Page 432 of Hidden Depths

I broke free from Ward.

This time, he didn’t stop me.

We ran up the iron staircase.

The tower seemed to climb forever.

Smoke followed us.

At the top, a door opened into the lantern room.

One of Ross’s men held Calle against the shattered windows.

Blood marked her lower lip.

Her hands were tied behind her.

Ben stood six feet away.

His gun lay on the floor.

The man’s knife pressed against Calle’s throat.

“You move, she falls.”

Behind Calle, the railing had broken away.

Only open air separated her from the cliffs below.

Ben’s face held no emotion.

That frightened me more than rage would have.

“Let her go.”

The man laughed.

“You first.”

“You don’t want me.”

“No. But I want you to watch.”

He shoved Calle closer to the edge.

Ben took one step.

The blade cut her skin.

A thin line of blood appeared.

Ben stopped.

“Calle,” he said softly.

Her eyes found his.

Something passed between them.