Page 38 of Blackwood

“Why not?”

“Because it’s not safe.”

“Carlos is in prison,” I snap. “He can’t touch us.”

“One. He’s not inprison,” he fires back. “He’s in one of those Club Fed facilities where they serve quinoa, offer yoga, and probably give blowjobs with their breakfast smoothies.”

“Disgusting.”

“Accurate. And two, Vince is still out there. Free. Pissed. You think he’s just gonna let what we did slide?”

I cross my arms. “They think we died in that explosion, Zeke. Mariela’s car went up with two charred bodies. That bought us time.”

“Yeah, well, time isn’t forever,” he says, tone flat. “Vince isn’t stupid. If he ever starts doubting that fire… if anyone decides to really look into it? Fayetteville’s the first place they’ll look.”

He takes a deep breath. “You think he won’t check your old dance studio? Henry’s front porch?”

My mouth presses into a line.

“We burned a very powerful man. We also humiliated a District Attorney who ran for Senate and lost because of us. This isn’t just about Miami anymore, Bells. You don’t get to walk back into your old life like we didn’t start a war.”

“Vince doesn’t know that was us, Zeke. And, the lake house is—”

“It doesn’t matter,” Zeke snaps, then lowers his voice again. “It’s not about where he is. It’s about who he is to you. And if someone finds out, if they connect the dots, he’s leverage. And you’re exposed. You could be putting him in danger, not just yourself.”

“I’m not asking to go back. I’m not trying to run away and play house,” I whisper, voice shaking. “I just want to see him. That’s all. Just once. I just want to see my Dad.”

“I know,” he says. “But it’s not time yet.”

My throat tightens. “Will it ever be?”

He’s quiet for a long moment. “I hope so,” he says honestly. “If the network holds. If we can find Vince and eliminate that threat.”

I nod, lips pressed tight to hold back the emotion trying to claw its way out. Zeke brushes a knuckle down my cheek and tucks a strand of hair behind my ear. Then he leans in and presses a kiss to my forehead.

“I’ll get you there one day.”

He pulls back, and I see it, all the weight he’s carrying. All the pain he doesn’t let out. Every wall he’s built around both of us to keep us breathing. He walks away, footsteps silent as he vanishes up the staircase without looking back.

I stand there for a while, letting the firelight flicker across the floor until it doesn’t feel warm anymore. Then I turn off the lights and head to bed.

♥♥♥

ZEKE

The next morning

Tex is at the coffee machine, watching it as if it’s going to pull a weapon. Nate’s already locked-in at the table, sleeves rolled, files open, and dissecting the op like it’ll confess if he presses hard enough. I take the first mug.

Nate breaks the silence. “We need to talk about the city.”

“Fucking hell. Here we go,”I say as I sip my coffee.

Tex doesn’t even look surprised. “We’ve been dancing around it for weeks. Maybe New York was too much of a risk.”

I exhale through my nose, lean against the window, eyes on the skyline as it flickers to life behind the fog.

“This was never about comfort,” I say. “We didn’t pick Manhattan because it’s safe. We picked it because it’s a lion’s den.”