Page 41 of Stone

Her stomach curdled at the thought of the bad guys spotting them.

Knox squeezed her hand. “You’ve got this.”

She set her shoulders back and glanced at the front door of the building. “Of course I do. I’m Nola Newhouse. I’m a bit of a badass, you know.”

“Really?” He pushed the front door open.

“Yes. I did catch the eye of this former Marine raider who’s also a hottie silver fox.”

“You sure did.” He lowered his hand and patted her ass. “Let’s do this, badass.”

Nola tried to control her nerves as she stepped outside. The sun seemed extra bright, and there seemed to be too many people on the street. Noises echoed in her ears—traffic noise, honking horns, people talking.

Knox pulled her forward and they headed down the sidewalk.

He seemed relaxed, but she knew he wasn’t. He was no doubt aware of everyone around them. A car zoomed past quickly, and she jolted.

“Relax,” he murmured.

“I’m trying.” She licked her lips. She saw people heading to work, nannies pushing babies in strollers, people talking on cellphones. Everyone looked so normal, just going about their regular day.

They had no idea of the danger that loomed around them.

Zolotov’s men could be anywhere.

Knox leaned in and nuzzled the side of her face. “You’re not relaxing.”

“I feel like I have a giant target painted on my back.”

They turned a corner. Near the intersection, a cab driver was yelling out the window at someone.

You’ve got this. Knox is with you.

Then she saw two big guys in suits across the road. She tensed. She was pretty sure she’d seen them yesterday.

“Knox, across the street,” she whispered urgently.

“I see them.” His grip tightened on her hand. “Keep walking.”

With each step, her heartbeat thudded in her ears.

His phone rang, and he pulled it out and pressed it to his ear. “Holman. Shit, you sure? Okay, thanks, Hex.”

“What?” Nola said.

“Hex said her screens are lighting up. Zolotov’s men are everywhere. She said to keep our heads down.”

Her stomach turned to lead. Knox continued on a bit farther, then pulled her into a coffee shop.

Normally, the rich scent of coffee would send her taste buds into action, but she was too wound up to drink anything. The place was cute, and busy. She eyed the long line. She guessed they made good coffee.

Knox kept their pace slow and easy. He pulled her toward the back wall. Behind the counter, several workers were busy trying to keep up with the orders.

He arched his head and peered through a doorway. Nola did the same. There was a tiny, cramped kitchen at the back, with a man in a white apron making bagels and breakfast sandwiches.

“Let’s go.” Knox tugged her into the kitchen.

The cook’s head jerked up. “Hey, you can’t be back here.”

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