Page 71 of Point Blank

“Milo.” Peyton’s pleading tone slowed his breath.

His muscles spasmed with the effort it took not to charge the sonofabitch. Next to him, Brock clicked his tongue, drawing back Milo’s rage further. He couldn’t lose it. Serena pulled back her shoulders and lifted her chin an inch.

“What are you doing here, Uncle Sebastian?” Distaste coated her voice. Gone was the terror that had been etched on the delicate lines of her jaw only moments before.

The gun moved away from her head, and the man pressed his lips to her smooth strands. He closed his eyes on an inhale. A tidal wave of anger, hot and fast, shot through Milo’s body. Sebastian would pay if he touched Serena. He’d see to that. Serena turned her head, and her eyes closed on a swallow, as if she was fighting the urge to be sick.

“I’ve missed you, Reena.” He circled her, and Milo snapped his gaze to Brock. If the bastard didn’t get the fuck away from her, he was going to crush Sebastian. Bullets be damned. Brock gave one shake of his head and his hand sliced through the air near his neck.

“You fucked me, girl. You cut me out of the Alban gig and then you had the nerve to hide and change your name. You can’t escape this family.” He laughed and widened his stance, blocking Milo’s view of Serena. “Hand over the diamonds and you can walk. For now.”

“I didn’t cut you out of anything and you know it. Alban’s house got raided that night and I barely escaped. I severed ties with you because I’m done being manipulated.” Her voice became shrill and Milo’s nostrils flared. The tendons in his legs coiled, ready to spring at Sebastian if he retaliated.

“Dani’s been kidnapped, Uncle Sebastian. The diamonds are her ransom.” This time, her voice dropped to a plea, cutting Milo’s heart. Serena never showed weakness, and if she was doing so now, it was because she was ready to break.

Sebastian took a step back. His shit-brown eyes landed on Milo and his lips melted into a smirk. “Hard to believe Milo Baxter is standing here. I’d be careful, honey,” he said to Serena with mock concern. “He’s a backstabber like his father.”

Milo lifted his chin. He stood three full inches taller than Sebastian. “Make up your mind, Sebastian. Any second and the dogs and guards will be on us. The cops will be here any minute too. I’d rather not be around when that happens. Either help your niece or be the piece of shit uncle you’ve always been.”

Sebastian froze. Color stained his pale cheeks. He worked his mouth and spat on the ground at Milo’s feet. Then Sebastian advanced on Serena, snagging the side of her jacket.

“I’ll take the fucking diamonds. Dani’s been a pain in my ass her whole life.” He dug into Serena’s jacket pocket, yanked out the velvet bag, and dumped some of the contents into his palm. His mouth split, revealing his uneven teeth. “Thanks, doll.” He shoved the handful of diamonds in his pocket, then did the same with the ones remaining in the satchel, and tossed the empty bag at Serena.

“How did you know we robbed Titus?”

Milo tensed. Jesus. They’d had the job planned a day and a half. There weren’t many ways word could have gotten out.

Sebastian’s grin lit his eyes. “To be honest, I didn’t know about Dani. Not that it would have changed anything. I knew you were back in the game when I saw you leave The Fainting Goat the other night with Milo.” His jowls bounced. “Small world. But I knew our paths would cross again one day. After that, I had a guy tail you, and he called when you rolled up and hid your truck near Titus’s. I didn’t think you’d be so ballsy to hit him, but here we are.”

Milo opened and closed his fists. Following someone around like a conniving serpent was exactly something Sebastian would do. He’d waited for their defenses to be down and then struck. Serena didn’t say a word, but her lowered lids blazed fire.

Raging barks coming from the rear of the house made Milo’s skin turn cold. It wouldn’t take long for them to circle the perimeter of the property. He kept his hands raised, but his feet tingled to tear away from where he stood. If they didn’t get out before the dogs came, they’d be torn apart or held until the cops got there.

Sebastian winked. “I’ll have you shot if you move an inch.” Headlights bumped over the dark earth and an SUV pulled out of the shrubs. Sebastian climbed into the passenger’s seat, two men got in the back, and another SUV rolled out behind it.

“Good luck.” Sebastian waved out the window and the vehicle peeled away.

Woof! Woof! Woof!

Serena lowered her hands, and her face fell with them. Tears brimmed her lashes as she tucked the satchel into her pocket. She stretched her arms out to him like someone lost in a maze. He wanted to pull her to his chest, drop to his knees, promise he would move heaven and earth to get Dani back—and kill everyone who had stood in their way. He couldn’t do anything.

Footsteps came from the direction of the house.

“Go!” He jerked her in front of him, and she charged for the spot in the brush where he’d hidden the vehicle.

“You have the keys!” Brock yelled. He and Peyton caught up with them and gestured at Serena. She fumbled in her pocket, and the lights blasted as she unlocked the doors. Serena yanked the passenger door open.

Woof! Woof! Woof!

Milo shoved her inside as the beasts tore down the path toward them, and she threw the door shut. Milo froze as he stared at their advancing sharp teeth.

“Get in!” Brock called from the driver’s seat. Milo opened the rear passenger door and got in next to Peyton. He shut the door as the animals collided into the metal, shaking the panel. Brock tore out of the brush, and the truck shook and bumped over the terrain. Milo caught the handle on the door and wrestled the seatbelt across his chest.

“Do you hear that?” Serena’s high-pitched voice squeaked against his eardrums. “Sirens,” she said on a breath. She swiveled in her seat, and the whites of her eyes glowed in the darkness. “Are you okay? Did you get bit?” Her gaze roamed the lower half of his body.

“No, I’m fine.” His arm still throbbed from where the first dog had bit him, but he didn’t take the time to check it out.

Her teeth formed a line across her bottom lip. Though she didn’t say it, she was still reeling from the implications of what the loss of the diamonds meant for Dani—fuck, so was he. He stretched as far as the seatbelt would allow and cupped her shoulder in his hand.