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“You should’ve stayed in that room.”

“Your people are losing.” Devon smirked.

His eyes narrowed. “You think your friends are going to save you?”

“I know the men coming for me.” She swallowed. “And if they’re here, you and your people don’t stand a chance.”

Whitaker’s face contorted. “You arrogant little⁠—”

Devon twisted sideways as he grabbed for her. His fingers caught her sleeve, tearing the fabric.

She stumbled backward. Whitaker seized her arm. Pain shot through her injured shoulder.

Devon cried out as he yanked her closer, pressing the gun against her side.

“Enough!”

She froze. His face was inches from hers.

“You should have minded your own damn business.”

Devon’s mind raced to come up with a plan. All of a sudden, Gwen’s voice surfaced again.

Don’t fight for control of the whole situation. You just need one chance to get away.

She looked down. Whitaker had grabbed her injured arm. He held the gun in his other.

He was stronger. He had the advantage. But he was also furious.

Angry people make mistakes.

Devon deliberately let her knees buckle. Whitaker immediately reacted, tightening his grip to keep her upright. And that’s when she drove her heel down onto his foot.

“Ah!”

Devon twisted hard, ripping her arm free. The movement sent a bolt of pain through her shoulder, but she didn’t dare let it slow her down. Instead, she shoved him with both hands as hard as she could.

Whitaker staggered. Devon turned to run. His hand caught the back of her shirt.

She stumbled. The fabric ripped, and she fell. Her knees struck the ground.

Hard.

Whitaker loomed above her while Devon scrambled backward as fast as she could. Her hand brushed against something solid.

It was a fallen tree limb. Thick. Heavy. And small enough she could use it as a weapon.

She grabbed it as Whitaker stepped closer.

He lifted the gun. Devon swung the limb with a growl, and the limb struck his forearm. He shouted out in pain as the pistol flew from his hand, disappearing into the leaves.

Before he could recover, she swung again. This time, the wood connected with his shoulder.

Whitaker staggered backward, and Devon didn’t waste any time scrambling back up to her feet. She held the limb in front of her, her chest heaving with several harsh breaths.

“Stay away from me!”

Whitaker stared back at her, blood trickling from a cut near his eyebrow. For a moment, he looked genuinely stunned.