34. Chapter Thirty-Four Abby

Chapter Thirty-Four: Abby

I flitted around the house, my fingers brushing against surfaces, straightening cushions on the couch, and swiping at any speck of dust that dared to mar the sleek coffee table. Justin and Lily would be here any minute, and I wanted everything to be perfect. But as I adjusted a vase of freshly cut roses, my nose twitched, haunted by an imaginary stench from the basement.

No one could ever find out what lay beneath this polished fa?ade.

"Shake it off, Abby," I muttered under my breath. We had covered our tracks well–I knew Nathan was an expert at this–but even so, the thought made my stomach churn like the stormy sea visible through the floor-to-ceiling windows.

The kitchen became my haven, the sizzle and pop of garlic hitting the hot pan music to my ears. I poured the cream into the skillet, stirring the white sauce, its rich aroma promising a dinner to impress. I was just about to add a pinch of salt when the sharp rap of knuckles against wood echoed through the hall.

"Finally," I breathed, a smile curving my lips as I wiped my hands on my apron. I expected to see Justin's impish grin or Lily's sparkling eyes, but instead, my heart stalled in my chest when I opened the door.

Diane Hayes stood there, her presence an unwelcome intrusion in my carefully curated world. Her FBI badge wasn't on display, but the authority she carried was unmistakable. My mind raced—why was she here? She shouldn't have had this address. How could she just show up?

I fixed my face, greeting her with a tight smile. "Agent Hayes."

"Abigail," she greeted with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "And please–call me Diane. May I come in?"

"Uh, Diane, hi," I managed, blocking the doorway subtly. "This isn't the best time."

"Of course," she said, her gaze slipping past me, attempting to pierce the secrets that clung to the shadows of the entryway. It struck me how much she reminded me of a cat, poised and ready to pounce on unsuspecting prey. But I couldn't let her in; not now, not ever.

Not if I wanted to survive. Not if I wanted Nathan to survive.

"Look, Diane, I'm really sorry, but I have guests arriving any second," I said. "This really isn't a good time, I'm…"

"Another time, then," she acquiesced, though her eyes told me she knew something was amiss. She leaned in slightly, as if drawn by some invisible thread. "What's that smell?"

Panic clawed up my throat. Could she detect the deathly odor I'd been dreading? But no—that was the scent of something burning.

Shit.

"Ah, my dinner's burning!" I exclaimed, grateful for the excuse. "I've got to go handle it."

"Of course," Diane repeated, stepping back with a nod. She paused before turning away, her voice low but clear. "Congratulations on your engagement, by the way."

My hand flew to my throat, the sudden sense of danger making me forget about the ruined sauce on the stove. How did she know? I hadn't told anyone.

There should be no way for the fucking FBI to know that Nathan and I were getting married.

"Uh…thanks," I rushed out. "But I need to be going. I'll be in touch, Diane."

I closed the door before she had a chance to interrupt again, telling myself that she must have seen the ring as I locked the door behind me. I rushed back to the kitchen, my heart still pounding with an intensity that threatened to overwhelm me. The saucepan sat on the stove, its contents blackened and smoking. I snatched it from the heat, cursing under my breath. The interruption had thrown me off, and now dinner was ruined.

How had she known about our engagement? Maybe she really just saw the ring when I reached for the door. But deep down, a trickle of fear seeped into my thoughts.

How much did Diane really know?

Before I could spiral further into paranoia, another knock at the door jolted me from my musings. I took a deep breath, plastering on a smile as I moved to answer it. This time, it was Justin and Lily—Nathan's siblings, our expected guests—who greeted me with wrinkled noses.

"Ugh, what's that smell?" Lily asked, her expression a mix of concern and curiosity.

"Dinner mishap," I admitted with a sheepish grin, moving aside so they could walk in. "I burned it. Had to start over. But trust me, I'm a good cook. Usually."

Justin chuckled, shaking his head. "No worries, Abby. Happens to the best of us."

I ushered them inside, still trying to set myself at ease. The tension from earlier began to ebb away as I returned to the task at hand, determined to salvage the evening.

"Make yourselves comfortable," I said, gesturing toward the bar stools lining the kitchen island.

Justin and Lily obliged, hopping onto the stools and taking in their surroundings. They looked around with wide eyes. I thought they would be used to this kind of opulence, but they really did seem to appreciate it more than I was expecting them to.

"Where's Nathan?" Justin asked, his gaze darting towards the hallway as if expecting his brother to emerge at any moment.

"He's running a little late," I explained as I turned off the stove and dumped my curdled sauce into the trash. "Had some last-minute business to take care of."

"Sounds like him," Justin replied with a knowing nod. But there was no judgment there, only understanding—a brother's acceptance of another's burdens.

"Feel free to explore if you want," I offered, returning to the task of cooking. With precise movements, I began chopping vegetables anew, the rhythm soothing.

"Thanks, Abby," Lily said, her voice tinged with awe. "This place is amazing."

"Did he make any changes since the last time you were here?" I asked, slicing through an onion. "Like, did he redecorate or something?"

"No," Lily said. "He's never invited us over before."

I paused mid-slice, frowning back at them.

"Wait, really?"

Lily shrugged. "He always said we could meet back at our parents' if we had something to discuss," she replied. "So I guess you must be really special if he wants to entertain."

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."

Nathan let out a deep sigh, patting his brother's back. "Yeah," he murmured. His dark eyes met mine across the room, and a small smile tugged at the corners of his lips. An unspoken gratitude that said he was glad I was here to witness this moment, to be a part of this healing.

And just like that, they let go. Justin wiped his eyes with the back of his hand and Nathan glanced down at him, offering him another reassuring smile. The air in the kitchen seemed lighter after that.

Lily watched her brothers quietly for a moment before she spoke up again. "So..." she began, looking at me with her sparkling brown eyes. "When's the wedding?"

Nathan cleared his throat. "Yeah, about that," he said. "I didn't call you guys here just to talk about the engagement. There's something else we need to discuss."