Chapter 12
CHAPTER TWELVE
K nox landed in a crouch on the glass-littered floor with Nola held securely in his arms.
He looked up…
To see a wall of his Sentinel Security colleagues.
Killian stood in the center, flanked by Nick and Matteo. Standing on either side of them were Bram and Hadley. And off to the side was Cain. All had their weapons drawn and raised.
Devyn was missing, so he guessed she was the sniper providing cover fire outside.
Killian was looking past Knox and Nola. When Knox glanced back and followed his boss’ gaze, he tensed.
Fuck .
Zolotov and several of his men stepped through the broken window into the office, their weapons raised as well.
It was a standoff.
With Knox and Nola trapped in the middle.
“Hawke,” the mob boss drawled.
“Zolotov.” Killian’s tone was ice cold.
“We’ll take the woman and go,” Zolotov said in his thick accent.
Nola gasped.
“Over my dead body,” Knox growled.
The man’s gaze flicked to Knox. His eyes were like dark ice chips. “That can be arranged.”
“Nola isn’t going anywhere,” Killian said.
Knox rose and pushed her behind him, glaring at Zolotov. Nola gripped his belt.
“Let me take her, and no one needs to get hurt,” the Russian said. “Otherwise —” more of his men stepped into the office “—things will get messy. I have more in my army than you do.”
Killian stared the man down. “But my army is better trained.” Killian shook his head. “Nola isn’t going anywhere. She’s the sister of one of my men. She’s family. There’s no way in hell he’ll let you touch a hair on her head.”
Knox frowned. Killian seemed to be stalling. What was he waiting for?
“That’s fucking right,” Nick growled.
“None of us will let you take her,” Bram added.
Hadley tilted her head. “But I’d like to see you try.”
Knox wrapped his arm around Nola, holding her tight. He kept his body angled to protect her.
Whatever his team had planned, he’d be ready.
“Then we will make a mess,” Zolotov said. “And all your people will die, Hawke.”
Killian smiled, although there was nothing amusing about it. “You really believe that?”
His tone was like a blade, and made several of Zolotov’s men shift uncomfortably.
The mob boss’ posture changed subtly. Something was starting to make him nervous, but he raised his gun. “I am not a man who likes to repeat himself. I will say it one last time. Give her to me.”
Killian cocked his head. “I have a better idea.”
Zolotov’s tough mouth flattened. “What?”
“I’ll let my wife kick your ass.”
It all happened in a heartbeat. The air vent above Zolotov opened, and a long, lean body rolled out. Knox saw a flash of red hair.
Devyn landed in a crouch behind Zolotov. She kicked his knees out from under him, and once he fell to the ground, she pressed a gun to the back of his head.
“I’m mad you broke our window,” Devyn drawled.
Zolotov’s men all appeared frozen. A couple swiveled their guns toward Devyn.
Bang. Bang .
The gunfire made Nola jolt, and Knox pulled her closer. But he kept his gaze up and saw that Killian’s well-placed shots had hit Zolotov’s men in the shoulders. Both of them dropped their weapons, and clutched their wounds.
“Kill the woman!” Zolotov bellowed.
One young man still held his gun, his eyes wide. He spun, his hand shaking.
He aimed the gun toward Nola and Knox.
Fuck .
Suddenly, Nola rammed into him.
The gun fired. The bullet rush over her head, then he felt a burning sensation in his arm.
He grabbed her and they hit the ground.
Holy fuck.
Nola had felt the bullet whizz past her ear.
She pressed a hand to her hair, her cheek, the side of her neck. Nothing. No bullet hole. No blood.
She was okay. She looked up, and saw that Nick and Bram had the shooter pinned down. Devyn still held a weapon on Zolotov.
The rest of his men had dropped their weapons and raised their hands.
Safe.
They were safe.
She grinned. “Knox. It’s over.”
He was still holding her. He’d done it. He’d gotten her safe, just as he’d promised.
She rolled over. “We—”
Then she saw the blood on his sleeve.
She felt like everything dropped away. “Oh, my God. You’re hit .” Her voice rose, and she scrambled to sit up.
He sat as well. “It’s just a graze.”
“You got shot! You got hit by a bullet.” Her mind short-circuited and panic scattered everything.
“Nola—”
She touched his face. “We need a medic. Someone call 9-1-1.”
“ Nola ,” Knox said calmly. “It’s nothing. I’m fine. “
“You’re not fine. We need to stop the bleeding.”
“Sprite.” He gripped her chin, then he leaned forward and kissed her.
Oh . Instantly, she was swept away by the taste of him. She kissed him back and crawled onto his lap. He hauled her closer, his arms holding her tight.
Her panic leaked away, replaced by something much hotter.
When he pulled away, he pressed his forehead to hers. “Better?”
“You’re really okay?” she asked shakily. “You promise?”
“Yes. I promise. We’re both fine.”
She smiled, relief punching through her.
“What the hell?”
Uh-oh. Nick’s angry voice.
Nola looked up and saw her brother standing over them, hands on his hips, and a scowl on his face.
“Why the hell are you kissing my sister, Stone?” Nick demanded.
Nola scrambled off Knox and stood. Knox rose behind her and pressed a hand to her shoulder.
She cleared her throat. “Nick—”
“ You .” He pinned Knox with a hard look. “She was in danger, and you made a move on her?”
“Wait.” She stepped forward and poked her brother in the chest. “Listen to me.”
His scowl deepened.
