Page 120 of Blake

He staggered backward, one hand pressing against his side.

“Devon, run!”

Another shot struck the wall behind him. Blake tried to raise his pistol, but it fell from his loosened grip. The weapon hit the floor as his knees buckled, and then he collapsed onto the hallway’s hardwood floor.

“No!”

Devon screamed his name as she lunged toward him. Gwen fired at the masked man, forcing him to duck behind the mudroom doorway.

“Devon, get back!”

But Devon barely heard her. She was too busy rushing toward the man she loved.

Blake fell, his head striking the floor with a sickening thud. Blood stained his shirt. His eyes started to close, and . . .

Oh, God.

He wasn’t moving.

“Blake!” She dropped to her knees beside him, reaching for his face.

His skin was warm.

“Blake, please.”

She waited, but nothing happened.

“Please, baby. Open your eyes.”

Behind her, Gwen fired again, her view of the shooter partially obstructed.

“Emmett, Blake’s down!” Gwen shouted through her phone.

Then another shot rang out. Plaster from the wall exploded into the air. Devon flinched, but she couldn’t make herself leave Blake.

She pressed a trembling hand against his chest. Warm blood seeped between her fingers.

No. No, no, no, no, no.

A hand suddenly grabbed the back of her shirt.

Devon screamed as someone hauled her away from Blake.

“Let me go!” She twisted violently, trying to see who had her.

A masked man.

Not the one Gwen had been shooting, but another one. He wrapped an arm around her waist and dragged her toward the mudroom.

Devon kicked backward, catching the man in his shin. He cursed, and she drove her elbow into his ribs. His grip loosened, and for a split second, she thought she might get free.

But then he grabbed a fistful of her hair and yanked her head backward. Pain exploded across her scalp.

Devon screamed.

“Stop fighting!”

“Go to hell!” She clawed at his arm.