Page 39 of Reaper’s Wrath

Shit. I never meant to upset her.

I don’t understand what’s happening, which means I have no idea how to handle this situation. Isa isn’t lying. She believes what she’s saying.

Something’s off—seriously off—and I need to figure out what.

I roll away from her and grab the key to the cuffs from my nightstand drawer. I uncuff her wrist first, then my own. As soon as she’s free, she pulls the covers back over her. I know better than to say something. I’ll only make it worse.

Instead, I get dressed and go in search of Michael. If anyone can help me uncover the past, it’s him. While I learned a world of lessons sailing with the Greek, technology wasn’t one of them. One of my guys is good with computers, but Michael is next level.

This task is too important to risk missing anything.

I want to know every goddamn detail of Isa’s life from the moment I left. And if someone hurt her while I was gone, I’m going to need names.

CHAPTER 22

ISA

My virginity was never meant to be a dirty secret. I’ve never told anyone because I’ve never had a reason to. It’s not shame that kept me quiet. So why do I feel this crippling embarrassment? Because it’s Elio who knows? What does it matter what Elio thinks of me?

I don’t understand my reaction to him or why he’s even taken me. He says he took me because of the alliance, but that explanation doesn’t ring true. If he’s telling the truth, why keep me in his room? I’m not escaping in the middle of the ocean. Why threaten me one minute, then reassure me the next?

None of it makes sense.

Could this be about his brother? Maybe he took me to punish DiAngelo without any real malice toward me. It would explain his confusing actions, but I don’t see how my kidnapping would hurt D. Not in the same way taking Terina would have hurt him.

What other reason could there be?

I have no earthly idea.

My mind whirring, I give up on going back to sleep and head for the bathroom. I take a quick shower, which I’d been too afraid to do last night. I’m still anxious and wash up in record time, then put on one of the two sweatsuits Evie brought me. It feels good to finally get the makeup off and wash out my hair, but not long after my shower, my stomach starts to roil.

I’m not sure if the boat is rocking more than before or if this is simply the first time it’s registered, but once I feel it, I can’t escape it. When one of Elio’s men brings a tray with breakfast, I have to send it away. And even once it’s gone, the lingering smell has me rushing for the toilet.

I throw up what’s left in my stomach from dinner and desperately try to get control of my gag reflex. Even flushing the toilet to get rid of the smell doesn’t do the job. Every time the boat dips or sways, my body heaves.

Suddenly, warm, confident hands collect my wet hair and rub gentle circles on my back.

“No…” I try to shoo him away, but I end up gagging instead.

“It’s fine. This is my fault. I should have known you might get seasick.” His deep voice is unexpectedly soft and soothing and exactly what I need to distract me from the incessant nausea. “Here, take this. It’ll settle your stomach.”

Elio hands me a pill, then removes the cap from a bottle of water. I don’t question him. I simply take the meds because right now, I’d do anything to make it stop.

Once he’s comfortable I’ll keep the pill down, he carries me back to the bed. I curl up on my side and hope the world disappears.

“Get some rest. You should feel better when you wake up. After that, I have a patch we can put behind your ear to help keep your stomach calm.” He moves around the cabin for a minute before I hear the hiss of a soda can opening. “I’ve put a can of ginger ale on the nightstand. When you feel well enough, have a few sips.” He pulls the comforter over me, then starts for the door.

“Thank you,” I offer quietly.

The momentary pause of his footsteps is the only confirmation I get that he heard me.

I wake two hours later and find Evie sitting in an ivory leather club chair reading a book while I sleep. “Hey,” I greet her groggily.

“Hey, sweetie. How are you feeling?”

“I think I’m better, but we’ll see how I do once I’m up and about.”

She grabs something off the nearby vanity desktop and comes to my side of the bed. “Elio gave me strict instructions to put this patch on behind your ear as soon as you were up. I had to use one, too, when I first came aboard.” She rips open the packaging and peels off a round sticker that looks like a Band-Aid.