“Knox and I met at the bar the other night, before you guys got there.” God, it seemed like a really long time ago. She felt like she’d known Knox for so much longer. “We…connected. I like him, Nick. A lot. When he found out you were my brother, he turned me down.”
Nick crossed his arms.
“And I was hurt,” Nola added.
“Sprite.” Knox’s fingers moved to her neck, brushed her skin.
She turned toward him. “Then he saved me. He risked himself for me. He’s a good guy—” she glanced at her brother “—and I know that you like and respect him, right?”
A grudging look crossed Nick’s face. “Yes.”
“So, what’s the problem, Nick? I like Knox. A guy you like and respect. And he likes me.”
Nick’s jaw worked. “He’s too old for you.”
She made an annoyed noise. “That’s for me to decide, not you. Besides, I’ve dated plenty of guys my age. You hated all of them.”
Nick’s brows drew together. “True.”
“I’ll treat her right, Wolf,” Knox said. “I wasn’t looking for a relationship, and I sure didn’t expect her.”
She tipped her head up. The look on his face as he stared down at her made her chest squeeze.
“Now I want to spend a lot more time with her.” He touched her cheek. “And make her smile.”
“ Knox ,” she murmured.
“Make her murmur my name just like that.”
The kiss was light and sweet, but when she parted her lips, he groaned. He deepened the kiss and his tongue delved into her mouth.
Nick made a sound.
Knox lifted his head, and Nola licked her lips.
“You screw her over, and we’ll have problems,” Nick said.
Knox wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “We won’t have any problems.”
Cursing in Russian cut across the office.
Nola looked over and saw that the rest of the Sentinel Security team had all of Zolotov’s men contained. Devyn was fastening cuffs on the mob boss, and he didn’t look happy about it.
“She’ll never be safe,” Zolotov yelled. “My people won’t stop, they’ll—”
Knox growled, and Nola’s heart did a sickening twist.
Killian took a step forward. “Nola has the full protection of Sentinel Security.”
The deadly tone of Killian’s voice made Zolotov cut off.
“If I see any of your men look at Nola the wrong way,” Killian continued, “I won’t rest until I’ve wiped your syndicate out. Not a single thing left. Not even a whisper.”
Zolotov swallowed.
Several police officers, some in plain clothes and others in uniform, stepped into the office.
“Hawke,” one man in a suit said.
“Burns.” Killian walked to meet the cops. “You missed the party.”
The detective glanced at Zolotov. “Such a shame.”
Two paramedics followed the cops inside. “We heard we have gunshot wounds,” the female paramedic said.
“Yes,” Nola said. “But this is one of the good guys.” She jerked her thumb at Knox. “Treat him first.”
“It’s just a graze,” he insisted.
“I don’t care,” Nola said tartly.
“Nola.” Killian stepped forward. “You need to give your statement to Detective Burns. You need to tell them exactly what you saw in the penthouse.”
Her flush of happiness dimmed.
“You’ve got this, Sprite.” Knox squeezed her arm. “I’ll be right here when you’re done.”
Nola nodded, and followed the detective into one of Sentinel’s empty offices.
“Ms. Newhouse, I’m Detective Mac Burns.” He pulled out a chair. “Why don’t you take a seat and start at the beginning.”
She sat and crossed her legs. “Well, I got a new listing in the High Line Tower.”
It was no fun reliving what she’d seen in the penthouse, but she managed to get it all out. The detective took notes and asked several questions.
“Thank you,” Detective Burns said, slipping his notepad back in his pocket. “With your help, we can put Zolotov away for a long time.”
“That’s good.” After everything she and Knox had been through over the last day, Zolotov deserved it.
“It’s really good. He’s a bad guy, and he’s hurt a lot of people.” The detective held up her handbag. “I believe this is yours. We recovered it in the penthouse.”
“Oh, thank you.” She took it gratefully.
“Stay safe, Ms. Newhouse. Although with the friends you have, I think you’ll be fine.”
She smiled. “I will.”
When the detective walked away, she found Nick waiting for her. He gave her a hug.
“So damn glad you’re okay.”
“Me too.”
He leaned back. “So, I guess I’m giving you my blessing about Knox.”
“I wasn’t asking for it, but I’m glad.” She squeezed his arm.
“I’ll tell Lainie. She’ll be ecstatic. We’ll have you and Knox over for dinner one night.”
“That’ll be nice.” And Nola couldn’t wait to see her friend and tell her all about Knox, as well as check to see how she was feeling.
“Someone’s waiting for you.” Nick jerked his head.
Nola spotted Knox standing there, with a bandage wrapped around his bicep. She squeezed her brother’s arm. “Thanks, Nick.”
He smoothed some of her hair back behind her ear. “Stay out of trouble. No more witnessing mob murders.”
A laugh huffed out of her. “Will do.” She walked toward her silver fox. “Hi.”
“Hi. You all right?”
She nodded. “It’s all done.” She looked around the destroyed office. “I can’t believe it’s over.”
He ran his fingers over her cheekbone. “So, I have an apartment upstairs…”
She cocked her head. “Oh?”
“I don’t have any food in the fridge, and not much furniture either. But we can order takeout, and I do have a bed.”
She grabbed his hand. “That sounds great. Add in a glass of wine, and I’m all yours.”
“I’m sure I can get a bottle from Hadley.” He entwined their fingers. “And I can guarantee no bad guys.”
“Sold. I am over my quota for bad guys this week.” She smiled. “Lead the way, my silver fox.”