Page 123 of Blake

“Stop!” she shouted at the men who’d taken her. “Let me go!”

The driver accelerated. The man beside her grabbed her wrists.

“Sit still.”

She fought him.

Devon kicked. Twisted. Tried to bite his hand when he reached for her face.

The man cursed and forced her wrists together. Plastic restraints tightened around her wrists. Devon cried out as the sharp edges bit into her skin.

She stopped struggling.

Not because she’d given up, but because she couldn’t breathe. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw Blake falling.

The blood. His gun hitting the floor. His strong body crumpling against the wall.

He hadn’t moved when she’d screamed his name. Not once.

Devon turned toward the window as the trees around them swallowed the farmhouse completely.

No!

This couldn’t be happening.

She had no idea where they were taking her. No idea what they intended to do to her once they got there. All she knew was that they’d come.

They wanted her dead. That much was clear. And now, Blake might be dead, too.

She pressed her forehead against the cold glass. The thought of losing him was unbearable.

He can’t be gone.

Devon’s chest constricted.

Please be alive.

Last night, she’d fallen asleep in his arms, believing she might actually have a future. This morning, she’d woken to his smile.

And now⁠—

Devon swallowed against the painful lump in her throat as the man beside her shifted.

“You’re awfully quiet now.” When she didn’t respond, he said, “Guess you finally figured out how much trouble you’re in.”

She kept her gaze fixed on the window.

“Don’t worry.” The man settled back against the seat. “You’ll get to meet the boss soon enough.”

The boss.

The man behind the deaths of Carol Jenkins and Scott Mitchell. The person responsible for it all.

Devon’s stomach twisted. She wanted to scream and demand answers. To tell these men exactly what she thought of the people they worked for.

But she saved her breath because really, what was the point?

Her mind filled with the image of Blake hurt and lying on the floor. Blood spread beneath him, and his beautiful, soulful eyes were closed.