Page 51 of Stone

He grabbed her hand, and they broke into a sprint.

They raced down the street and onto the sidewalk. Nola ran as fast as she could. Her chest heaved.

“Faster, Nola,” he said.

“My legs aren’t as long as yours.” They raced across the street, and a car screeched to a halt to avoid them. “And I am so not a runner.”

“Almost there.”

She spotted the huge, old warehouse ahead. At the sight of the brick façade, her heart jumped.

God, it still looked so far away.

She pumped her arms.

A second later, gunfire made her scream. Bullets pinged around them.

“Knox!”

He dived on top of her, tackling her to the ground. More bullets hit.

God, she didn’t want to get shot. She didn’t want Knox to get shot. He was shielding her, and she gripped him.

Then the bullets stopped.

He leaped up and pulled her to her feet. He had his gun in hand. He aimed back down the street and fired back.

“Run,” he ordered. “Don’t stop until you reach the office.”

“I’m not leaving you.”

He fired again. “Nola,” he growled.

“We go together, Knox.”

He shook his head and took another shot. Then he grabbed her arm. He pulled her forward and they sprinted down the street.

The warehouse got closer.

Nearly there.

But Zolotov and his men were in hot pursuit.

She heard them coming—feet pounding on the pavement, shouts.

Don’t stop, Nola.

Everything was hurting, but she knew if she stopped, Knox would stop to protect her. She locked her gaze on the large glass window at the front of the Sentinel Security office.

Crack.

The gunshot echoed through the street.

Nola ducked and looked back.

And saw one of Zolotov’s men fall.

Crack.

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