Chapter 7 #3
This time, Serena didn’t stop the tears from leaking out of her eyes.
She rose onto her toes and threw her arms around Brock’s neck, and then turned and did the same to Milo.
Brock was an attractive man, but his proximity did nothing for her.
Milo’s hold, on the other hand, made her feel cradled.
Her head fit into the spot between his pecs, her shoulders snuggled against his ribs.
Beneath the wall of muscle on his chest was his heartbeat, falling into pace with her own.
He turned his head and his whiskers scraped across her forehead before he pressed a kiss to her temple.
“We need to make the call now, babe. It might be best if you go in the other room.”
She yanked herself out of his hold. “I’m not going anywhere.”
Milo met Brock’s gaze over her head, and the silent communication raised her hackles.
“No way. You know something.”
Milo blew out a breath, and she stepped away from him and planted her feet. “Tell me what you know.”
“I don’t know anything.” He rubbed his palm over his chin and down the breadth of bristly hair at his throat. A familiar uneasy gesture that brought up memories. “They’re going to be pissed that we’re not going to have the diamonds tonight. They could . . .” He grimaced.
“Milo, tell me,” she said, stomping her foot.
He blinked and then stared at her, his eyes reluctant and full of sympathy. “They could react.”
“Hurt Dani is what you mean.”
“Yes.”
Brock moved to her side and bumped his elbow into Milo’s. “He’s giving you worst-case scenario. They’re not going to hurt her. They know we’ll pay up. We just need to get them to listen.”
“Do whatever it takes, but I’m not leaving this room. After things are settled, I want to talk to Dani. Otherwise they don’t get a dime.”
Milo’s and Brock’s expressions only grew more tense, but they nodded in agreement. Milo pulled out the phone and dialed the kidnapper’s number. Serena crowded Milo’s shoulder and stared at the screen. He tapped the Speaker icon, and the ring echoed through the room.
“You should be working.”
Milo tilted the bottom of the phone toward his mouth. “We ran into a problem.”
Silence stretched for what seemed like agonizing minutes, though only seconds had passed. “What problem?”
Serena sucked in one shallow breath after another through her nose, but none of the air reached her lungs. Her head buzzed with the need for oxygen, but terror kept her from making a single peep.
“It’s come to Serena’s attention that Titus will have guests for the weekend. He’ll be leaving for business Sunday night. We won’t be able to get inside until late tomorrow.”
The voice growled. Serena curled her fingers into the back of Milo’s arm.
“Listen, we have—”
“You’ve got nothing!” the man roared. “You just fucking killed her.”
“No!” Serena tore the phone from Milo’s grip. “We have money. Cash. All we need is more time. We’ll get your diamonds, I swear to god.”
“How much cash?”
Serena looked at Brock. He gave one solid nod and she turned her attention back to the phone. “Two hundred grand. We can get it to you tonight.”
A beat passed. Ice flooded her veins, making her fingers turn to icicles. She didn’t dare move a muscle or shift her attention to the men beside her.
“You have my attention.”
“We can—”
“Shh. I’m thinking,” he hissed. “Two hundred. That’s above what you’re paying in diamonds—got it?”
“Yes, of course.”
More silence. Serena dragged a breath into her lungs.
“Fine. Under one condition. I want Serena to meet me. Only her.”
Hope soared through her. She opened her mouth to agree, but Milo snatched the phone from her hand and spun away.
“No can do.”
“Serena comes or the deal is off and Dani dies.”
“No!” Serena lunged for Milo, but Brock caught her and covered her mouth, silencing her screams.
“You’re out of your mind if you think I’m letting Serena anywhere near you. You can take an extra two hundred thousand and still walk away with what you’ve asked for, or you can kill Dani and get nothing. The choice is yours.” Milo pulled the phone away from his mouth and disconnected.
Serena wrestled against Brock until his arms loosened. Rage burst through her, blocking her vision and scalding her skin. She’d rip out his eyes. His tongue.
She’d kill him.
“How could you? They’re going to kill her!” Her words scraped through her tight throat like a train barreling through a too small tunnel and came out on a hysterical squeal that belied her fury.
Her first blow landed on Milo’s jaw. The second one he dodged, and it bounced off his shoulder.
Milo caught her arms and crushed her to his chest. She wanted to fight him, to hurt him, but her strength was slipping away. Devastation pulled her weight to the floor, where she let the sobs escape.
Milo held tighter, bringing his lips to her ear. “I had to. He won’t dare touch her.”
She shook her head. “You don’t know that! We don’t know these people.”
He caught her face in his palms, forcing her to look at him. “I couldn’t risk you. What would you have done if he took you too? We have to think smart, be one step ahead. Right now, he’s out everything if he hurts Dani. He won’t get a penny and he knows it.”
“Exactly why he would kill her.” She shoved at him, but he didn’t break away.
Ring, ring, ring
Lead formed in her stomach. Milo reached for the phone, which was on the desk. “It’s him.”
A lingering sob bubbled through her lips, and she covered her mouth with her hand. “Answer it,” she whispered, ready to face the devil again. If he was calling it was either to agree to their terms . . . or to let them hear Dani’s screams.
“I will, but you have to trust me.”
Serena lowered her hand from her face and grasped Milo’s shirt. “Okay.”
Milo hit the Speaker icon. “Yeah?”
“We agree to your terms. Meet me in one hour. I’ll text instructions. You’ll have twelve extra hours to get the diamonds.”
“We need more time than that.”
“I’m giving you until noon tomorrow.”
Milo’s jaw rolled. “That’s impossible. I told you, we can’t get in any sooner than tomorrow night.”
“You’ll have to find a way.” The man’s tone was hard and ruthless.
“Another fifty grand,” Brock whispered behind her. She turned to face him, and he nodded at Milo.
“Give us until 1:00 a.m. tomorrow night and we’ll throw in another fifty grand.”
The guy laughed. “I’m beginning to think you’re pulling my fucking chain.”
“No tricks. Two hundred and fifty grand, take it or leave it.”
“Deal.”
Serena perched on her tiptoes. “And I want to speak to Dani. Now.”
“Fine.” Footsteps scuffed through the speaker, and Milo handed her the phone. She took it off speaker and pressed it to her ear.
“You’ve got one minute. Don’t try anything stupid. I’m listening.”
“Serena?” Dani’s weak and broken voice met her ears. Serena dropped into the chair at the desk and pinched her nose to stop the flood of tears. It didn’t help.
“Are you okay? Have they hurt you?” It was a stupid question. Dani’s battered and bruised face were evidence of that.
“No, he hits like a girl, don’t worry.”
“Make it quick!” the man said in the background.
“Serena, I’m so sorry. This is all my fault. I should have listened to you when you told me the job was too big.”
Serena’s senses perked up. The job was too big? What was she talking about? Fear wrapped around her heart. Oh, god. Maybe she had a concussion, or was delusional.
“It’s okay. You’ll be home in a couple of days, I swear.”
“I love you. Even though you stole my ex.” She chuckled. Warning bells screamed in Serena’s head. Dani wasn’t making any sense. Saliva saturated her mouth, and vomit inched up her stomach. She swallowed. The last thing she wanted to do was upset Dani further.
“I love you too. Be safe, sis. Don’t piss them off.”
“All right, that’s enough!” The man’s voice crowded her ear. “I’ll send the instructions. One hour. Don’t be late.”
The line went dead.