Page 72 of Point Blank

“This isn’t over.” The truck pitched as Brock went over a rut and came to a stop. “I promise.”

Her fingers ran over his knuckles before she turned around.

“We need to get out, but they could have every entrance to the subdivision blocked,” Brock said, bringing Milo’s attention back to their escape.

“If we don’t try, we’ll be caught for sure.”

Brock made an impatient sound. “No shit. If we’re seen leaving this area it will be a huge red flag.”

“Make a left,” Serena said.

Brock frowned. “A left? That will take us further into the subdivision.”

“I know, but there’s another way out, on the east side of the hill. It will send us on a detour, but they’ll seal the entrances on this side before those.”

“She’s right,” Milo said, not missing a beat. Brock nodded and turned left. The sirens grew louder, screeching through the night. Milo shifted in his seat as three cruisers sped into the subdivision toward Titus’s house. Thankfully the trail they idled on sat far enough from view of the main street. He swept his fingertips over his hairline, mopping up the sweat dotted there.

Any minute the call to meet Dani’s kidnappers would come in.

And they didn’t have the diamonds.

The constant whip of headlights and cars on the interstate made vomit creep up Serena’s esophagus. Too much. It was all too much. She closed her eyes and dragged a breath from the fresh air rattling through the cracked window next to her. The scent of trees and earth didn’t wash away the nausea.

“We killed someone,” she choked out. The scene on the balcony was branded into her brain. Silence met her words, but she felt everyone’s stares burning into her head.

Milo’s warm fingers landed on her neck, and he broke the silence. “He saw you, Serena. Even if we’d managed to escape, he would have given your identity to the police—and Titus.”

She tightened her arms around her belly, digging her elbows into her ribs. “I know that.”

“You saved my life, Peyton.” Milo swiveled to face her. “His gun was right at my side, and he would have pulled the trigger seconds after you did. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” Peyton said. “I was worried he’d shoot you or Serena first. I didn’t want to kill anyone.”

The thread of remorse in Peyton’s words wound around her heart. Peyton wasn’t a murderer, and had she not come to their aid when she had, they never would have escaped.

“Thank you for stepping in. I just . . . I wish it had never come to that.” Serena swallowed.

Ring! Ring!

Serena bolted forward. The seatbelt snapped her back into place. She read the number on her phone and adrenaline fired through her veins. “It’s him,” she whispered.

Milo leaned close and grabbed her hand that held the phone, probably so she wouldn’t shake and drop it.

“Answer it,” Milo said. “Tell them we have the diamonds.” He’d sandwiched himself between the driver’s and passenger’s seats. She sucked in a deep breath, inhaling his scent. It gave her strength.

She cleared her throat and hit Talk. “Hello?”

“Do you have the diamonds?” The gruff voice lashed out the words.

Serena looked at Milo. His head hovered near the phone at her ear. He gave a sharp nod. Panic prickled her skin like static electricity. She cleared her throat and tightened her hold on the device. “Yes. Everything went as planned. We’re out.”

“Good. I knew you could do it.” He rattled off the meeting point, which she recognized as one of the lookouts outside San Diego. “You have forty-five minutes.”

“Wait—” she said, twisting in her seat.

“Don’t worry, your sister will be with us. We can’t wait to be rid of her. She’s a pain in the ass.” The line went dead.

“Serena.” Milo shook her shoulder, snapping her gaze away from the footwell.