Page 330 of Hidden Depths

And the sniper was still watching.

Ward struck the intruder once.

Twice.

The man fought back, driving his elbow into Ward’s ribs.

Ward barely reacted.

He caught the man’s arm and twisted it behind his back.

The intruder reached toward his ankle.

A second blade flashed.

“Ward!” I screamed.

Ward turned just before the knife reached him.

He trapped the man’s wrist.

For several brutal seconds, they struggled over the blade.

Then Ward drove the man against the railing.

The knife fell into the water.

The red laser appeared again.

It moved across Ward’s back.

Straight toward his head.

“Down!”

I ran onto the deck and slammed into him.

The rifle cracked.

The bullet tore through the air above us.

Ward twisted as we fell, putting himself between the deck and me.

Pain flashed across his face when his shoulder struck the boards.

“What are you doing?” he demanded.

“Saving your life.”

“I told you to stay inside.”

“You’re welcome.”

“This isn’t funny.”

“I’m not laughing.”

The intruder scrambled toward the swim platform.