Page 70 of Deception

He screamed a name at her before grabbing a fake potted plant from a small table and pelting it on the floor.

He quickly righted himself, his anger unchecked. Then he came at her again.

She ducked low, caught him on her shoulder, and flipped him over her.

He landed on the nightstand. As the furniture collapsed, the glass lamp on top of it hit the floor and shattered.

Like a cat, her attacker sprang up.

Based on the low growl coming from deep inside his chest cavity, Olive had made the man even more angry.

She quickly glanced at the floor. If she could only reach her gun.

But the man seemed to spot the weapon at the same time as she did.

They both lunged for it.

She wrapped her fingers around the barrel. As she did, the man drew his fist back and rammed it into her cheek.

Her head snapped back, and the room began to spin.

Whoever this guy was, he was strong and a skilled fighter.

Olive shouldn’t have come inside alone. She needed backup.

Because one wrong move, and this guy would kill her on the spot.

Her strength alone wasn’t going to get her out of this situation. This man was clearly stronger than she was.

She needed to use her brain.

The guy started to raise the gun toward her.

Her breath caught, and time seemed to turn to gelatin.

She had to act. Now.

Olive swung her leg. Her foot hit his arm, and the gun flew from his hand.

She watched as it skidded across the floor and disappeared under the bed.

She bit back a grumble.

That wasn’t going to be much help.

Every action Olive took against this man only seemed to make him more determined.

She stood, crouched and ready to defend herself.

He rose to his feet also.

Then he charged at her like a linebacker.

They both flew through the doorway and into the hallway.

Olive hit the wall again, and pain pulsed through her. The breath left her lungs.

This wasreallygoing to hurt in the morning.

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