Page 328 of Hidden Depths
The man who had been holding me seconds earlier disappeared.
The SEAL rose silently and moved toward the salon door.
He glanced back once.
“Do not move.”
Then he vanished into the darkness.
I remained behind the sofa.
For almost three seconds.
Then someone grabbed Ivy from the shadows near the galley.
Her camera crashed to the floor.
A hand covered her mouth.
She kicked backward.
Her heel connected with the man’s knee.
He cursed and tightened his arm around her throat.
“Ivy!”
I lunged before I could think.
The intruder dragged Ivy toward the lower cabins.
He wore black diving gear.
Water streamed from his clothes.
A serpent curled around the exposed skin of his wrist.
I grabbed the heavy brass lamp from the end table and swung it with both hands.
The base struck the side of his head.
He stumbled.
Ivy bit his hand.
Hard.
He released her with a shout.
She dropped to the floor and crawled away.
The man turned toward me.
Blood ran from his temple.
His eyes were cold.
Furious.
