Page 34 of Point Blank

“Yes.”

Brock moved to her side and bumped his elbow into Milo’s. “He’s giving you worst-case scenario. They’re not going to hurt her. They know we’ll pay up. We just need to get them to listen.”

“Do whatever it takes, but I’m not leaving this room. After things are settled, I want to talk to Dani. Otherwise they don’t get a dime.”

Milo’s and Brock’s expressions only grew more tense, but they nodded in agreement. Milo pulled out the phone and dialed the kidnapper’s number. Serena crowded Milo’s shoulder and stared at the screen. He tapped the Speaker icon, and the ring echoed through the room.

“You should be working.”

Milo tilted the bottom of the phone toward his mouth. “We ran into a problem.”

Silence stretched for what seemed like agonizing minutes, though only seconds had passed. “What problem?”

Serena sucked in one shallow breath after another through her nose, but none of the air reached her lungs. Her head buzzed with the need for oxygen, but terror kept her from making a single peep.

“It’s come to Serena’s attention that Titus will have guests for the weekend. He’ll be leaving for business Sunday night. We won’t be able to get inside until late tomorrow.”

The voice growled. Serena curled her fingers into the back of Milo’s arm.

“Listen, we have?—”

“You’ve got nothing!” the man roared. “You just fucking killed her.”

“No!” Serena tore the phone from Milo’s grip. “We have money. Cash. All we need is more time. We’ll get your diamonds, I swear to god.”

“How much cash?”

Serena looked at Brock. He gave one solid nod and she turned her attention back to the phone. “Two hundred grand. We can get it to you tonight.”

A beat passed. Ice flooded her veins, making her fingers turn to icicles. She didn’t dare move a muscle or shift her attention to the men beside her.

“You have my attention.”

“We can?—”

“Shh. I’m thinking,” he hissed. “Two hundred. That’s above what you’re paying in diamonds—got it?”

“Yes, of course.”

More silence. Serena dragged a breath into her lungs.

“Fine. Under one condition. I want Serena to meet me. Only her.”

Hope soared through her. She opened her mouth to agree, but Milo snatched the phone from her hand and spun away.

“No can do.”

“Serena comes or the deal is off and Dani dies.”

“No!” Serena lunged for Milo, but Brock caught her and covered her mouth, silencing her screams.

“You’re out of your mind if you think I’m letting Serena anywhere near you. You can take an extra two hundred thousand and still walk away with what you’ve asked for, or you can kill Dani and get nothing. The choice is yours.” Milo pulled the phone away from his mouth and disconnected.

Serena wrestled against Brock until his arms loosened. Rage burst through her, blocking her vision and scalding her skin. She’d rip out his eyes. His tongue.

She’d kill him.

“How could you? They’re going to kill her!” Her words scraped through her tight throat like a train barreling through a too small tunnel and came out on a hysterical squeal that belied her fury.