Page 67 of Reaper’s Wrath

“Not sure. I woke up this morning, and you were just … here.” He shrugs. “I’m Kairos.”

“Elio.” I give him a nod.

“Come on. I’ll show you around.” Kairos guides me out of the small windowless bunk room. We weave our way through a large but old boat. Once we’re out in the open air, I can see we’re on a sailboat with two thick masts rising into the sky.

It’s a working boat with fishing gear, ropes, and other equipment stored in plain sight. While aesthetics aren’t a priority, the wood structure is in good shape—smooth and stained a deep mahogany—and the plain white sails show minimal fraying. I’ve never been on a sailboat, certainly not one that’s nearly 100 feet long. The sight is impressive. Shocking.

Even more disorienting is the view in the distance.

Nothing but horizon as far as the eye can see.

I stumble for the rail and throw up over the side. This time, the episode has nothing to do with the rocking of the boat. This is sheer terror.

I’m in the middle of the ocean with no idea if I’ll ever see home again.

Do I even have a home anymore?

“You’ll adjust, after a while,” Kairos assures me. “Took me a couple of weeks, and now I don’t even notice the rocking unless we get too close to a storm.”

I want to bellow at him that it has nothing to do with the fucking waves, but the retching has my throat too busy screaming with pain.

“I see our newest addition is up.” The Greek moseys up behind us as though casually welcoming a guest.

I want to strangle him.

My emotions get the better of me, and I charge at him but pull up short, clutching my fists at my sides instead. “Why are you doing this?”

The monster lifts his chin snidely. “I’m saving you. There was nothing for you back there.”

“It’s my life. That’s for me to decide.”

He leans in close to my face and sneers. “That’s where you’re wrong. You would be dead if it weren’t for me. You owe me everything, and it’s time you realize that. Now, I’ve been exceedingly patient because of the circumstances, but you’re wearing my patience thin. This is your life, now. Accept that, or I’ll take back what I’ve given you.”

The threat isn’t even thinly veiled. He’s announcing for anyone who wants to hear that he’s willing to kill me if I don’t comply.

And judging from the chilling indifference behind his eyes, he’d do it. My life means nothing to him. He’d toss me overboard with as much care as he would a discarded orange peel.

The Greek smiles. “You’re starting to understand. Good. Kairos will show you the ropes. All you have to do is remember that each morning you wake is another day I allowed you to live.”

He walks away without the slightest concern of what I might do. His confidence is absolute.

What kind of fucking monster thinks he can own another person? Fury paints my vision red.

I launch myself at him.

He whirls, anticipating my attack, and I stumble forward, smack into the arms of a man who’d been lurking in the shadows just inside the interior cabin.

“Perfect timing, Stavros,” says the Greek with an air of disinterest. “This is Elio. He’s all yours.”

I haven’t seen this man before. He’s close in age to the Greek with the most menacing face I’ve ever seen. A scar runs across one brow and the bridge of his nose as though someone slashed a knife across his face. And the eye within is an eerie gray while the other is golden brown. He reminds me of a rabid wolf killing for pleasure.

“This is my favorite part of taking on a new crew member.” Evil glints in those terrifying eyes before he punches me low in the kidney.

The edges of my vision go dark for a moment as I fight for breath.

“You’re big, but you fight like shit.”

Taking my arm, he spins me around until I’m certain my shoulder is bulging out of the socket. I cry out with pain. “Please, God. Please, stop.”