Page 99 of Blake

“Back off!” the man shouted.

One arm locked across Devon’s upper chest while his other hand drew the pistol. Someone noticed and screamed.

Blake had his weapon out, but he stopped moving toward her when the barrel of the fake firefighter’s gun pressed against Devon’s side.

“Let her go.” Blake’s voice was eerily calm.

The man tightened his hold. “Drop the gun, or she’s dead.”

Devon’s heart hammered so hard she could barely hear anything else. People scattered. Someone shouted for the police. A firefighter—a real one—standing beside the nearest engine turned their way.

His expression filled with shock.

Blake didn’t move. His eyes were fixed on the man holding her against her will. Then something flickered across his face.

Recognition.

Devon saw it, even through her terror. Blake knew the man with the gun.

“Listen to me.” Blake’s tone remained steady. “You don’t want to do this.”

“Shut up!”

The man shifted, pulling Devon tighter against him. Her shoulder screamed, and when she gasped, Blake seemingly turned to stone.

“Take your hands off her.”

The man laughed. “You don’t give the orders here.”

“No?” Devon found her voice. “Then who does? It’s not you, right? Someone else is paying you to do this. Tell us who, and we can put a good word in for you with the cops, and⁠—”

“I said, shut up!” He pushed the barrel harder against her ribs.

Devon cried out, and Blake took a menacing step forward.

“I’m not going to tell you again. Let her go!”

The man holding her angled his pistol toward Blake. Devon knew what was coming.

He’s going to shoot.

The realization cut through her panic with startling clarity.

She couldn’t let him get hurt. Not Blake.

Please, God. Not him.

Gwen’s voice suddenly echoed through her ears.

Don’t fight his strength. Find the opening. Make your move and get clear.

They’d practiced what to do if someone grabbed her from behind. Over and over, until Devon felt like she’d drop from exhaustion.

Now she understood why.

The man shifted his weight again, preparing to fire. Devon knew it was time to move.

Her gaze found Blake’s a split second before she drove her heel down onto the man’s foot. She twisted sharply toward the gap beneath his restraining arm. The movement caught him off guard.