Page 76 of Point Blank

The fog parted and her coiled muscles softened a fraction.

“Good.”

The man holding Dani yanked off the black cloth. Wild strands of blonde hair scattered around Dani’s face. She shook her head and the tendrils flung to one side, revealing her identity.

A cry broke through Serena’s lips, and tears created a partial curtain over her vision. She pressed the back of her hand to her mouth and stared at the face she’d known her whole life. One of Dani’s eyes was swollen shut, her lips bore a scabbed-over gash, and blood and dirt marred her normally perfect complexion. Yet, the hint of a smirk played on her lips.

“She stays here until we have the diamonds,” the smaller guy said. “One of you bring them forward and you can take her back with you.”

Serena dug her hand into her pocket and pulled out the satchel. Milo caught the material and tore it from her fingers. “Don’t even think about it. I’ll go.”

She pushed back the territorial need to go to her sister knowing that if she went forward, the kidnapper might try to pull something. Serena tented her fingers over her top lip and stared at Milo’s back. Her desire to scan the trees, to catch a glimpse of Brock and Peyton, made her eyelids ache. She didn’t dare give into the temptation. The last thing they needed was to tip off these assholes.

Milo’s hands hovered in the air above his head and the black bag dangled from his fingers.

Please, God. Please let us get Dani out . . .

She squeezed her eyes shut and mouthed the prayer over again. Without Milo’s sturdy form against her back, her legs began to quake. Stones skittered behind her, and she snapped her eyes open.

“Now!”

A set of arms locked around her waist and hauled her up. Her body careened through the air and her abdomen crushed against a rigid shoulder.

Crack! Crack! Crack!

Guns fired and deep grunts followed.

“Milo!”

Her captor was moving quickly. Gravel swirled in her line of vision, and she strained her neck to take in what was going on. Her gaze landed on a dark clothed form on the ground. Gravel dust covered his jacket and pants and all the heat left her body. Milo.

No, no, no!

Her captor stopped running and hurled her through the open SUV door. Her ass landed on the edge of the seat, and she toppled into the footwell. Tears sprang to her eyes and she lunged for the door, Milo’s name roaring from her chest on a scream.

Chapter

Seventeen

Pain radiated through Milo’s skull. A low buzzing sound in his ears was growing louder. He rolled to his side and pushed himself up on his forearms. The body of the shorter man lay next to him. Blood gushed from the man’s chest, and his eyes were fixed on the stars above, the only witnesses to what had gone down.

“Milo! Are you all right?” Brock’s booming voice replaced the ringing in his ears. Milo jerked into a sitting position. The ground tilted on its axis, but he swiveled his head in every direction. Brock and Peyton jogged across the gravel lot and Brock dropped to his knees beside him.

“Where is she?” The hoarse croak belied his fury and panic. He racked his brain, forcing forward the memory that resisted his consciousness. He’d walked forward with the satchel and Serena had waited behind him. The shorter man had pulled a gun and fired at him, and the taller man holding Dani had thrown her in the vehicle. Shots had been fired—Brock’s and Peyton’s—killing the shorter man.

Milo touched the warm, sticky substance rolling over his cheek and found the source at a gash above his ear. He peeled his fingers away and held them in front of his face. Blood. That explained the sharp ringing in his ears that was beginning to fade. The bullet had whizzed past his head, taking a chunk of skin with it.

Brock knelt beside him and caught his shoulder. His pupils dilated in the shadows. “They shot at you and then grabbed Serena and put her in the SUV with Dani. When you came forward with the diamonds, someone rushed up from behind her. I didn’t even realize it because I was focused on what they were doing with you and Dani.”

Milo grabbed Brock’s forearms and got to his feet. No. She couldn’t be gone. “Why would they take her?”

Peyton stepped forward, her eyes rimmed with tears. “I was too scared to shoot. I didn’t want to risk hitting Serena. He had her over his shoulder and—and . . .”

Peyton’s stammering fell away from Milo’s ears. Brock pulled her against him, but Milo couldn’t for the life of him offer any words of support. The reality of the situation hit him with the force of a wrecking ball.

“Christ!” He howled the word, doubling over as it tore from his chest. He turned and headed for his truck. “We need to get her back.”

Brock ran in front of him and Milo skidded to a stop. His blood pressure shot through the roof, and he grabbed Brock’s collar. “Get the fuck out of my way.”