Page 280 of Hidden Depths

“You’re standing perfectly still while pretending to inspect a rope that’s already tied.”

I looked down.

My hand was wrapped around the dock line.

“I was checking the knot.”

“Ward tied it.”

“That doesn’t mean it’s right.”

Calle lifted one eyebrow.

“Ward could probably secure a yacht during a hurricane while being shot at.”

“He might be terrible at knots.”

“He’s a Navy SEAL.”

“That doesn’t make him perfect.”

“No,” she said quietly. “It doesn’t.”

Ward’s voice reached us again.

“I know what I promised.”

My chest tightened.

The wedding.

The life waiting for him.

The woman he had promised to marry.

I suddenly felt as though I were intruding on something private.

Something that had nothing to do with me.

Then Ward spoke again.

“I can’t leave them, Tonya.”

My breath caught.

“They’re still in danger.”

Another pause.

“I don’t know when I’ll be back.”

I released the rope.

“I’m going below.”

Calle gently caught my arm.

“You don’t know what she said.”