Page 173 of Blackwood

Lex is already watching me, his body on alert. “What is it?”

I turn the screen toward him.

Cade straightens. “What’s going on?”

“You sure you want to see the other side of me?”

DING.

@LucaWasHere

So, the princess crawled back to her knights, I see.

Two blades at her side, swearing loyalty.

One paints her grief, while Lexie breaks bone.

But neither of them know she dies alone.

So kiss your boys and play pretend,

But I’m the start. I’ll be the end.

Mine in madness, mine in flame.

And when I come? You’ll moan my name.

“Goddamn, I thought we were done with this asshole.”Lex grabs his phone from his pocket and fires back a message. “Fuck this shit. If he wants to play poet, so can I.”

@BarinovUnhinged

You talk like a poet. You stalk like a ghost.

But behind that screen, you’re all empty boast.

You watched? Congrats. That’s all you’ll do.

Because while you hide, I’ll protect her too.

We don’t run scared. We don’t play games.

And when we move? We don’t miss names.

So keep typing, creep. You’re not that clever.

Step any closer and I’ll end this forever.

He hits send.“There. Take that, Dr. Seuss.” Lex turns to me, fire in his eyes. “Forget him, baby. We’ve got bigger shit to deal with. Girls to save, an op to plan. Let’s go.”

Chapter 52

CADE

Ditmas Park, Brooklyn

667 Days Since Zeke’s Death

The mansion looks untouched. Like someone packed a suitcase and vanished. Perched on a wide, tree-lined street in Ditmas Park,the house is stately and pristine—fresh paint, manicured hedges, iron gate still working.