Page 25 of Stone

The old wooden floors were polished to a high sheen, but they were still a little uneven. Old metalwork and pipes crossed openly overhead, and brick accent walls drew the eye. Stores spread out in both directions.

“We need to go that way.” Nola pointed, then she froze. “They’re inside,” she whispered.

Knox turned to block her with his body. The pair of guys in suits were inside and walking closer.

“Giggle,” he ordered.

“What?” She looked at him askance.

“Giggle. Like you don’t have a care in the world.”

She licked her lips and giggled.

Then Knox lowered his head, and kissed her.

He tried to keep one eye on the men, but damn that mouth of hers tasted sweet. He kissed her soft lips, letting himself get a hit of her. As her tongue stroked against his, he groaned. He clamped his hands on her ass and pulled her closer.

Reluctantly, he pulled back. The men had moved past them, disappearing into the crowd of shoppers ahead. Knox’s lips were still tingling. When he looked down at Nola, the look on her face made his gut clench.

“Nola, don’t look at me like that.”

She lifted a hand to her lips. “You can’t kiss me like that, then expect me not to.”

He ran a thumb across her cheek. “I’ll do it again, later. When you’re safe.”

“Promise?”

“Promise.” He grabbed her hand. “Come on. We need to get out of here.”

They hurried past several food stalls. Knox briefly took in the piles of fresh pasta, large wheels of cheese, crabs legs on ice. Whatever you liked, you could probably find it here. He looked ahead, staying focused.

Get to the other side of the markets, get out, get to the safe house.

Another couple of Russians stepped into view. They caught the attention of the first pair who’d passed them earlier. They started talking.

Shit.

He tugged Nola forward, moving close to the storefronts. Zolotov really wanted to neutralize her.

Well, the asshole couldn’t have her.

Suddenly, one guy looked up, his gaze falling on Nola. He frowned, then looked at the phone in his hand. Then he looked up again.

Knox’s shoulders tensed. When the man lowered his phone, he relaxed a little.

Then the man’s gaze whipped back to Nola, and he looked at his phone again. He turned and elbowed one of his friends.

Busted.

“Run,” Knox said urgently.

Nola didn’t argue. She broke into a run.

He followed. He turned to the side, and pushed over a stand of greeting cards. Items skidded everywhere all over the floor, and he heard someone shout behind them.

“Keep going,” he yelled.

They turned a corner, pushing through a small group of people. He saw the exit doors right ahead of them.

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