Prologue

Reese Cassell smiled vaguely, taking in a deep breath of sea air. He heard the sound of the waves licking the side of the yacht and felt the gentle rocking of the boat. Crossing his arms above his head, he looked at the boy sitting upright on the mattress, half-dressed.

"Jack," he said. "I - "

"Shut up," Jack said, his back to Reese. He stood and searched the floor for his jeans, avoiding Reese's eyes.

Paranoia set in quickly - Reese was never comfortable when Jack got mad at him. The boy was his world, his only friend. He propped himself up on his elbows and said, "Are you okay?"

Jack gave him a bitter smile as he pulled on his jeans. "You're so oblivious. Give me my belt."

Reese pulled the belt from the tangle of blankets and folded it in his hands. "Talk to me, Jack."

"Give me my fucking belt," Jack yelled, grabbing it from Reese. He shook his head condescendingly as Reese recoiled. "You're such a child."

"What's wrong with you, Jack?" Reese sat up, worried and frightened. "I've never seen you like this. What happened?"

"Shut up, Reese. Just stop." Jack drew closer as he buckled his belt around his thin waist. "You're so fucking sheltered. What do you even know about the world?" His blue eyes were dark as he sat down again. "You're rich. You've been fucking me for the past three years. That's all you know." He paused, eyes fixed on Reese's. "People protect you, Reese. They tell you everything's going to be okay, it'll all work out, you'll be happy in the end - but that's all bullshit. It's bullshit and they know it, but they tell you anyway because you're so fragile, Reese. You're too fucking fragile for the truth."

Reese stared silently at him, dumbfounded. His face was so close - that face he had caressed not five minutes before. Jack's jaw was stiff, his expression angrier than Reese had ever seen before. The words he spoke stung, and Reese had to bite the inside of his cheek to keep his chin from trembling.

"I'm sorry," he said carefully. For a split second, he swore he saw sympathy cross Jack's face, but what Jack said next ruined the illusion.

"I'm done with you."

Reese couldn't breathe. He wanted to plead with Jack to stay, but found himself speechless. The words burned into him as he watched Jack pull on his shirt and climb the steps to the deck. His breath came rushing back when he heard Jack kick their bucket of cleaning supplies, and then he heard nothing. Jack was gone.