Page 74 of Point Blank

She was challenging him. Seeing if he’d speak up and say she couldn’t join him at the meeting.

“Ready as I’ll ever be. Are you comfortable with the gun I gave you earlier? There’s this one too.” He turned the butt of the gun to face her and she accepted it. She turned the weapon over and examined it. “I think I’ll keep the one you gave me. This one’s a bit too heavy.” She passed it back to him, and he secured it in a holster at his ankle.

“I’ll take a knife if you have one,” she said.

He smiled, fished in his bag, and pulled out a dagger. “It’s not a switchblade, so you’ll have to be careful. You can clip the holster to your pants, though, and cover it with your shirt.”

She took the set from his hand and did as he instructed. Brock slowed and turned down a gravel road.

“I’ve hiked here before. We’ll have to trek uphill a bit, but we should be able to get a clear shot from behind them.” Brock shifted into Park and got out. Milo and Peyton followed.

“Be careful,” Serena said, as she rounded the vehicle to pull Peyton into a hug.

“You too. Don’t worry, we’ve got your back.” Peyton winked.

Milo grimaced and clapped Brock on the shoulder. “Let me know when you guys are in place. We’ll leave to get in position in about five minutes.” There was no chance he’d risk meeting the kidnapper without backup. He also needed to make sure Brock and Peyton didn’t run into any problems while setting up. Brock and Peyton made their way up the path toward the forest.

Serena took out the black velvet satchel and bent to scoop up a handful of rocks.

“Try not to get any crusher dust.”

She nodded and shook her hand to get rid of the crushed pieces of stones.

Milo watched Brock and Peyton disappear into the trees. When Serena finished, he climbed into the driver’s seat and she hopped into the passenger’s. He hit the Lock button, and the click of the doors went off like a gunshot. Serena jumped and Milo winced.

“Sorry. We’re going to be sitting here a few minutes and I don’t want to leave us vulnerable.”

She nodded, but some of the color had left her skin. She puffed out her cheeks and rubbed her fingers over her sternum. “I’ve never been this nervous before . . . for anything. Even the Alban heist.”

Milo settled his fingers on the bottom of the steering wheel and shrugged. “This isn’t a heist.”

“It is. We’re lying and handing off rocks in the place of diamonds for god’s sake.” She shook the bag for emphasis and Milo chuckled.

“Yeah, I guess that makes this pretty fucking dangerous. All the more reason you should be on the hill and not confronting these bastards.”

She dropped her head back against the headrest. “I wondered when you were going to say something. Milo, I have to do this.” Her voice dropped low, pleading—not for permission but understanding. “It will help Dani to see me there.”

“They’ll try to shoot you.”

She shrugged and lowered her chin. “Wouldn’t be the first time.”

He chortled and gently squeezed his eyes together with his thumb and index finger. “I never thought I’d be doing this again, you know.” With his eyes shut he couldn’t gauge her reaction, but tension crackled through the air.

“With me?” Her tone held a hint of a smile, but her question spoke volumes. He dropped his hand from his face and curled his fingers over the smooth material on her supple thigh.

He met her gaze and watched as color tinted her cheeks again. She dragged her teeth along her bottom lip and nodded toward her knee.

“I was referring to this,” he said, waving his hand in front of him. “Breaking into houses, stealing shit, running from guards and dogs.” He couldn’t deny that the rush had come flooding back. The sweet flavor of adrenaline tempted him to crawl back underground. He shook his head at the thought. He’d come too damn far.

“Sorry.” She turned toward the passenger window. He cupped her cheek and brought her face back to his.

“Don’t be. There’s nowhere else I’d rather be.” Heat rushed from his belly to scorch his neck, and with the heat came the stark realization that it was true. “If I die tonight, I’ll go to heaven with the peace of knowing that I righted the wrong I did to you.”

She leaned forward, her lips hovering inches from his. “Thank you for everything you’ve done. I won’t let you die, I promise.” Her lips hiked up in a grin. “Besides, I’m sorry to say this, but I don’t think you’re getting into heaven.”

He tipped his head back and roared. Damn, she still made him laugh. And she could still insult the shit out of him.

But she doesn’t forgive me . . .