Page 97 of Secrets Beneath the Waves
She looked deep into Luke’s eyes, trying to determine his intentions. All she saw was pain from the wound to his side. Still, even in the water, his posture radiated tension.
Her mother had taught her to be skeptical of everything.
Was Luke protecting her or did he sacrifice one of his men to earn her trust?
Her mother’s words rang in her ears. “The only thing more dangerous than an enemy behind you is a traitor beside you.”
CHAPTER
FOURTEEN
Ellie clungto the side of the boat, struggling to regain her breath. The salty spray of the Caribbean bit at her lips as she exchanged a wary glance with Luke.
He looked bad. Blood seeped from the wound on his side, but his jaw was set, his expression determined but fading.
Her mind raced to process the events of the last few minutes. Two of the threats were gone, their lifeless bodies lying on the ocean floor. But the third man—where was he? She saw him earlier in the week, exiting the cruise ship and getting into a sedan driven by one of the two dead men.
She assumed he was on the boat acting as a lookout. Not seeing him yet, sent a cold ripple through her chest. Her mother’s advice echoed in her mind: If you assume, assume on the side of caution. If he wasn’t there, fine, but she couldn’t take any chances.
“Stay here,” she whispered to Luke.
He nodded faintly, pressing himself flat against the hull, his hands clamped against the boat. Whatever she did, she had to do it quickly. She was afraid he might pass out.
Ellie edged along the side of the boat, her movements deliberate, her breath shallow. The silence grew louder withevery stroke, each creak of the hull set her nerves on edge. She dared to pull herself up and peer over the edge.
Nothing.
Once on board, she crouched low and scanned the deck, looking in every cranny for a possible threat. But the boat was empty. Relief washed over her, but it was short-lived.
Where is he?
What if he was in the water?
She slid her mask back on and slipped into the water to find out. She moved slowly, floating on the surface, scanning the expanse beneath the boat. The ocean stretched in endless turquoise silence. No movement. No sign of him. Only the bodies of the two men she killed.
When she returned to Luke, he stared at her. “Anything?”
She shook her head, pulling off her mask. “He’s not here. We need to move, now.”
They worked quickly to board their own boat. Ellie helped Luke onto the bench and assessed his wound.
“You’re lucky,” she said, as she applied gauze she had retrieved from the first aid kit. “It’s shallow.”
Luke gave a bitter laugh, but his face pale. “Lucky is not a word I’d use. But okay. Just call me Lucky Luke.”
How could he crack jokes at a moment like this? Her mom had said that’s a good quality to have. It made the tension bearable.
“Thank you for helping me,” she said, sincerely. “You may have saved my life.”
She wanted to trust him, wanted it so badly. But trust wasn’t a luxury she could afford. Not now. Not yet.
“What’s going on, Ellie?” he asked suddenly, his tone filled with skepticism. “Who are these men? Why are they after you?”
“I can’t tell you,” she said, keeping her gaze focused on his wound.
“Can’t or won’t?”
“Both.”
