Chapter 9
CHAPTER NINE
A small hand whacked Knox in the face. Again .
He rolled and pinned Nola half beneath him on the bed. She jerked and managed to kick him in the shin as well.
He grunted. She hadn’t been joking. She’d moved constantly through the night, and slapped him several times.
She was still fast asleep, lashes dark against her cheek. He curled his body around her, and she let out a contented sigh. Knox felt an answering contentment. Holding her like this felt good.
It had been a long time since he’d felt this at ease. Like he was exactly where he was supposed to be.
Despite his reservations about getting involved with her, he’d learned to trust his gut.
His gut, heart, and balls were telling him that this tiny woman was his.
Early light started leaking around the curtains, and the noises of the city were picking up.
First, he had to get Nola safe.
Zolotov would be coming full force to protect himself.
Knox had to run the gauntlet and get Nola to Sentinel Security. Then, he’d ask her to spend the night at his place. Maybe she’d like to help him decorate his apartment? And then he’d take her out on a date as a thank you.
Shit, he’d thought he was too old for this, but the thought of her smiling at him every day, sleeping in his bed every night, felt right.
Nola wriggled, rubbing against his cock.
Hell . Then her hand flailed, and hit his mouth. He gripped her wrist.
“Shit, sorry.” Her voice was slow and sleepy. She rolled over, her face rosy from sleep and her hair tousled. “I warned you.”
“You can kiss my bruises better later.” He leaned down to kiss her.
“Morning breath,” she squawked.
“Don’t care.” He kissed her, and soon she melted against him, clinging to him.
He rolled her beneath him. “My hot little Sprite.”
“My hot silver fox.” She stroked his beard.
He pressed a quick kiss to her nose. “Unfortunately, I don’t have time to fuck you again.”
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.”
“Thanks, Knox,” Nick said. “I owe you.”
“No, you don’t.” Knox tried not to feel guilty about what he’d spent the night doing with the man’s sister.
He’d square it away with Nick. What was between him and Nola was between them.
“Hex, have you got a recommended route for us to take to the office?” Knox asked.
“We thought about sending a car, but it’s too risky,” Killian said. “We’re worried that Zolotov will have men out ready to shoot on sight. I think it’s best to come on foot. Quickly and quietly.”
“All right,” Knox said.
“We could take the High Line?” Nola said. “We’d be off the streets.”
Knox knew the elevated greenway, that had once been an old rail line, was a popular attraction. He shook his head. “I don’t want to be trapped on there if they spot us.”
“Knox,” Hex said. “I suggest you two head toward the waterfront and Hudson River Park. Zolotov’s men were sticking to the streets leading directly to the office.”
Knox pulled out his phone and studied the map. “Got it.”
“Take care of my sister, Stone,” Nick said.
“I will.” Knox met Nola’s blue gaze. “I’ll get her there.”
“Good luck,” Killian said. “Both of you.”
“Ready?”
Nola looked up at Knox, then itched the side of her head. The wig was really uncomfortable.
“I sure am.” That was a lie. She wasn’t ready. She really didn’t want to leave the relative safety of the apartment. Her stomach was alive with nerves.
“Hey.” A big hand cupped the side of her cheek. “It’s okay to be afraid. Fear keeps you sharp, stops you from being reckless.”
“You don’t strike me as the reckless kind of guy.” She pressed her hands to his chest.
“A certain curvy sprite certainly makes me feel a little wild.”
She went up on her toes and kissed him.
He sank his hands into her hair. “I’m getting you to Sentinel Security, Nola. Zolotov and his men are not getting you.”
She nodded and hugged him.
He patted her back, and she knew she couldn’t stall any longer. When he tugged the ball cap low on his head, she steeled herself. He opened the front door, panic trickled through her.
Come on, Nola. You can do this. Especially with Knox at your side.
They headed out of the apartment, and she clutched his hand.
“We’re going to walk out onto the street like we don’t have a care in the world,” he told her.
She dragged in a deep breath. “Right.”
“We’re just a couple out for a stroll, then heading home to fuck like rabbits.”
A giggle burst out of her as they headed down the stairs. “I like this couple’s plans for the day.” She scratched her nose. “So we head toward the Hudson?”
“That’s the plan. And do our best to not catch the notice of Zolotov and his goon squad.”
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.”
“Just passing through,” Knox murmured.
He reached the back door, and a second later, they stepped into the back alley.
They hurried back to the street. Nola had to jog a little to keep up with Knox’s long strides.
Back on the sidewalk, they slowed their pace.
“You’re doing great,” he said.
“Thanks. I’m a huge ball of nerves.”
They turned a corner, and up ahead, lounging against the wall of a building, she saw one of Zolotov’s men.
“Shit, another one.” She tugged on Knox’s sleeve. “I beaned him with a vase of flowers yesterday.”
“I see him.” Knox glanced down. “Would have liked to see you smack him around.”
She rolled her eyes. As his face settled back into serious lines, she realized he was trying to ease her nerves.
Zolotov’s thug turned his head, looking right in their direction.
“Shit,” Knox muttered.
Suddenly, the door of the building in front of them opened, and a young man covered in colorful tattoos with several piercings in his ears and nose exited the apartment. He had five dogs on leads, and they were all barking and yipping. One fluffy dog made a beeline to Nola, winding around her ankles, tangling its lead.
“Sorry, sorry,” the young man said.
Out of the corner of her eye, Nola saw the thug look at the commotion. She swiveled so her back was to him and leaned down to pat the dog. It was some sort of poodle, and stared at her with love in its warm eyes.
Beside her, she heard Knox utter a curse.
“Sorry, big dude,” the dog walker said. “I mean no harm.”
“It’s fine,” Nola said. “What’s your name?” She stopped a labrador from shoving its nose between her legs.
“Orlando.” The young man cocked a hip like he was striking a pose. “Dog walker, extraordinaire.”
“Orlando—” Nola leaned in “—look, we need your help.”
The man’s blue eyes widened. “Really?”
She nodded. “Some not-so-nice guys are after us.”
Orlando’s eye went wider still. “Bad ex?”
“Not exactly. Can we walk the dogs with you?”
Excitement crossed Orlando’s slim face. “Ooh, like go undercover with me?”
She nodded. “Yes, exactly.”
“I always thought I’d make a good James Bond,” Orlando said.
“I agree.” She smiled. “You’ll help us out?”
“I will. Here, this is Lulu.” He handed Nola the lead to the cute poodle that was bouncing around her feet.
“And for you, big dude, this is Cherub.”
He shoved the lead into Knox’s hand. The dog was a tiny Chow. It looked up at Knox and barked at him, then turned in circles.
Knox’s expression turned to one of horror.
Nola bit her lip, but she couldn’t stop a giggle escaping.
“Keep it up,” he said in a warning tone.
She giggled again. “But you guys are so cute together.”
That got her a pointed look.
“Let’s go, Bondettes.” Orlando wrangled the other three dogs like a pro. “I’m heading to the Chelsea Waterside. There’s a great dog run that these guys love .”
“Perfect,” Nola said.
Knox grunted.
Holding onto the dog leads, they set off down the sidewalk. Nola kept her gaze down on Lulu as they walked past Zolotov’s man.
Once they reached the next intersection, she casually glanced back, and saw the thug walking the opposite way.
She released a shaky breath.
So far, so good .