Page 236 of Blackwood

I glance at Vince, who’s gone ghost white. Celeste’s tongue flicks near his jaw.

“And trust me,” I say, stepping a little closer. “She works. Your buddy Carlos? Pure fucking evil. Celeste didn’t hesitate when she looked into his dirty little soul.”

Behind me, Lex lets out a low huff of a laugh. I glance back at him. He mouths, “I fucking love you,”and all I can do is smile.

Vince is shaking now. Literally vibrating in the chair, sweat dripping down his temples, duct tape barely holding back a scream.

Sabine leans in beside me. “So, we’re gonna have Celeste take a lil’ peek inside you, mon chou.”

The snake rises higher, her body tightening slightly. Her glittering eyes meet Vince’s. And for one heartbeat, everything stills. Then she turns her head toward Sabine.

I grin, teeth bared. “This is the best part.”

Sabine gives a slow nod and Celeste strikes. Fangs sink into Vince’s neck like they were meant to live there. He screams, muffled by the tape, whole body thrashing like a man on fire.

Lex’s voice cuts through the chaos, low and amused. “Goddamn, baby.”

Chapter 65

CADE

Warehouse 29-A. Brooklyn, New York

721 Days Since Zeke’s Death

“Goddamn, baby,” Lex mutters beside me as the snake sinks its fangs into Vince’s neck.

Celeste, they said. That thing is a monster—thick and glistening like it slithered straight out of hell. Bella doesn’t even flinch. She just stands there, dead calm, watching Vince squirm under the snake’s hold.

“Really should’ve seen that one coming,” she shrugs as if she’s just commenting on the weather.

“Come here Celeste,” she says reaching for the snake. She lets it curl around her arm like it belongs there. Like she belongs to something darker now.

She walks the creature over to Sabine, who looks like some kind of voodoo queen from a fever dream. Her eyes glassy with thrill, like this is all just foreplay before the real storm hits.

Bella turns toward Vince, Tex steps up beside her on instinct. “Now, Vincent… if I take the tape off, you gonna behave?”

He is drenched in sweat, trembling like a coward. His eyes dart to Sabine. Then to the snake still hissing in her arms. Then back to Tex. Not looking at Bella, not even once. Apparently, that pisses Tex off because he punches him clean across the jaw.

I wince. Lex exhales like it’s a breath he’s been holding since we got here.

Tex growls, “Answer her. Yes or no. Are you going to behave?”

Vince nods, chest heaving. His eyes flick to Bella again, begging this to stop.

Tex looks at her. They don’t speak. They don’t need to. These two know each other so well, they can have a full conversation just on looks alone. She nods and Tex rips the duct tape off his mouth.

Vince gasps and then spits, “You fucking bitch, let me—”

Bella laughs. Not a soft laugh. Not even a cruel one. It’s unhinged. Full, wild, and gleeful. Like she’s finally snapped and decided to make art out of this madness.

“Now, Vincent. What did I just say?”

Tex doesn’t wait. Another punch. This one splits Vince’s lip, leaving a crimson trail down his chin.

I glance at Lex. His fists are clenched and his jaw is locked so tight I can hear the grind of his molars from here. His eyes haven’t left Bella, not once. He wants in. Bad. This is killinghim to stand back here with me on the sidelines instead of up there in the action.

Vince finally shuts his mouth. Smart move.