Page 45 of Stone

She pumped her arms and legs. He saw the thugs running in their direction, jackets flaring behind them.

Knox glanced toward the water and Hudson River Park. There were trees, but they had to cross some open ground to get to them. Too open. They’d be perfect targets.

Suddenly, a cacophony of barking dogs split the air.

He glanced back, so did Nola.

She started laughing.

Orlando’s dogs were leaping all over Zolotov’s men. The thugs were scowling and trying to get free.

“So sorry!” Orlando cried. He didn’t sound sorry at all.

As Knox watched, he saw Cherub run rings around one guy, until the lead snapped tight. The man went down like a fallen tree.

Huh. Maybe Knox would need to rethink his stance on Chows.

He looked forward again and his gaze fell on the large blue-and-gray building near the water.

Chelsea Piers.

“That way.” He altered course. The traffic lights ahead were red, with pedestrians crossing. “Keep going.”

They sprinted through the intersection.

He grabbed Nola’s hand and they ran toward the building. He didn’t stop to look back.

“Chelsea Piers,” she wheezed, a little out of breath.

“We’ll pass through here and hopefully lose our unwanted friends.”

Inside, the temperature dropped, and sounds echoed in the large space. They jogged up the ramp and came out at an ice rink.

Knox frowned. “That wasn’t what I expected.”

The ice was full of people. Some were skating with impressive skill, others stumbling and laughing. A small line of little kids whizzed past.

“All three piers are a huge sporting complex,” she said. “There’s ice skating, rock climbing, bowling, even golf. One pier is a driving range.”

“All right, come on.” He led her toward the ice. “We need to cross this.”

“What?” She shook her head. “No, I’m not good at balancing on slippery things. And we don’t have skates.”

“Nola, it’s the ice or the bad guys.”

She glanced behind them. “Right. Decisions, decisions.”

“Come on. Where’s my badass?”

“She’s remembering the one time Marcus Dobson took her on a date in high school. We went ice skating at the Rockefeller Center. I fell, cracked my head, and ended up with a concussion.”

Knox pushed open the gate and stepped onto the ice. He held out a hand. “I won’t let you fall.”

“Knox, there was blood, and I had a lump the size of Nebraska.”

“I won’t let you fall, Sprite.”

Her gaze moved over his face. “I know you won’t.” She put her hand in his. “You’re a good man, Knox Holman. Protective, solid, and honest. Not to mention sexy and rugged.”

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