Serpent King's Bride: A Dark Mafia Romance Trilogy

Survive. Observe. Dismantle.

The mantra ran through my head, a silent chant that fortified my resolve. I would see this through, no matter the cost.

And I would get Nathan out of this life if it was the last fucking thing I did.

The tension in the room was thick enough to choke on, and I forced myself to maintain a calm facade as chaos erupted. The man who had been at Mengyao’s side moments before made a break for it, panic etched deep into the lines of his face. But Kenny’s men were swift—like striking serpents, they caught him by his arms, hauling him back to his chair with a thud that echoed off the walls.

“Sit down, and don’t make me repeat myself,” one of the guards growled, pushing the man’s shoulders down until he submitted. They forced him to sit there and look at his dead wife for a moment, blood trickling off the table and into his lap.

Kenny, ever the unfazed puppet master, simply picked up his glass off the lavish mahogany table, swirling his wine with an air of detachment as though nothing out of the ordinary had transpired. He took a leisurely sip, savoring it, while Mengyao’s body was unceremoniously dragged away, a trail of thick, viscous blood left on the floor behind her.

I felt something primal within me stir, a desire to leap across the table and end this now, but I couldn’t.

Not yet.

Soon, I promised myself.

Evelyn broke the unbearable silence, her voice steady but her eyes betraying a storm of emotion. “Why, Kenny? Why now, in front of everyone?”

He set his glass down with deliberate slowness, the clink of crystal against wood piercing the quiet. His gaze swept over the rest of us—some wide-eyed with fear, others numb to the violence—and finally settled on me, a smile playing at the corners of his lips.

“It’s a lesson, my dear,” Kenny replied, his tone almost fatherly. “An example of what happens to those who betray the Serpents.” His eyes locked onto mine, and the smile widened, a silent challenge. “Isn’t that right, Abby?”

It took everything in me not to recoil from his gaze, to keep my breathing steady and my hands from shaking. I nodded, offering a tight-lipped smile in return.

“Absolutely, Mr. Zhou,” I said, my voice betraying none of the loathing churning inside me. “A valuable lesson indeed.”

His smile told me he was pleased, and I hated myself for giving him even that small satisfaction. But it was necessary, all part of the game I was playing—the game I had to win.

As the meeting continued, I focused on memorizing faces, noting exits, counting guards. I was already formulating my report for the Bureau, every detail a potential key to dismantling Kenny’s empire.

And through it all, I kept the image of Mengyao’s fallen form in my mind, a grim reminder of the stakes. This wasn’t just about taking down a criminal organization anymore—it was personal. For Mengyao. For all the others who suffered at the hands of the Golden Serpents.

For Nathan Zhou, when he was a child.

For his siblings.

For me.

I was going to kill this fucking man. And I was going to make it hurt.

Chapter Thirty-Nine: Nathan

Meeting with Jack Kensington was the last thing I wanted to do after tonight’s trainwreck, but—especially now—this couldn’t wait.

I gripped the steering wheel, knuckles white against the black leather as we pulled up to Neon. The familiar neon sign flickered like a beacon in the night, mocking me with memories of wilder times. Abby sat beside me, her body language mirroring my own—every line of her screamed tension.

Lily’s screams still echoed in my ears. She had been a mess after the initiation, her innocence shattered by the violence she’d witnessed. I should’ve protected her from that. My jaw clenched at the thought of her tear-streaked face, how she clung to me with trembling hands, looking for some reassurance I couldn’t give.

And Abby…had my father seen the murder in her eyes as she stared him down after Mengyao’s death?

Was I about to lose her?

“Hey,” Abby murmured, reaching over. Her hand found mine on the center console, warm and steady. I glanced at her, seeing concern etch her features, but there was strength there too. It was enough to crack the dam I’d built around my emotions. My chest heaved, and I let out a ragged breath, feeling tears sting my eyes. But I didn’t pull away from her touch. Instead, I leaned into it, letting myself feel the break, the raw edge of vulnerability.

“Let’s go inside,” I managed to say, my voice rough.

Abby gave my hand one last reassuring squeeze before releasing it as we stepped out into the cool night air. We walked side by side, our silence a shared burden, as we made our way into the pulsing heart of Neon.