Serpent King's Bride: A Dark Mafia Romance Trilogy

“You too,” he said, and his eyes sparked as they landed on the ring on her finger. He raised his eyebrows at me, huffing out a laugh. “Because you are…apparently marrying my oldest friend? Way to bury the lede, Nathan. Unless that’s someone else’s ring on her finger—“

“She’s mine,” I growled as I gripped her arm, unable to suppress the swell of possessiveness that surged through me.

“Congratulations are in order, then,” Jack said. “I’ll send a bottle of champagne when I’m safely back in San Diego.”

I tried to set myself at ease—after everything that had happened tonight, it was a challenge. “Thanks, Jack,” I said. “Safe travels.”

Jack shook my hand and grinned as he leaned in. “Try not to get yourself killed, Nate.”

Then he was going through the curtain, hands in his pockets.

Turning to Abby, I caught the subtle nod she gave me—a silent signal that it was time to blend back into the crowd. This was a Serpents hangout, and we needed to make an appearance if we wanted to stay out of the line of fire.

So with a firm grip on her hand—even though I felt like doing anything but dancing—I pulled her onto the dance floor.

The pulsating beat of the music enveloped us, bass vibrating through the soles of my shoes. We were overdressed for the club, but Abby somehow blended seamlessly with the crowd, the formalwear going from classy to sinful in seconds.

“Hey,” I murmured close to her ear, our bodies swaying together in rhythm with the thumping track. “We can’t make it look like we were just here for Jack.”

Her arms wound around my neck, pulling me closer. The scent of her hair mingled with the sweat and perfume of the club’s patrons. “Understood,” she whispered back.

I held her tight against me, moving to the music, feeling her heartbeat synchronize with mine. The rest of the world faded away—it was just Abby and me, lost in a sea of people. I loved this—her presence, her strength. She was a pillar I didn’t realize I’d come to lean on so heavily; her simple nods against my cheek reassured me more than any words could.

Whatever came next, we had each other, and that was a force to be reckoned with. Abby wasn’t just the woman I’d fallen hard for—she was my partner in this chaotic life we’d been thrust into. And I trusted her, relied on her, not just to watch my back but to play her part in keeping us both one step ahead of the danger that always seemed to be snapping at our heels.

“Thanks for being here,” I said, my voice low as I looked down into her eyes.

“Always,” she replied with a soft smile, one that reached right into my chest and squeezed something fierce.

And for a moment, on that crowded dance floor, with neon lights flashing overhead and the bassline thumping through us, I let myself believe that everything might just turn out okay.

Chapter Forty: Nathan

The bass pounded a steady heartbeat through the club, vibrating against my chest as I pulled Abby closer. We moved together with the crowd, lost in a sea of bodies and pulsing lights. And yes, we’d come to the dance floor to make it seem like we weren’t just here for a clandestine meeting with Jack…but all I could see was her.

Abby’s green eyes, the sparkle of her engagement ring, the sleek green velvet dress that looked so out of place in this den of vice.

She was perfect.

And she was all mine.

“Remember this spot?” Abby’s voice was a sultry murmur over the throb of the music. Her lips brushed against my ear, sending a surge of heat straight through me.

I couldn’t help but grin, memories flooding back. “How could I forget? You made quite the impression.”

“Did I now?” she teased, her breath hot on my skin. “Or was it your dirty talk that left the lasting mark?”

I chuckled, low and husky. This woman knew exactly how to push my buttons—in the best possible way. The recollection of that night was vivid; the thrill, the adrenaline, the raw desire. As our hips swayed in sync, I could almost hear the echo of my own words from the past, painting images that had my blood running hotter with every beat.

“Let’s find some privacy,” I whispered, leading her by the hand to the secluded alcove that had witnessed the beginning of us—where everything had started.

The same little corner, shrouded in shadows and secrecy. It felt like coming full circle, only now there was no uncertainty between us, no holding back.

“Still as impatient as that first time, Nathan?” Her voice held a daring challenge, and I could see the playful spark in her eyes.

“Only for you,” I shot back, my voice rough with need.

“Damn right,” she purred. “You’re all mine, Nathan Zhou.”