Page 212 of Hidden Depths

Sea Whisper rolled violently.

A heartbeat later⁠—

WHOOSH!

A rocket streaked across the water where we'd been only seconds before.

The explosion erupted behind us, sending a tower of seawater into the air.

The blast rocked Sea Whisper from stern to bow.

Glasses shattered.

Alarms screamed.

Below deck, I heard Ivy yell.

Ben shouted Calle's name.

Ward caught me before I lost my footing.

Our eyes met for one terrifying second.

"They're not trying to scare us anymore," I whispered.

Ward's face hardened into the expression of the Army Ranger I'd only glimpsed until now.

"No."

He looked back toward the reef.

"They just declared war."

39

Ward

The explosion hadn't even finished echoing when training took over.

"Everyone report!"

Storm was still beside me.

"I'm okay."

Nathan answered over the radio.

"Still afloat."

Ben's voice came next from below.

"Calle and Ivy are good."

Relief lasted exactly one second.

Then another warning alarm sounded.

I looked at the radar.