nothing to apologize for."

"Ma," I managed to say through the tears. "Did she…was she…"

"Your mother," she said, her voice soft but steady, "was very proud of you. She loved you very much."

Her gaze flicked back to the guards by the door, a subtle but sharp movement. "Shift change is over; I have to go."

"Wait," I said, my voice steadier than I felt. The haze from the medication clung to the edges of my thoughts, but I needed this connection, any link to the outside world, to sanity. I reached out, my hand shaky, and caught hers before she could slip away.

"Thank you," I told her, the words thick in my throat. "For everything."

She looked down at our hands, then back into my eyes. "It's the Sisterhood that should be thanking you. Stay strong, Nathan. We hope you will soon replace your father."

Her words hung heavy in the air, a future full of danger and promise. It was a reminder that war was waiting outside these walls…a war that Abby was already embroiled in.

After she’d gone, I lay there, watching the space where she'd been, feeling the weight of her expectation, the Sisterhood's hope, and Ba's cold challenge. Replace him? Sure. Just as soon as I figured out how to get out of this bed without feeling like I was going to pass out from the pain.

But one thing was certain: I wasn't going to let them down. Not the Sisterhood, not Ma, not Lily…

…and not Abby.

Chapter Seventeen: Abby

Ifelt like my heart was going to jump out of my chest.

The door slammed behind me, a dull thud that echoed through the tense silence of 118 California. I could feel my family’s eyes on me, each pair laced with concern and fear, but none more so than Justin's. He crashed into me with an embrace that was too tight, too desperate, as if I might vanish if he didn't hold on hard enough.

"Abby," he breathed out. "You're okay."

I nodded, my arms around him, returning the fierce hug. "Yeah, Justin, I'm here."

Pulling back, I scanned the room, taking in the sight of the Zhou family. Alex stood like a sentinel in the middle of it all, his face hard to read, but his body language screaming for information. He had that look, the one that said don't mess with me, but his eyes betrayed the worry gnawing at him.

Javi and Neon flanked him, sitting lazily around him and playing a game of cards. I heard Jack whistle something from the kitchen, a Duran Duran song I couldn’t place. Derek was talking to him about something I couldn’t quite hear.

"Alex," I started, but before I could continue, I caught sight of Lily. She seemed small, almost lost in that big couch, her dark eyes glued to me.

"Lily, you good?" My voice was gentle, just loud enough for her to hear.

A nod, a faint smile. "I'm fine, Abby. Almost came right back after you were…taken. But I had work to do, so I did it." Her gaze didn't waver, but I caught the tremble in her hands.

"Good," I replied, my heart aching for this family in turmoil. They were tied up in knots of loyalty and blood, each one with their own secret battles. And here I was, in the middle of it all, standing among them as if I truly belonged.

I knew one thing for sure. At least we all loved Nathan Zhou.

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