Page 35 of Point Blank

Her first blow landed on Milo’s jaw. The second one he dodged, and it bounced off his shoulder.

Milo caught her arms and crushed her to his chest. She wanted to fight him, to hurt him, but her strength was slipping away. Devastation pulled her weight to the floor, where she let the sobs escape.

Milo held tighter, bringing his lips to her ear. “I had to. He won’t dare touch her.”

She shook her head. “You don’t know that! We don’t know these people.”

He caught her face in his palms, forcing her to look at him. “I couldn’t risk you. What would you have done if he took you too? We have to think smart, be one step ahead. Right now, he’s out everything if he hurts Dani. He won’t get a penny and he knows it.”

“Exactly why he would kill her.” She shoved at him, but he didn’t break away.

Ring, ring, ring

Lead formed in her stomach. Milo reached for the phone, which was on the desk. “It’s him.”

A lingering sob bubbled through her lips, and she covered her mouth with her hand. “Answer it,” she whispered, ready to face the devil again. If he was calling it was either to agree to their terms . . . or to let them hear Dani’s screams.

“I will, but you have to trust me.”

Serena lowered her hand from her face and grasped Milo’s shirt. “Okay.”

Milo hit the Speaker icon. “Yeah?”

“We agree to your terms. Meet me in one hour. I’ll text instructions. You’ll have twelve extra hours to get the diamonds.”

“We need more time than that.”

“I’m giving you until noon tomorrow.”

Milo’s jaw rolled. “That’s impossible. I told you, we can’t get in any sooner than tomorrow night.”

“You’ll have to find a way.” The man’s tone was hard and ruthless.

“Another fifty grand,” Brock whispered behind her. She turned to face him, and he nodded at Milo.

“Give us until 1:00 a.m. tomorrow night and we’ll throw in another fifty grand.”

The guy laughed. “I’m beginning to think you’re pulling my fucking chain.”

“No tricks. Two hundred and fifty grand, take it or leave it.”

“Deal.”

Serena perched on her tiptoes. “And I want to speak to Dani. Now.”

“Fine.” Footsteps scuffed through the speaker, and Milo handed her the phone. She took it off speaker and pressed it to her ear.

“You’ve got one minute. Don’t try anything stupid. I’m listening.”

“Serena?” Dani’s weak and broken voice met her ears. Serena dropped into the chair at the desk and pinched her nose to stop the flood of tears. It didn’t help.

“Are you okay? Have they hurt you?” It was a stupid question. Dani’s battered and bruised face were evidence of that.

“No, he hits like a girl, don’t worry.”

“Make it quick!” the man said in the background.

“Serena, I’m so sorry. This is all my fault. I should have listened to you when you told me the job was too big.”