Page 457 of Hidden Depths

“You followed me into the passage.”

“Yes.”

“You ran toward a falling metal case.”

“Yes.”

“You let Ross put a knife to your throat.”

“I didn’t exactly let him.”

“Storm.”

She touched my chest.

My anger disappeared.

Just as Nathan’s had when Elanore touched him.

I finally understood.

“You said you knew me,” she whispered.

“I do.”

“You said you’d always protect me.”

“I will.”

Her eyes searched mine.

“What happens when this is over?”

Behind us waited the truth about her family.

Ahead of us waited the sisters who needed her.

And somewhere beyond this night waited every reason I should move slowly.

But Ross’s knife had taught me how quickly a future could disappear.

I lowered my forehead to hers.

“When this is over, I stop pretending I can walk away from you.”

65

STORM

“The truth cannot return the people we lost. But it can finally carry their names home.”

— James Sinclair

“When this is over, I stop pretending I can walk away from you.”

Ward’s words stayed between us.

I wanted to ask what they meant.