Chapter Ten Abby

Iwas supposed to be here to work…but fuck, I wanted to get laid.

The bass pounded through my body like a second heartbeat, the neon lights from the club's ceiling swirling in a dizzying dance of color. Erika, flushed and bright-eyed, threw her head back with a laugh that blended into the music as she spun on the dance floor. Around us, the air hummed with laughter, clinks of glasses, and the thudding rhythm of the latest pop hit that had everyone moving.

"Come on, Abby! Live a little!" Erika shouted over the noise, her hands grabbing mine, pulling me into the fray. I couldn't help but smile; her energy was infectious—even if I was here on a job.

I scanned the room under the guise of swaying to the beat, my eyes flickering over the shadowed corners where members of the Triad leaned against the walls, their watchful gazes hidden beneath the brim of expensive hats. My drink, barely touched, was just a prop—diluted enough to keep my head clear while I kept up appearances.

"Looks like you're working too hard at having fun," one of Erika's coworkers yelled playfully, bumping his shoulder against mine. I laughed it off, turning my focus to the group for a moment. They were easy company, oblivious to the real reason I mingled among them.

My phone vibrated insistently against my thigh, Tyler's texts lighting up the screen with warnings. "This is a stupid idea."

I'd briefed him on the fact that I was going to Fusion, telling him I might have an in, but it was a quick phone call and I hadn't let him talk me out of it. I was on the verge of something big, I could feel it.

I dismissed each message with an eye roll, slipping the device back into my pocket. He didn't understand—the thrill of the chase, the need to be right in the thick of it. Plus, I wasn't some damsel—he should've known better. I was an FBI agent just like him.

As the night wore on, the heat of the crowded room wrapped around us, a tangible thing that made clothes stick and skin glisten. I danced with a couple of guys who were undeniably attractive, sure, but this was no time to get sidetracked. Even if they had wanted more, I kept thinking about the cute stranger from the flower shop next to the Red Lantern.

Each time my phone buzzed, a reminder of Tyler's disapproval, I pushed it further away. I wasn't going to acknowledge him.

I knew I was exactly where I needed to be—even if it meant playing a part.

I excused myself from the dance floor, needing a break and a chance to regather my thoughts. The line for the bathroom was nearly out the door, but I waited, my mind sifting through the details of the assignment. This was part of the job—patience in the mundane moments.

"Did you see those guys getting bottle service?" A pretty blonde behind me whispered to her friend, her voice tinged with both fear and fascination.

"Hot, yeah, but stay away. They're dangerous," her raven haired friend replied, glancing around as if the mere mention might summon trouble. I was just really glad that this was a part of the club I could hear in, because my ears perked up as soon as she said that.

"Like how?" the first pressed, her curiosity piqued.

"Like...underworld dangerous. Like don't even breathe in their direction or you'll end up in a ditch."

I guessed the alcohol must've been making her far louder than she usually was but I was very glad for it. My agent instincts kicked into high gear beneath my feigned disinterest. This was the kind of intel I needed—street-level rumors that often carried more truth than people realized.

"No way, those hotties? They're probably dangerous…in bed."

"Shh! I heard the Serpent's Fang is here tonight," the dark haired girl said, dropping her voice even lower. Her eyes were wide, reflecting the neon lights that flickered across the club's walls.

"Wait, seriously?"

"Yes, seriously!"

"In that case, are you crazy? Don't say his name!" her friend hissed, pulling her closer. "You want to get us killed?"

I pretended to scroll through my phone, a practiced look of boredom plastered on my face, even as my heart raced. The Serpent's Fang—one of the most well known Triad enforcers. Infamous, feared, and right now, apparently, just a whisper away.

If he was here, I was right. I was getting closer and closer to a breakthrough.

They couldn't have known who was eavesdropping—an FBI agent planted right in the belly of the beast. Or that I had more reason than most to be interested in The Serpent's Fang. My assignment meant I could take a tangible part in taking down one of the Triad's most dangerous, scariest criminals…beyond just being here for reconnaissance.

I remained silent, another club-goer waiting for the bathroom as I hoped to hear more. The girls moved on to talking about men they knew, so I couldn't glimpse anything else…yet.

Every one of my nerves was alert, every sense straining for another clue, another piece to the puzzle. Because in this world, information was power, and I was gathering mine piece by dangerous piece.

I pushed the door open, stepping out of the bathroom and right into a solid chest. My breath hitched—not from surprise, but because I knew that scent, an intoxicating mix of fresh flowers and something muskier, dangerous even.

"Sorry," I mumbled instinctively, my training kicking in as I took a step back.

And there he was, Nate from the flower shop, grinning down at me like we were sharing some private joke. He was wearing a white button-up shirt that clung to his muscles, just see through enough that I could see the outline of a tattoo coiling itself around his pecs. The top two buttons of his collared shirt were unbuttoned so I could see just how much he worked out, and he wore dark trousers and brown combat boots.

I…should have stopped raking over him with my gaze because when I looked up, he was staring right at me with a cross of bewilderment and amusement on his face.

"Well, if it isn't Abby from the coffee shop. You know, bumping into you is getting to be my favorite pastime."

"Is it now?" I replied, trying to keep my voice light despite the sudden twist in my stomach. He wasn't supposed to be here, not in the viper's nest I was surveilling. "I guess I owe you an apology dinner, then?"

"You just bumped into me. I barely felt it."

I could see why. He looked even bigger up close.

"Guess you don't need that dinner then."

His laugh was easy, disarming. "How about we start with a drink?" he asked, cocking an eyebrow confidently. "You did bump into me after all."

My mind screamed protocols and warnings, but my mouth had other ideas. "Why wait? How about you buy me that drink right now?"

"Goddamn, I love a bold woman," he said under his breath. I didn't know if he had meant for me to catch it, but I had. And I loved it, though it did make my cheeks burn red.

"That a yes?" I asked.

"Lead the way," he said with a bow that was just this side of mocking.

We navigated through the throngs of bodies, their movements a chaotic dance to the heavy beat that pulsed through the floor. The bar was a beacon in the dim club, and soon enough, Nate was ordering us drinks with the ease of someone who'd done it far too many times before.

"On my tab, brother," he told the bartender, and I caught a glimpse of his wallet—a stack of cash too thick for casual use, and the kind of wristwatch that made ‘worker at a flower shop' seem a little flimsy to be his profession.

"Nice watch," I commented, unable to keep my eyes off the glint of the metal.

"Thanks," he said, sliding me a glass filled with something clear and potent-smelling. "A lucky find."

We clinked glasses and I took a sip, the alcohol sharp on my tongue. It was good—too good for a spur-of-the-moment choice. Everything about Nate was too good, too smooth. Like he knew exactly what he was doing, every second we spent together.

I should've known better, but I loved it.

I loved every moment I spent with him, even though it set everything about my body on edge.

"Cheers," I said, meeting his eyes. They weren't just brown; they were layers upon layers of secrets and untold stories. I was determined to read every single one.

"Alright, Abby," he said, putting his drink down. "Let's dance."