Page 44 of Stone

Orlando burst out laughing.

Knox rolled his eyes to the sky.

“I am lucky.” Nola’s smile faded. “Although I’ll be better once these bad guys are off my tail.”

“I’m itching to ask questions about that.” Orlando’s face was alive with curiosity. “But I’m guessing I shouldn’t.”

“No, you shouldn’t,” Knox agreed.

They crossed the street, and Orlando headed to the gate of the fenced dog run. The dogs clearly knew where they were headed, and started wriggling and jumping.

Knox scanned the surrounding streets and hoped to hell they could avoid Zolotov’s men.

But they hadn’t gone much farther when he clocked two guys—both in suits and covered in tattoos. One was a big bruiser, who was a few inches taller than Knox. From the look of his nose—that had clearly been broken several times and never healed right—he liked to fight.

The way the pair was studying the street made it obvious they were looking for someone.

Another dog walker came out of the park, with four dogs on leads. The new dogs saw Orlando’s crowd, and mayhem erupted.

The barking and ear-piercing yips made Knox wince.

“Bandit, calm down,” Orlando cried. “Gumball, no.”

The dogs rushed each other.

Shit. Cherub yanked on her leash, frighteningly strong for such a small dog. Knox hauled her back.

All the dogs entangled together, and one golden retriever managed to wrap its lead around Nola’s legs, twisting up with her dog. She tripped.

Knox lunged forward and caught her, but not before her blonde wig slid sideways, then fell off her head. It hit the ground.

One of the dogs grabbed the wig and attacked it like it was a wild animal.

“Oh, no,” she said.

Knox looked up.

The thugs were looking right at them. They spotted Nola and pointed.

“Orlando—” Knox shoved both his and Nola’s leads at the man. “Thanks for your help.”

“We have to go,” Nola said urgently.

Orlando glanced at the men surging toward them. “Oh, bad guys at six o’clock.”

“Thank you,” Nola said. “Stay safe.”

“You, too, sweet pea.” Then he winked. “Let me see what I can do to give you a head start.”

Knox lifted her off her feet and out of the canine melee. “Just keep your head down. These are the shoot first, and never ask questions, kind of guys.”

Orlando straightened and gave him the worst salute Knox had ever seen. “I’m good at dodging, big dude. Take care of our girl.”

Knox nodded. “And she’s right, don’t compromise, wait for the right guy.”

Orlando smiled.

Swiveling, Knox set Nola back down. Then he dragged her down the sidewalk. “Go!”

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