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I desperately hoped that Burke’s back was turned so he couldn’t see us escaping.

If something happened to Cole while he was trying to save my life, I wasn’t sure I could live with myself.

He was an innocent bystander.

I was the woman that Burke desperately wanted to kill.

I didn’t like the fact that he planned to shield my body with his, but he’d made it clear that this wasn’t happening any other way.

It was a risk, but if we didn’t do something, we’d both end up dead for certain.

“Remember what I said,” he said in a warning voice.

“Please don’t get shot,” I said in a tearful voice.

A small, cocky smirk formed on his lips. “That’s not part of the plan.”

He put me behind him as he climbed the stairs and placed my hand on his belt so that he knew that I was right behind him.

For a man as large as Cole, he managed to move stealthily up the steps.

My heart was beating so hard and fast that I was almost afraid that Burke would actually hear it.

I took a deep breath and silently let it out.

Don’t panic, Reese. Not now. You know what you have to do. Run fast if Burke spots you, and make sure that Cole is right there close to you.

When we reached the top of the stairs, Cole switched positions, put his arm around me and kept me shielded from the kitchen.

We moved soundlessly.

The very brief glimpse I got of the kitchen before Cole blocked my view told me that Burke didn’t have his back to us, but his attention was on his food and beer.

We’d almost passed the kitchen when Cole shouted, “Run Reese! Now.”

I instantly knew that Burke had seen us when he called out, “Stop! You aren’t getting away from me this time, bitch!”

I ran, with Cole right behind me, still shielding me from Burke.

I almost froze in place as we ran out the door and a gunshot exploded behind us, but Cole kept pushing me onward until we were down the steps.

Everything happened so quickly after that gunshot that I was confused.

Another gunshot exploded.

I was suddenly tackled and taken to the ground with an exceptionally large, heavy body on top of me.

I’d started to scream before Devon rasped into my ear, “It’s me, Reese. It’s me. Are you hurt?”

I stopped screaming the moment I heard his voice.

Devon was on top of me, trying to protect me.

“No,” I said in a panicked voice that didn’t sound like my own.

“He’s dead,” I heard Ralph say from a short distance away.

“Cole!” I gasped, terrified.