Page 22 of Point Blank

Crack!

The gun dropped from the man’s fingers, and his hands lifted to cover his neck. Blood oozed through his hold and his eyes spasmed on each gurgle of air he struggled to suck in.

Fuck, fuck, fuck.

Milo grabbed the man’s shoulder and pressed him to the linoleum floor. He covered the guy’s hands, where the wound was. Fear brightened the whites of the man’s eyes.

“Tell me who sent you and I’ll call an ambulance.”

The attacker jerked beneath him, and the scent of urine wafted to Milo’s nostrils. Jesus Christ. He had to get some answers out of him.

“Tell me—now!”

The man’s mouth moved, but no words came out. Milo brought his ear closer to his lips. “Diamonds,” he gasped. His body loosened beneath Milo’s hold and his eyes rolled to the side.

“Fuck!” Milo pounded his hand into the floor by the man’s head.

“M-Milo . . .”

He looked up. Serena stood beyond the kitchen table, her eyes wide as saucers and her face white as a sheet. He got to his feet and opened his arms. She gravitated to him, but her spine stayed stiff, her body tense.

“He’s dead.” Milo dragged his fingers through his hair. “Dammit, he grabbed the gun and would have shot me.”

“You’re bleeding.” Her hand rested on his cheek, freezing his jawbone. He wiped his nose with his sleeve. His sinuses still throbbed, but had Serena not pointed it out, he wouldn’t have noticed the blood.

His gaze flicked to the door. “Shit, someone’s going to call the cops.” And he hadn’t even gotten to question the guy. He paced away from the body and dug through the mist in his brain.

“Did he say anything?”

“‘Diamonds.’ That’s all he said when I asked who sent him.”

Serena growled. “Why would they come here? It doesn’t make any sense. They already have Dani and are supposed to call me with instructions.”

Footsteps pounded down the hall outside the apartment. He stiffened and positioned his gun in front of him. He waved his hand in the air, motioning for Serena to hide, but her gaze was fixed on the door. The steps faded, and Milo rolled his shoulders back.

“We need to get out of here. Now.”

She nodded, slung the bag over her shoulder, and tucked the laptop under her arm. She moved close to him and slipped her fingers into his. His palm swallowed up her slender hand. Her cold skin drew the heat away from his palm but spread warmth through his chest.

Keeping her close to his side, he checked the peephole before removing the barricade she’d set. He peeked his head into the hall—empty.

“C’mon.” He urged Serena out of the apartment and shut the door.

“What about the body?” Even though she’d whispered it, the word boomed down the hallway as they moved swiftly to the stairs. No way he’d chance taking the elevator and encountering another visitor.

“I’ll handle it.”

“Someone must have followed us.” Serena buckled her seatbelt, and her head jerked backward as Milo peeled out of the parking lot. “It’s the only explanation.”

“Maybe he was there looking for diamonds.”

Serena shook her head. “No, Dani’s last job wasn’t for diamonds. It’s been months, but I’m pretty sure her last heist was for a jump drive. If they don’t call soon, I’m going to lose my mind.” She wrapped her arms around her stomach.

“We’ll go back to my place and?—”

“Is it safe? The kidnapper seemed to know you.”

“I think we’re safe there. I’ve been off the radar for a long time. If someone was after me, they would have gone to my house by now.”