Page 250 of Hidden Tide
But Ben is alive.
The response boat’s camera shows him lying on the deck while a medic cuts open the leg of his wetsuit.
Blood covers the material beneath it.
His eyes remain closed.
“Ben?” I call through the radio.
He opens them.
“Calle.”
The sound of my name nearly breaks me.
“You scared me.”
“I know.”
“You were supposed to come back.”
“I’m not finished yet.”
“You’re lying on the floor of a boat.”
“Deck.”
“This isn’t the time to correct me.”
His mouth lifts slightly.
“You’re beautiful when you’re angry.”
“I’m not beautiful. I’m terrified.”
“You can be both.”
The medic presses a bandage against his leg.
Ben’s expression tightens.
“You’re going to the hospital,” I tell him.
“No.”
“That wasn’t a question.”
“Naomi is still aboard.”
“So is a Coast Guard tactical team.”
“They don’t know Simon.”
“They know he’s armed and dangerous.”
“They don’t know what he’ll do when he loses control.”
“You almost died.”
