Page 122 of Blake

Please, Blake. Please get up.

The man shoved her toward the SUV.

Devon planted her feet. “No!”

She kicked backward, catching his knee.

He stumbled. She twisted free and ran. Not toward the road or the woods, but the house.

Devon ran toward Blake. She made it three steps before she was tackled from behind.

They hit the gravel hard. Pain shot through her entire body. The breath left her lungs in a rush as a heavy body pinned her to the ground.

“Stupid little⁠—”

She drove her elbow upward, connecting with something solid. The man cursed. Devon rolled, trying to get her knees beneath her.

He grabbed her shirt and hauled her upright.

She swung at his face. Her fist caught the edge of his masked chin. He swore again and another man appeared beside him.

“Enough!”

Something hard pressed against Devon’s tender ribs. She froze.

A gun.

The second man leaned in close. “Fight again, and I’ll put another bullet in your boyfriend before we leave.”

Devon’s heart stopped.

He jerked his chin toward the farmhouse.

“Your choice.”

Tears blurred her vision. She couldn’t see Blake anymore. Couldn’t tell whether he was breathing.

“Please,” she whispered.

The man shoved her roughly toward the SUV. “Get in.”

Devon shook her head.

“Please, just let me see if he’s⁠—”

“Now!” He pushed her again, forcing her into the back seat.

The door slammed shut.

Devon dove for the handle.

Locked.

A man climbed in beside her. Another took the wheel, and the engine roared to life. Devon threw herself toward the window.

Through the rear window, she caught a final glimpse of the farmhouse as the SUV sped down the narrow drive toward the road. Draven was running across the yard, shouting words she couldn’t hear and aiming his gun toward the vehicle as if he wanted to shoot.

Jethro appeared near the front porch, his weapon also pointing her way. A burst of gunfire forced both men behind cover. The SUV lurched forward, the sudden movement slamming Devon back against the seat.