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He kicked her in the ribs. |
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Clutching the shoulders of her shirt, he yanked Denise backward to her knees. Buttons flew off. She tried to squirm out of the shirt, but only managed to free one shoulder before Tom clamped an arm across her throat. He jerked her head against his belly, bending her spine back, choking her. |
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Denise felt her head starting to go warm and numb. Her ears rang. The lights, the furniture, Kara watching with her mouth wideall were rimmed with flashing electric blue. |
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She reached behind her. Hooked the backs of Tom's knees. Jerked them forward and tried to throw her weight against him. |
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He fell, keeping his chokehold and tumbling Denise onto him. She heard his wind blow out. With both hands, she forced his forearm away from her throat. He grabbed his wrist. She didn't have the strength to resist the power of his two arms. But she tucked her chin down to protect her throat. As his forearm shoved against it, she writhed and pushed and sank her teeth into the sleeve of his jacket and clamped down with all her might. |
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Crying out, Tom tore his arm from her mouth. |
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Denise flipped over, rolled off him. |
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He rolled, reaching out as she got to her hands and knees. He jerked her arm out from under her, tugged her toward him. |
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And Kara, standing behind him, swung a fireplace |
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