Page 35 of Reaper’s Wrath

“Should I?”

“DiAngelo is covered in them.” I realize immediately it’s the wrong thing to say.

“You see my brother naked very often?” Fury simmers beneath the surface.

I shake my head. “Never naked. But I’ve seen him with his shirt off. It’s strange to see someone who looks so similar yet so different.”

He grunts, then lifts his hand to gaze at his phone. God, what I wouldn’t give to get access to that. I suppose it’s worth a try.

“El?” I ask in a small voice, unintentionally reverting to his childhood nickname.

His gaze snaps to mine. Wary. Curious.

My teeth graze anxiously over my bottom lip. “Is there any way I could call my dad and let him know I’m okay? I’ve been really worried about him.”

He frowns, then walks to the bedroom door and returns with the guard’s phone. “What’s his number?”

I give him the digits, but before he hits the Call button, he levels me with a severe warning.

“You will not tell him anything about where you are or who has you. You can tell him you’re alright—that’s it. Anything beyond that, and there will be consequences.”

“Okay.”

He initiates the call, then hits Speakerphone.

“Yes?” my father answers.

“Hey, Daddy, it’s me,” I say warmly, wanting to give him every reassurance I can.

“Christ, Isa. Where are you? Are you okay?” Worry bleeds from his words and cracks my heart in two.

My gaze locks with Elio’s to let him know I haven’t forgotten his terms. “I’m okay, I promise. Please try not to worry and make sure to take your medicine.”

Elio ends the call. “That wasn’t part of the script,” he bites at me.

“There’s no secret meaning. He has a heart condition, and I’m always having to remind him to take his pills. I’m scared that without me there, he’ll forget.”

My surly captor grumbles inaudibly as he takes the phone back to the guard, telling the man to destroy it. He then walks to the far side of the bed and sits back against the padded headboard, returning his attention to his phone.

“I don’t suppose I can check my email,” I toss out there, just in case. It’s probably not an issue yet, but it will become one if I can’t get access at some point.

“Don’t push your luck.”

That’s what I figured.

I look around the room, awkwardly wondering what’s supposed to happen next.

“Do whatever you need to do in the bathroom to get ready for bed. Lights are going out soon.” He answers my unspoken question.

I do as he said, making sure to close the doors fully. Once my face is washed and teeth are brushed, I walk to the bed opposite of him. “Do you have extra bedding, or should I take a pillow from the bed?”

“Why do you need a pillow?”

Ouch. Okay.

I shrug, then lower to the floor and try to get comfortable.

“Isa, what the fuck are you doing?”