phin

o absolute silence, only to be violently replaced b

heap oil, and lake water. I shot up from the lumpy mattress, my hands frantically touching my face. There were no

st-stained cabin of the Lake Michiga

my past life crashed into my skull. I knew exactly where I was,

. She was consumed by jealousy that a lowly *Soldier*'s daughter raised in the countryside was arranged to

dered. In our world, a scarred woman was damaged goods, an unforgivable insult to the Falcone name. The marriage would be

etal door pulled me from the

red on her face. She held a steaming cup of tea.

ntry girl, offering her a grateful smile. I brought the cup to my lips, pretending to swallow

d was the churning of the bl

abin door c

paring knife in her hand. She leaned over the bed, her eyes fixed on m

snappe

hell. Before Polly could react to the cold, murderous intent in my gaze, I rolled to the

l force, catching her

ing to the floor. Panic replaced the greed in her

if I had forgotten those lessons in my past life. I snatched the knife from the floor and lunged. I

r eyes wide with terror as the life drained out of her. I watched her die, f

hed to a discarded, heavy iron anchor. I tied it securely around her waist. My muscles b

ck, freezing waters of Lake

my breath, the blood drying sticky on my fingers.

trench coat stood leaning against the railing. Silas Vance. *The Ghost*. He hadn't shouted. He hadn't run to the crew. He simply sto