Page 39 of Stone

She stuck out her bottom lip. “Are you sure?”

He cupped her face. “I need to get you safe.”

Seriousness flooded her face. And a little fear. “Okay.”

“I’ll be right beside you, Sprite. Every step of the way.”

She nodded. “But you have to stay safe, too. I have plans for you, Knox Holman. Many, many plans.”

“You got it. Now, let’s get ready.”

They quickly made some toast in the kitchen, and Nola drank a giant glass of juice. They got dressed and he watched her pull the wig back on.

He hated that damn wig.

He pulled out his phone and called the office.

“Knox? All good,” Killian asked.

“Yeah, we’re ready to move.”

“Nola?” Nick’s deep voice came through the phone.

“I’ll put it on speaker.” Knox glanced at Nola. “It’s Nick.”

“Nick,” Nola bent over the phone. “How’s Lainie?”

“She’s fine, she just overdid it at work. She’s promised to only work part-time now. She’s more worried about you. You sure you’re okay?”

“I’m fine.”

“Nola, I’m so sorry I didn’t answer your call yesterday.”

“Nick, I promise I’m fine.”

“Is Stone taking good care of you?”

She glanced up at Knox and gave him a cheeky grin. He winced.

“Yes, he is.” Nola pulled in a deep breath. “We’re ready to head to Sentinel Security.”

“Knox, the streets are quiet at the moment,” Hex said. “Zolotov’s men roamed till pretty late last night, but I’m not picking up any of them at the moment.”

“But they’ll be there,” Killian warned. “Waiting.”

“They will,” Knox said.

“The NYPD secured the crime scene at the penthouse,” Killian said. “Zolotov’s men tried to dispose of the body. It was recovered in the building’s trash chute. They identified it as Alexei Fedorov. Russian businessman, mainly in oil and property investment. Looks like he got on the wrong side of Zolotov.”

Nola’s face shut down. “That poor man.”

“The police need your statement, Nola,” Killian said. “What you saw…it can put a very bad man away for a very long time.”

Knox gripped her knee and squeezed.

She nodded. “I’ll do it.”

“And I’ll get her to the office.” He took her hand. “I swear it.”

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