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Blake turned to him. “They’re moving.”

“We don’t know that.”

“If they take her out of there⁠—”

“If they try, the team will stop them. And you promised to follow orders.”

The reminder hit hard. Blake slowly let go of the handle, and Lucas released the grip on his arm.

He looked toward the building again, his heart pounding so hard it physically hurt.

“I’ve got eyes on a third man,” Jethro’s voice came at them again, low and controlled. “Second-floor corridor. He’s carrying a set of keys.”

“Where’s he going?” Blake asked the former Air Force CCT.

“Toward the east end of the building,” Jethro rumbled.

Blake stared at the distant windows. Somewhere beyond them, Devon might be waiting. He could almost hear her voice.

His fingers curled into fists.

Emmett’s voice cut through the silence. “Everyone stand by.”

He stopped breathing again.

“On my mark.” His team leader put them all on alert.

Blake closed his eyes for one brief second.

Hang on, sweetheart. We’re coming for you.

And this time, nothing was going to keep him and his team from taking back the woman he loved.

CHAPTER TWENTY

Devon stared at the water bottle in her hands. She’d spent part of an hour trying to work up the nerve to put her plan into action. Every time she thought she was ready, she remembered Victor’s cold eyes and the painful slap he’d delivered when she’d refused to answer Whitaker’s questions.

Her lip still throbbed. So did her shoulder. And she couldn’t stop thinking about Blake.

Whitaker had deliberately refused to tell her whether he was alive, which meant there was still hope. She clung to that possibility as she glanced toward the camera above the door.

If someone was actively watching, it would only be a matter of time before they interfered with her plan. But until then⁠—

Okay, Brighton. Time to do something.

Devon twisted the cap off the bottle and poured the remaining water across the table. She pushed the sandwich onto the floor, then tipped the chair sideways with her foot.

It struck the concrete with a loud crash.

She backed toward the bed, gripping her stomach with her bound hands. Then she bent forward and made herself gag.

“Help!”

She waited a few seconds before calling out again.

“Somebody help me!”

Footsteps sounded outside. The lock turned, and the young guard appeared.