Page 156 of Blake

But his expression quickly changed. The polished businessman was gone, and what remained was a furious, desperate man. One who’d just realized he was about to lose everything.

Still, he refused to admit it.

“You think you’ve won?” he seethed.

Devon tightened her grip on the limb. “What I think, is that I’m leaving.”

“No.” His voice turned cold. “You’re not.”

He charged forward. Devon swung the limb again. Whitaker ducked beneath it and slammed his body into hers.

They hit the ground with a thud.

The branch flew from her hands as pain exploded through her ribs. Whitaker had landed partially on top of her, knocking the air from her lungs.

Devon fought wildly. She struck at his face. Scratched at his eyes. Kicked and twisted, trying to get free.

He caught one wrist and then the other.

Whitaker growled out a menacing, “Stop!”

Devon didn’t stop.

She kept fighting to get free while screaming as loudly as she could.

Whitaker slammed her hands against the ground. She bucked beneath him, but he was too heavy.

His enraged face hovered above hers. “You should’ve kept your nose out of my business.”

Devon spat in his face. Whitaker recoiled, and she used the opening to twist sideways, nearly managing to break free.

But his hand closed around her throat, and everything stopped. Devon clawed at his wrist. His fingers tightened, and try as she might to breathe, air wouldn’t come.

She kicked desperately. Unimaginable pressure filled her head, and her vision started to blur.

No!

She tried to scream, but without air, nothing came out.

Whitaker leaned closer. “This ends now!”

Devon’s strength began to fade.

She thought of Blake. In her mind’s eye, she could see his smile and hear his voice. The way he’d looked at her the night she’d finally admitted she loved him.

I’m so sorry.

A gunshot shattered the air. Whitaker jerked, and his grip loosened. For a fraction of a second, he remained suspended above her, his expression registering shock.

He collapsed sideways, his meaty hand falling away from her tender throat. Devon sucked in a ragged breath. She rolled onto her side, coughing violently.

Through her painful writhing, she heard a man’s voice shouting. It was familiar. Desperate.

“Devon!”

She struggled to focus.

Heavy footsteps pounded through the leaves.