Page 8 of Serpent King's Revenge

I hung up, not wanting to leave anything more that could be twisted by whoever might be listening. I set the phone down and turned to face Diane, who was now eyeing me with suspicion.

"Who did you call?" Diane's voice was casual, but her eyes were sharp, searching for something in my face that might give me away.

I met her gaze, the weight of my situation pressing down on me. But I couldn't let it show. I couldn't give her anything she could use against me.

"I want a lawyer," I said, my voice steady. It's what anyone caught up in this life learned early on. Anything you say can and will be used against you—not maybe, will.

Diane just smirked, as if she enjoyed watching me squirm. "Suit yourself, Nathan," she said with mock sweetness. "But remember—clock’s ticking."

She didn't need to say more. I knew time was my enemy now, more than ever.

"Let's go," Diane said curtly, signaling the guard with a nod.

The guard, a burly guy with hands like meat hooks, grabbed me by the arm—too hard, but that was probably the point—and yanked me up from the cold metal chair. I stood, keeping my face blank, and followed his lead. He wasn't gentle as we walked through the sterile hallways, his grip firm on my upper arm.

"Easy, man," I said, but the guard only grunted and tightened his hold. I didn't resist. That would just make things worse.

We reached a heavy door, and he unlocked it, pushing it open with a creak. The smell hit me first, a mix of sweat, grime, and something else—a kind of despair you could almost taste. My heart thumped against my ribs, not scared, just…alert. Ready for whatever came next.

Inside, three men sprawled on the bunk beds. They looked up as I entered, their stares sharp. I scanned them quickly, taking in the details—their muscled builds, the tattoos that marked them like badges of honor or warning signs.

And then I saw it, the crane on one guy's neck.

Shit.

I felt the pit in my stomach grow into a chasm. There was no backing down now. No chance of blending in or playing it off. These men knew who I was, what I represented. And if they didn't yet, they'd figure it out soon enough.

"Good luck, pretty boy," the guard sneered as he shoved me into the cell.

The door slammed shut with a finality that echoed in my bones. The sound was a clear message: You're in their world now.

I met the gaze of the one with the crane tattoo. His eyes were cold, calculating. I didn't look away. Couldn't afford to show weakness, even though I knew sleep would be a stranger tonight.

"Room for one more?" I asked, my voice steady. It was all about respect now, standing your ground without challenging theirs outright.

No reply. Just those stares that promised a long, rough night.

"Great," I said softly, settling onto the edge of the only empty cot, feeling the weight of their attention. I leaned back against the wall, watching them watch me. Yeah, no sleep tonight. But that was okay. I'd done this dance before.

And given the state of the Serpents, I had much bigger problems than a few Cranes.

Chapter Four: Abby

Ineeded to get a fucking pregnancy test.

After we’d explained everything to Lily and made a sad attempt at dinner, we all tried to sleep…but sleep was fleeting, and I tossed and turned all night. I woke up at dawn and threw up again, and that’s when I knew I wasn’t being paranoid.

Something was wrong. Not just nerves.

And if I was pregnant…well, this would be the exact wrong time for that.

The sun was just beginning to claw its way above the San Francisco skyline, casting long shadows across the tinted windows of my former prison. My mind churned with what ifs and maybes, each possibility heavier than the last.

"Hey," I said as I walked out of the master suite, scraping my fingers through my wet hair. I’d taken a shower, if only to try to cover over the smell of vomit. "I'm gonna head out for a bit, let you guys…uh, I just need some air."

Justin and Lily were already up and sitting on the couch, Bao purring away in Justin’s lap–and based on the way they looked, I didn’t think they’d slept a wink. Derek was in the kitchen, fixing them breakfast and coffee. Lily's eyes, so much like Nathan's, searched mine with a silent question. She had spent the night in her brother’s arms, crying on and off about Evelyn.

They had asked me for more information, but I didn’t have any.

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