Page 51 of Point Blank

Peyton’s slouched form stiffened as quickly as shaken soda spewing from a can, and she bolted to her feet.

“Oh my god. Why . . . ?” Her frantic footsteps stomped the hardwood floor. She turned to face them, her hands moving to her hips. “Who do you suspect has her?”

Milo hung his hands between his knees and a deep sigh rumbled from his throat. Guilt made Serena’s breath slow. Milo had put his life on hold to help Dani, and as she swept her gaze over him, the depth of his commitment hit her. She could see his strain, his fatigue. She’d been afraid to get close to him again, afraid that he would bail and leave her stranded . . . or that once this was over, he’d cut his losses. But maybe this time, he wouldn’t.

“We’re hoping you can help with that.”

Peyton jerked her chin up. “How?”

Serena didn’t miss the challenge in her tone. “We’re here because you can be trusted.” Peyton’s shoulders relaxed. “I contacted Vivi already, but she wouldn’t say anything pertaining to the job you guys have planned.”

“That explains why she called yesterday. I was helping my parents move all weekend and didn’t get around to phoning her back until today. We’ve been playing phone tag all afternoon.”

“We can’t help but wonder if someone from the inside orchestrated this . . . or snitched to Alfonso.”

Peyton’s face paled.

“And,” Serena continued, “I was attacked Friday night. I stabbed a man and escaped, then found Milo.” Milo’s hand circled her knee. Peyton’s eyes dropped to the movement at Serena’s leg, and a smile played on her mouth before disappearing.

Milo cleared his throat. “Not only that, but someone broke into Dani’s apartment while we were there.”

“Did you find out who he worked for?”

Serena crinkled her lip. “Milo killed him in self-defense.”

A stream of curses mixed with what sounded like a prayer fell from Peyton’s mouth. She rocked back and forth. “What are we going to do?”

“They want us to steal from Titus Phillips.”

She laughed and returned to sit on the love seat. “Oh yeah. Because that’s so simple. Especially on short notice.”

“Actually”—Serena laced her fingers with Milo’s—“Titus is one of my clients. I’ve been inside his house and took drone images last week in preparation to land his deal. I know for certain that he’ll be out of the house tonight.”

The seconds ticked by. Finally, Peyton said, “They knew you were the agent representing him even before he listed his house?”

She nodded. Guilt pulled at her conscience again. Titus was a dangerous man, but stealing from him kicked her from the pedestal of honor she’d built over the years and down to the gutters she’d so desperately tried to escape. The fact that Titus was to be the contract that made her career take off made this whole thing that much more bitter.

“They attacked me after I left his house. When I got away, they went after Dani.”

“Does anything jump out at you?” Milo asked Peyton. “Any clue as to who could be behind this?”

Serena’s gaze flickered to the pale scar etched into the shadow of his beard. Once again, her mind drifted to what had caused it. She made a mental note to ask him later.

“No. I can’t think of anything. Let me sit with this, though. I’ll ask around.”

“Be careful,” Milo said, his tone harsh. “Serena got lucky, Priss. Don’t stick your neck out too far or they’ll be after you too.”

Peyton’s eyes sparked at his name choice, then the fire fizzled. “I hope to hell they come after me.” Her hand curled into a sphere, and Serena remembered the spitfire who used to kick all the goody-goody kids’ asses on the playground. “What’s your plan?”

“To get her back. But we need your help.” Milo rubbed his thumb over Serena’s thigh, as if he sensed her dismay.

“Anything.”

Serena squeezed Milo’s hand, assuring him she wasn’t going to fall apart. “Do you trust your team?”

Peyton made a clicking sound. “I don’t know them that well. I’ve worked with Vivi a couple of times, but Wes and Adam are new—to me anyway.”

“But Dani trusted them?”