Page 404 of Hidden Depths

The men aboard Sea Whisper didn’t want to sink her.

Ross needed the Sinclair sisters alive, and he needed a way to transport them.

The fire was meant to pull us toward the stern while they escaped from the bow.

A smaller boat appeared on the far side of the yacht.

No navigation lights.

No engine.

It drifted close to Sea Whisper’s hull.

“Escape boat,” I said. “Two men will take Hazel. The others will keep us occupied.”

Lieutenant Akana grabbed the radio.

“Scott, Mark, cover the starboard side. Suspect vessel near the bow.”

Static answered.

Then Mark’s voice.

“We see it.”

“Do not fire unless you have a clear shot,” I ordered. “They have Hazel.”

The name nearly caught in my throat.

Storm’s youngest sister.

The one she had spent her entire life protecting.

If anything happened to Hazel, Storm would blame herself.

And I would spend the rest of my life knowing I had failed her.

Our boat reached Sea Whisper’s port side.

Ben climbed first.

He caught the boarding ladder and hauled himself upward with one arm.

“Your shoulder,” John warned.

“Still attached.”

“It won’t be if you keep doing that.”

Ben disappeared over the railing.

John followed.

I turned to Lieutenant Akana.

“Contain the fire. Keep anyone from leaving the yacht.”

“What about you?”