Page 81 of Serpent King's Revenge

“What?” I asked, watching him run a hand through his dark hair.

Rain tapped a steady rhythm against the window, like an impatient visitor waiting to be let in. Inside, the room felt like an island in a sea of danger, our only refuge from the storm that was Kenny Zhou's wrath. For now.

"Abby," Nathan continued, his voice low, "we need to be realistic about what we're up against."

I glanced at him, my stomach knotting as I considered the gravity of our situation. My hands drifted to my abdomen, resting there almost protectively. The life growing inside me always reminded me—our actions weren't just about us anymore.

"What do you mean?" I asked, allowing the edge in my voice to betray my anxiety. "With the Triads, you mean? I know it's risky to try and steer them your way. Xinyin’s plan did strike me as wild, but hey, so was Knuckles’ plan…and we got you out, right?”

“That was lucky,” Nathan said.

“Maybe luck is finally on our side,” I replied.

“The Golden Serpents are more than just scary-sounding people,” he said. “If they don’t want this, I don’t know what it’ll take to convince them. If they’re on my dad’s side…”

The thought of trying to bend those hardened criminals to our will was daunting. But wasn't everything worth it for a chance at taking Kenny down? As long as he was alive, as long as he was the head of the Serpents, Nathan and I would fear for our lives.

I knew that for certain.

And our baby…I didn’t even want to know what would happen to our baby.

I didn’t want to know what kind of danger they would be in.

Nathan moved closer and sat on the bed. "It's more than risky—it's a gamble with our lives, Abby. With our child's life."

I took a deep breath, feeling the weight of his words settle over me. I knew he was right. Whether I liked it or not, this was about more than just Kenny. We were plotting to overthrow the very foundations of a criminal empire, to place Nathan at the helm. A move that could either secure our future or shatter it completely.

"Kenny's not just going to hand over power. He'll fight, and he'll fight dirty," I said, my voice steady despite the tremor I felt inside. I was trained to face danger, but nothing prepared me for this mess.

“You’re right,” Nathan said. “Which is the reason we’re doing this. But hear me out—"

"Babe, Xinyin’s right. Kenny's reign needs to end," I said, my voice firm as I envisioned the downfall of Nathan's father. "He's hurt too many people, and we can't let him continue. We owe it to ourselves, to our future—to the family we could be."

Nathan sat silent for a moment, his black eyes reflecting the weariness of a war fought in shadows. He ran a hand through his hair, then looked at me with an intensity that spoke volumes without words.

"Abby," he started, his tone laced with caution, "I know I said it before and you said no, but this is too dangerous. I need to pitch this again.”

I waited for him, though I knew exactly what was coming.

“We could leave all this behind. We could head to Canada, start fresh where no one knows us." His gaze held mine, urging me to consider the possibilities. "Or Hong Kong—you're fluent in Mandarin." He paused, a half-smile forming. "Hell, we could even try South America. I've been picking up Spanish on Duolingo."

“You have?”

“Yeah, what else do you think I do when I can’t sleep?”

I smiled. This was pure Nathan. He was always ready with a plan B, C, and D. Each escape route was plotted out with the precision of a man whose life depended on such details.

"Look, I get it. "Escape sounds tempting," I admitted. I let the idea wash over me for a second before my resolve returned. "But running doesn't guarantee safety, not from someone like Kenny. It's not just about getting away—it's about ending this so we can live without looking over our shoulders."

Nathan sighed, the weight of our reality pressing down on him. Our love had tethered us to a precipice, and with each passing day, the drop seemed steeper. I still needed justice. I wanted revenge on the man who had cast a long shadow over our lives.

The man who had hurt the father of my child so deeply.

His hand found its way to my stomach, resting gently over the life growing there. “There’s no convincing you, is there?”

I shook my head, my hair brushing against the cool pillowcase. "No, there isn't. I saw what family meant to Evelyn, to the Serpents. It's not just about power and control—it's a network of loyalty and protection. That's the kind of strength our child will need."

"Abby," he began, his voice a low rumble of concern, "this world…it's unforgiving. It's dangerous and cruel. Is that really what you want for our child?"

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