Page 435 of Hidden Depths
For one breathless moment, neither moved.
His arms closed around her.
Her face pressed against his chest.
“You’re bleeding,” she whispered.
“So are you.”
“He cut you.”
“He cut you first.”
“That doesn’t make it better.”
“It does to me.”
Calle lifted her face.
Ben stared down at her.
The world disappeared around them.
I saw the exact moment he realized everyone was watching.
His arms loosened.
Not completely.
Just enough to hide what had already been revealed.
Callie rubbed her wrists.
“Thomas?”
“Safe,” I answered.
“Mom?”
“Safe.”
“The others?”
“Safe.”
Calle’s eyes filled with tears.
Ben touched the cut on her throat.
His fingers were unbelievably gentle.
Then his hand fell.
“We need to move.”
We descended to the lighthouse floor.
Coast Guard sirens approached from the southern road.
