39. Chapter Thirty-Nine Nathan

Chapter Thirty-Nine: Nathan

M eeting 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.

Brilliant lights flickered outside, casting the street in a headache-inducing glow. I couldn't shake the image of Lily's tear-stained face as Abby and I walked into the club. The pounding bass from inside hit me like a physical force, but it was nothing compared to the turmoil churning within me.

"I didn't want her to see that," I blurted out once we were past the threshold, the music drowning out everything else. "Lily…she shouldn't have been part of this."

Abby's eyes locked onto mine, searching. "And you? How are you doing?"

"Doesn't matter," I muttered, feeling a surge of anger at the helplessness of it all. "I can handle it. I just never wanted that for her."

We found a quieter corner, the relentless throb of the dance music receding just enough to talk without shouting. Abby leaned against the wall, arms folded, her expression hardening with every question she fired off.

"What the hell was tonight about, Nathan?" Her voice cut through the muffled beats. "Accusing that woman of being a traitor, then killing her right there in front of everyone...what was your father thinking?"

I shook my head, pressing my palms against the cool surface behind her. "I had no idea. He said nothing to me about it." Frustration edged my voice. "It felt like a test. Or a message."

"A message?" Abby's brow furrowed.

"Power plays. Fear tactics. Usual Triad games." My voice wavered, betraying the simmering rage beneath the surface. "But using Lily…using us…it's a new low."

Abby reached out, her fingers brushing mine, and I fought the urge to pull her close. "Your father is losing control, isn't he?"

"Maybe," I admitted, hating the uncertainty that laced my words. "Or maybe this is all part of some twisted strategy."

"Either way," she said, her touch gentle yet firm, "we need to be careful."

"Yeah," I agreed, taking a deep breath. "Unfortunately that's easier said than done."

"Do you think he's going to try something?"

"I have no idea anymore," I shrugged, helpless. "He's in uncharted territory. Always been violent…but never like this."

"Let's hope we get some answers soon," Abby said, the worry in her eyes mirroring my own.

"I hope so too." I tried to sound reassuring, but the tension knotted inside of me. "We're meeting someone who might be able to help us figure things out."

"Who?" she asked, her grip on my arm tightening.

"An old friend," I replied briefly. "Speaking of which…he should be getting here right about now."

"Where to?" Abby asked.

"Private booth," I tilted my head. "This way."

I took her hand and we wove through the crowd, Abby clinging to me. Beats throbbed against my chest, a stark reminder of the last time we stood here together, under very different circumstances.

Abby glanced at me, a half-smile playing on her lips as the memory seemed to strike her too. "I haven't been back here since…you know, that night you seduced me and then kidnapped me."

I winced, feeling a pang of guilt for how I had entangled her in this mess. "Abby, I—"

"Best night of my life," she interrupted, her laughter ringing out amidst the cacophony of music and chatter, bizarrely lightening the mood.

"Are you serious?" My eyebrows shot up in disbelief.

"Deadly." Her voice was laced with mischief, and something in the way she looked at me made my heart race. That she could act this way after everything she'd seen today…well, there was something to be said for finding someone who matched your kind of crazy.

"Come on," I said, trying to shake the mix of emotions swirling through me. "Let's find our contact."

Navigating through the throngs of bodies, I focused on the task at hand, all the while aware of Abby's presence beside me—a constant heat in the chaos of Neon. The bouncer in the reserved booths recognized me immediately, his bulk shifting aside to let us pass the black velvet curtain that veiled the private section from the rest of the club. The world beyond was a stark contrast; the pulsing music became muffled, the atmosphere intimate, almost hushed.

"Jack's already here," I murmured to Abby as we approached the secluded booth.

He was hunched over in the booth and looking at his phone, though that did nothing to make him look less dangerous. Jack was a tall, lean guy, with an athletic build and blue eyes that darted up toward us as we walked closer. At the sight of us, Jack stood up, his imposing figure outlined by the dim light. His face split into a grin when he saw me, and we clasped hands and bumped shoulders like we had for years.

"Good to see you, man," he said, clapping my back before turning his attention to Abby.

"This is Abby," I introduced her, watching Jack extend his hand to her with a respectful nod.

"And you must be the mysterious contact," she responded with a firm handshake, smiling.

