Page 40 of Point Blank

Dani’s hoarse voice replayed in her head.

I should have listened to you when you told me the job was too big.

It made no sense. Dani had been trying to rope Serena into a job the night she’d been in the accident, but she hadn’t revealed what the job was. Weak and delirious, Dani was probably just blabbering about one of their many disagreements from years ago.

Right?

Creak

She jerked up her head and the room spun. Milo stood in the doorway, a crooked smile hooked on his mouth and his laser-focused gaze trained on her. Her belly flipped and she sprang to her feet.

Thank god!

He was here. He’d survived. Milo stepped further into the room and closed the door behind him. She flung her body against his, wrapping her arms around his waist and inhaling his woodsy scent. He flinched but wrapped her in a hug.

She’d been terrified.

Dani’s kidnapping had turned her life upside down. Losing Milo would have been too much.

“Oh my god, you’re all right,” she said with a laugh.

He smoothed his hands down her spine. “Of course I am. What did you think?”

She tilted her head back to glare at him. “Don’t give me that. You’re the one who preached about how dangerous meeting the kidnapper was.”

His hands stilled on her back and he shrugged. She frowned. Something wasn’t right. His shirt and hair were wet, his face bore small scratches, and the skin around his eyes glowed pink.

“What happened?”

He groaned. “Some asshole jumped out at me after the kidnapper made off with the money.” He moved his hand behind his neck, grabbed a handful of material, and yanked off his shirt.

His muscles, under olive-toned skin, rippled with the movement. She let her gaze wander over Milo’s high, tight pecs then down his washboard abdomen. Her fingers stung with the need to touch him. She pinched her fingers together and brought her attention back to his face.

He grinned.

Crap. He’d caught her checking him out. Again. She pulled her shoulders back despite the clenching of her lady parts.

“How did you get the scratches?” With the tip of her ring finger she touched a tiny scratch beneath his eye.

“I got the man on the ground and demanded he tell me who he worked for. Then he threw a handful of gravel at my face and ran off while I couldn’t see.”

Anger bubbled in her gut. “That’s a poor way to fight.”

“There wasn’t much fighting,” Milo said. He flashed her a smile. “He got one good shot in though.” His face fell and one of his hands went to his ribcage.

She leaned closer and winced. “I see that.” She touched the red mark on his side.

Milo jerked, and the sharp intake of his breath made her yank her head up. “It hurts that bad?” Oh no. He could have a broken rib.

“No, it tickles.” He caught her hand, pulling her body close to his. “I’m fine, babe.”

“You’re not fine. He got some cheap shots in.” She brought her thumb to his jaw. “Did he get you here too?”

He wrapped his fingers around hers, stilling her hand. “That one’s from you. And for the record, you hit harder.”

Mortification flooded through her. Oh god . . . she had hit him! Never in her life had she attacked anyone like that. Granted, she hadn’t gotten many blows in, but the reddish-purple hue on his jawbone showed her rage.

She scrunched her face. “I’m sorry. I was really upset.”