Page 44 of Serpent King's Revenge

“A knife fight?”

I nodded again. “Story for another time–the convoy’s on the way.”

The conversation was over–because now, all I could think about was Nathan. I couldn’t see him, of course, but I could feel him. With him in that van, I was closer to him than I’d been in weeks…and it ached like an open wound.

My mind raced, images of Nathan flashing before me. He was more than just another case; he was part of my soul. I felt the cool metal of my gun against my palm, and despite the desperation of the situation, a spark of clarity ignited within me.

I loved him. More than I'd ever thought possible.

And I would tear heaven and earth apart to get him out of that van.

The woods rose up on either side of the highway, normally a remote spot with little traffic. Kenny’s guys were poised to form a barricade up ahead–and I heard tires squeal as the convoy made their way through. Two armored trucks and an armored van…

Hilarious.

As if that would keep me away from him.

The armored truck at the front turned abruptly, smashed into one of Kenny’s cars; the van veered off toward the opposite side of the highway.

It was time to make our move.

Insurgents erupted from the treeline, taking both Kenny’s men and the prison transport guards by surprise. Me and Knuckles both lined up shots toward Kenny’s men, aimed, fired–

Then, chaos.

The plan had been to eliminate the threat then get Nathan out, but it was already well beyond that…because there were more Serpents waiting in the shadows. I heard a scream and a howl and saw Alex fighting off a few enemies with Neon Nelson’s help. Motorcycles zoomed up the highway toward us, Kenny’s men shooting at the van.

Fuck. They weren’t going to rescue Nathan at all.

They were going to kill him.

And I couldn’t let that happen.

"Abby, don't!" Knuckles shouted, but his voice was drowned out in the cacophony of gunfire and grunts. I was racing toward the van, heedless of the danger. My dad’s lessons at the shooting range, the endless drills at Quantico, they all funneled into this singular moment of action.

There were guards everywhere…people who wanted to kill me. Who wanted to kill all of us.

And that was when I saw her.

Diane Hayes, wearing her FBI jacket, was getting out of Nathan’s van, its tire blown out. She didn’t even look at me; her gaze was fixed on the man crawling toward the trees, wearing a prisoner’s uniform.

A man I hardly recognized, but knew deep in my bones.

Nathan.

I hadn’t seen him in person in far too long, and the sight of him sent me reeling. He looked like hell–dark circles under one eye, the other swollen and bruised. His hair was long and shaggy, beard grown out. I didn’t think he saw me; he was bleeding from the back of his head, just trying to get away, eyes blind.

I cried out his name without thinking. “Nathan!”

He and Diane both looked at me.

“Stop!” I shouted.

He tried to move toward me, but Diane caught him–and when he fought back, she sent a fist into his gut. It normally wouldn’t have done a thing for someone to hit him like that, so I knew he must be hurt when he staggered, reeled…and she started to haul him away.

Away from me.

My heart clenched painfully in my chest. I never liked Diane or respected her. She had always been a threat. And in that moment, she was just another obstacle. Everything in me told me that I wasn’t to harm a federal agent. She was one of my own, wasn’t she? But she had her hands on the love of my life, the father of my child, and I knew it was silly…but it was almost like our baby kicked and forced me to do it.

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