13. Chapter Thirteen Abby

Chapter Thirteen: Abby

T he sun was making its slow descent in the San Francisco sky, stretching shadows across the streets like fingers trying to snatch at my heels. I walked close to Lily, her black hair swinging against her dark brown cardigan with each step she took. The scent of garlic and five-spice from Xinyi Lin’s restaurant just ahead promised a feast, but my stomach knotted for a very different reason.

We were heading there not for dinner, but for help; I needed something—anything—to get Nathan free.

"Smells good, doesn't it?" Lily said, a note of innocence in her voice that made me wish for simpler times. I knew she was just trying to make conversation, to keep us distracted. I appreciated it.

"Sure does," I replied, my tone light, but my eyes never stopped their surveillance. Dad always said an agent's greatest weapon was their instinct, and mine was firing on all cylinders. There was a ripple in the usual flow of the crowd, a break in the pattern that screamed trouble.

I caught it then—the black SUV creeping along the street. Its windows were tinted to the darkest shade, hiding its occupants. The car was sleek, its movements predatory, and I knew without doubt these were Kenny's men.

My muscles tensed, ready for the dance I'd practiced since boys thought they could push me around in school.

"Lil, don’t stop moving. There’s someone here.”

“Who?”

“Trouble," I muttered under my breath, barely audible over the hum of city life.

"Ba’s?" Lily asked, her voice low as she followed my gaze.

"Has to be Kenny. They’re not being subtle, but if you weren’t his daughter, I assume they would have come for us already."

We kept walking, our pace steady, acting the part of two women simply enjoying the cool evening air. But inside, my mind raced through scenarios, exits, and defensive maneuvers. Jeans and a white shirt—the uniform of the unremarkable—were my armor, but they offered little comfort against the cold calculation of the Triad.

"Stay sharp," I whispered to Lily. And as the sedan lurched forward, matching our strides, I readied myself for what was coming next.

“Should we run?”

“No, we’ll just call attention to ourselves,” I said.

“So what should we do?”

"Split up," I hissed. "It's our best shot."

Lily's eyes widened, but she gave a firm nod. God, I loved this girl. She was so brave.

"Go left at the next block," I instructed, my voice barely above a whisper, "Circle back to the curio shop back there and blend in."

“Shouldn’t we keep going? Xinyi could protect us–”

"Just trust me," I cut her off, my tone brooking no argument.

We reached the intersection, the moment of truth. With a final look that conveyed both promise and peril, we parted ways. Lily turned left, her black leggings and dark brown cardigan melting into the evening shadows like she was born to disappear.

I took a sharp right, ducking into an alley. My footsteps echoed off the walls, a staccato rhythm urging me forward. I wove through the narrow passage, slipping past dumpsters and hopping over broken bottles and crumpled newspaper.

I couldn't shake the feeling that I was being followed, the hairs on the back of my neck standing on end despite the lack of audible pursuit. But training from Quantico kicked in, the mental map of the city I'd studied unfolding in my mind as I plotted my next move. Escape wasn't just an option; it was a necessity.

Not just for me, or for Nathan, but for the baby too.

My dad's voice crept into my head, a whisper from the past that was as clear and commanding as if he were right beside me. "Square your shoulders, Abby. Don't show them you're scared." He had drilled those words into me after schoolyard bullies had made my life miserable—but only for a week.

He had no time for administrators when he knew I could kick their ass.

"Abby Harper, don't you dare give up," I muttered to myself, echoing his sentiment. The memory of his unwavering belief in me filled my veins with fire, even as I heard the distant growl of an SUV turning into the alley. It wasn't after Lily; it was coming for me. A strange sense of relief washed over me—I'd drawn their attention, giving her a chance to escape.

I burst from the alley's mouth, my jeans and white shirt blending seamlessly with the sea of evening commuters. San Francisco's heartbeat thrummed around me, a lifeline I hoped to disappear into. My eyes flickered left and right, scouting for the next pocket of anonymity.

Just as I reached for the glass door of a boutique, a vice-like grip clamped down on my shoulder. Panic surged, but there was no reaching for the gun under my jacket; I was already being spun and relieved of the weapon before I could even blink.

The Serpents had caught up to me.

The next thing I knew, I was shoved toward the nondescript black SUV that had pulled up to the curb. The door swung open, and I was pushed into the back seat before I could think of resisting further. The door slammed shut with an ominous thud, sealing my fate.

Inside, I found myself under the scrutiny of Kenny Zhou's men. Their faces were like chiseled stone—no trace of emotion, no flicker of sympathy. They didn't need to utter a single word; the coldness in their eyes spoke volumes. These were the enforcers of the Golden Serpents, and they didn't play games unless it was with someone else's life.

I sat there, rigid, every muscle coiled tight. My mind raced through the possibilities. Had Lily made it out? Was she somewhere safe now, or was she caught in the same deadly web I found myself ensnared in?

This was not how I'd envisioned my first assignment outside Quantico. There would be no glory in this capture, no tales of bravery to share. Instead, I was at the mercy of San Francisco's criminal underworld, a pawn in a game far more treacherous than anything I'd faced before.

And Nathan was in the middle of it all.

I needed to save him. I needed to get him back.

"Abby Harper," one of them finally said, his voice flat. "The Serpent has been looking for you."

I met his gaze squarely, refusing to showfear. If this was to be my end—or perhaps a twisted new beginning—I wouldn't go down silently. I'd remember every detail, every second, until my last breath if need be.

"Where are we going?" I asked, though I doubted they'd tell me.

I knew who they worked for. And it scared the shit out of me.

"Somewhere you can't cause any more trouble," the other man replied with a smirk that didn't quite reach his eyes.

The car started moving, pulling away from the life I knew, from any hope of immediate rescue. As the city lights began to recede, I understood the gravity of my situation. Alone, without backup, I was about to meet the Serpent himself.

For the first time, not as my fiance’s father, but as the dangerous, terrifying crime lord that he was.

And nothing in my training had prepared me for what was to come.