Page 82 of Point Blank

“I’m so sorry,” he breathed. His mouth lifted to press a kiss between her eyes and then dropped to the now tender spot near her ear and her lips. His heat seeped through her trembling limbs.

“For what? You saved me.”

“No, I didn’t.” His voice turned hard. “If you hadn’t elbowed him in the face, I wouldn’t have gotten a clean shot.”

She smiled. “That was pretty quick of me.”

His deep, throaty laugh pushed away some of the shock that had been closing in around her.

“You’re safe now, babe.”

Brock and Peyton’s voices penetrated the clouds separating Milo and her from the commotion around them, and Dani’s voice floated to her ears. Relief filled Serena, but she had to clear something from her chest before she peeled herself from the cozy, muscular cushion of Milo’s lap.

She traced his cheekbone with her thumb, committing the line to memory. “Earlier,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “Before we left for Peyton’s, you asked if I would forgive you.” She lifted her eyes to his. The skin around his eyes crinkled, and a shadow of pain crossed his face. He nodded.

She wet her lips. “I forgive you for leaving me . . . Milo, we were kids. I don’t hold that against you.”

He grimaced. “I did it again at Alban’s.”

She pursed her lips. “Yeah, and I think you regretted that.”

He closed his eyes and shook his head. His chest expanded against hers. He opened his eyes again and, if she wasn’t mistaken, moisture clouded the whites of his eyes. He blinked, and it vanished.

“More than you’ll ever know.” The words pitched, tugging at her heart strings. She swept her other hand to the back of his head and rose up on her knees.

“Don’t do it again, all right?”

“Never.” A curse fell from his lips as her mouth connected with his. She eased her tongue through the part in his teeth and licked into his mouth. He splayed his hands against her back and his moan oscillated on her palms. She grinned and swept her tongue over his heady taste.

“Ah-hem.”

Serena jerked and swung her head to see Dani standing beside them, her toe tapping the pavement.

“I see nothing’s changed between you two.”

Milo’s hand fell to her ass, and then he shifted his legs underneath her and stood with her in his arms. Heat flooded her cheeks, and she wiggled until he set her on her feet. Damn, he was strong. Police cruisers skidded to a halt, and an ambulance rolled up the hill behind them.

Serena left Milo’s side and pulled Dani into a tight embrace. The scent of dirt, sweat, and blood surrounded her, and Serena squeezed her eyes tight. “Thank god,” she wheezed.

Dani chuckled. “Oh, come on. You really didn’t think that was how I was going to go down, did you?” Leave it to her sister to make a wiseass crack at a time like this. Despite her tough front, a quake rattled Dani’s shoulders. Serena pulled back to examine her face. Fresh fury flooded her veins.

“That bastard,” she hissed.

Dani touched her cheek. “Yeah, he got in a few good shots. You gave him what was coming to him better than I could have.”

An image of her running-shoe-covered feet bucking Ian’s body out of the car formed in her mind. She clamped her hand over her mouth. “Oh my god. I’ve killed two men . . .”

“Shh.” Milo’s sharp hiss brought her lips together. A car door shut and she looked over Dani’s shoulder. A man exited a black sedan. Serena pulled Dani beside her as she backed up closer to Milo.

“Who’s that?”

“Rhett.” Milo’s arm hooked around her waist. “I’ll talk to him, wait here.” Milo left her side and met Rhett near his car.

Peyton pulled her into a fierce hug, and Serena winced. The shock was subsiding, and pain sunk into her sore muscles. She hugged Peyton back and smiled.

“Thank you for everything.”

Peyton pinched her strawberry-blonde eyebrows together. “I hope you’re kidding. I’ve been sitting around wringing my hands like my nervous grandmother since they took you.” She turned to Dani and clasped her hand.