"Wow—very cloak and dagger, Nate," Jack chuckled. "Jack Kensington, at your service."

Abby smiled. "It's great to meet you. So…how do you two know each other?"

"Old friends," I began. "Our dads used to work together, back when the Serpents were washing money for the Sinners down in San Diego."

Understanding lit Abby's eyes—the Sinners had a more public profile than we did, and she had to have recognized the name. For her, this must have been like meeting mafia royalty.

"Is it okay for you guys to meet like this?" Abby glanced between us, curiosity written all over her face.

"Yeah, it's fine," I assured her, slipping into the booth. "As long as we keep it quiet. Plus…we don't really have much of a choice."

I signaled the server, and we ordered drinks without even glancing at the menu. Once our drinks were in hand and the usual pleasantries were over, Jack's eyes, sharp as ever, were on me, reading my face.

"Alright, Nathan. What's this all about?" Jack leaned in, his gaze never leaving mine.

I leaned forward as well, feeling Abby press close beside me; her presence was a comforting warmth against the tension that had coiled inside me since dinner. "Jack," I started, keeping my voice low, "I might need to get my whole family out from under my father."

"Jesus, Nathan," Jack muttered, shifting in his seat as if the weight of my words physically pushed him back. "That's…that's a dangerous proposition. You know that, right?" His fingers wrapped around his glass, but he didn't take a drink. "And asking me to get involved is risky."

I took a deep breath, feeling the cold edge of the glass against my lips as I took a sip of the whiskey. The burn did nothing to ease the tightness in my chest. I set the glass down with a soft clink.

"Jack, listen to me," I said, trying to keep the urgency from my voice. "I wouldn't be asking if I wasn't desperate." I locked eyes with him, and there was no mistaking the seriousness in my gaze. "You know how bad things can get with our fathers. I'm calling in one last favor."

Jack's jaw tightened, and for a moment, it looked like he might argue. But then he exhaled slowly, the lines of his face softening just a fraction—an unspoken signal of his reluctant agreement. Abby gave my hand another reassuring squeeze, her silent strength grounding me.

"Alright, I can start working on something," Jack finally conceded, his eyes darting to the side as if expecting shadows in the corners to come alive. He leaned forward, his voice dropping to a near-whisper. "But I need to get out of San Francisco, like…yesterday. This place," he gestured vaguely around us, "it feels like the walls have ears. Like someone is always watching."

I nodded, understanding the paranoia that came with our line of work. The sense of being observed was almost second nature to me now. But there was one more thing I needed to know, one more piece to this convoluted puzzle before we could disappear into the night.

"Jack," I started, pausing briefly to ensure no one else was eavesdropping. "There's something else I need to ask."

He eyed me warily, "What's up?"

"Have you heard anything about the Sun family? About them plotting against the Zhous?" I asked, watching his reaction closely.

Jack shook his head, a frown creasing his forehead. "No, man, I haven't heard a thing about that." He leaned back in the booth, looking troubled. The weight of my gaze must have felt heavy because he quickly added, "I swear, Nathan, if there was any buzz, it would've reached my ears."

"Listen," I said, leaning forward, dropping my voice to barely above a whisper, "some serious shit's going down with the Golden Serpents. There's gonna be a power vacuum here, and it's going to ripple all the way down to San Diego." My gut twisted with the thought of it, the implications for all of us—my family, Abby, Jack.

"Damn." Jack rubbed at his temple as if trying to ward off an oncoming headache. "What kind of shit are we talking about?"

"Can't share details right now," I admitted, feeling the frustration gnaw at me. "But you need to be safe, alright? And that means getting the hell out of dodge while you still can."

Jack's eyes narrowed, assessing, considering the gravity of my words. Then he nodded once, sharply. "Alright, I'll get my crew on it. We'll lay low, see how this plays out." His expression was grim, but resolute.

"Good," I replied, relief flooding through me despite the danger that still loomed overhead. For now, Jack understood the urgency, and that was enough. "We should all get out of here," I suggested, glancing around Neon, suddenly eager to leave the smoky haze and pulsing lights behind.

"Agreed," Jack muttered, standing up to leave. "You two take care of yourselves, okay?"

We stood as well, and Abby reached out her hand to take Jack's. "Jack—it was great to meet you."

"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.