Serpent King's Bride: A Dark Mafia Romance Trilogy

I found myself smiling at her enthusiasm, my cheeks burning. It was easy to forget that beneath the tough exterior Nathan showed the world, he had created a sanctuary here, away from the darkness of our entwined lives. And now…because of me…he was sharing it with those closest to him.

It was hard to wrap my head around.

“Hey, holy shit.” Justin’s sudden exclamation pulled me from my thoughts.

I spun around, knife still in hand, to find him staring not at the decor or the view but directly at my left hand—the one adorned with the ring that signified so much more than just an engagement.

“Did Nathan finally pop the question?” he asked, eyebrows raised.

“Uh, yeah,” I stammered, surprised by his reaction.

“Oh my God,” Lily exclaimed, turning to look at me and leaning over the counter. “When?”

“A couple nights ago,” I smiled, knowing I had that dreamy look on my face you only get when you’re in love.

“It’s about damn time,” Justin chuckled.

“Honestly, it doesn’t feel like it’s been that long,” I replied.

“Time flies when you’re in love,” Lily teased, hopping off her stool to come closer.

“Especially in our world,” Justin added, a wistful smile touching his lips as he too moved to join us.

Lily wrapped me in a tight hug, her excitement palpable. “I’m so excited to have you in the family, Abby. You’ve really changed Nathan.”

“Is that a good thing?” I asked, half-joking but secretly craving their approval.

“The best,” Justin confirmed as he walked over to make it a group hug. Their warmth enveloped me, and in that instant, I understood the depth of the bond Nathan shared with his siblings. A bond he’d fought to protect—just as he now fought to protect me. It was wild to think that these two were so kind and gentle when they had been brought up by the same tyrant that had abused Nathan in every way possible…but it made sense. His protection of them had paid off, even if it had deeply damaged him.

I found myself close to sobbing all of a sudden.

“Wow, these onions are going to make me cry before I even finish cooking,” I joked, trying to lighten the moment, though my heart swelled with emotions I couldn’t quite name. “I promise, it’s not you guys.”

We broke apart just as Nathan walked in. His eyes landed on the huddle we’d just disentangled from, and a look of surprise flickered across his face—quickly replaced by a smile as Lily rushed over to embrace him.

“Congratulations are apparently in order,” his sister said, throwing her arms around his neck. She was much smaller than him, and it didn’t seem like they hugged too often, but Nathan let himself hold her close. “You should be so happy. She’s out of your league.”

“Hey,” Nathan scoffed. “Obviously I can’t be that bad.”

“She’s right. Sorry for spoiling the surprise,” Justin said, sheepish yet sincere. He could barely look at Nathan and I noticed he wasn’t rushing to hug him like Lily was. “Couldn’t help it.”

Nathan shook his head, his expression softening as he regarded his siblings. “No need to be sorry. I wanted to apologize for…the other night. What I said was fucked up, Justin–making you leave, acting like it was your fault things went south with Ba. You don’t deserve that.”

“Sorry doesn’t change what you did,” he whispered, the hurt in his voice clear even across the room. I held my breath, not wanting to intrude but unable to tear myself away. This was a moment they needed to mend on their own, the fractured bonds of brotherhood that only they could weave back together.

“I know. Tell me what I can do.”

“There’s nothing you can do,” Justin said, his shoulders slumping as he looked at Nathan. “I’m just so used to you defending me from Ba…I don’t know, I guess I just thought you’d do it this time, too.”

“Fuck him, Justin. I’m always on your side. Always.”

For a second, nobody moved. Then, as if a dam broke inside him, Justin’s eyes glistened, and he allowed himself to be vulnerable, the walls crumbling just enough to let Nathan in. And there it was, the crack in his armor, the little brother looking for reassurance in a world where trust was a commodity few could afford. “You mean that?”

“Yes,” Nathan said. “I absolutely mean that.”

Wordlessly, Justin walked up to him and wrapped his arms around him. I thought they might both cry, but they didn’t–they just held on to each other, their bodies visibly relaxing. I could almost see the tension leaving them, being replaced with understanding, acceptance, and forgiveness.

“Okay,” Justin mumbled into his brother’s shoulder after a long silence. “Okay.”