Page 33 of Knox
Another explosion sounded behind them, Adam swearing beside her as Quinn cowered in fear.Her driver was yelling something in Farsi, and Quinn had never been so terrified in her life.
When they reached the edge of the city, it was pure chaos.Crowds rushing.Cars honking.People pushing to get by.Their vehicle was nearly swarmed, and the driver plowed through the crowd.When they reached a barricade and couldn’t go any further, Adam gripped her arm as they abandoned the vehicle, and a fresh flood of fear washed over her.The sound of gunshots continued to fill the air, and she cried out, ducking down.There were more shouts and armed men rushing in various directions.
Adam hustled her down the block, yelling and gesturing to more of his fellow jihadists in the distance.Quinn nearly stumbled, catching sight of multiple men holding machine guns.Where were they taking her?Frantically, she looked around in confusion, her heart thundering in her chest.She saw Adam pocketing his phone, scanning the crowd.
There were more angry shouts, and she was shoved forward.
Suddenly, one of the terrorists she was with collapsed to the ground, blood pooling beneath his head.Quinn screamed as Adam shoved her down, reaching for his weapon.More shots sounded, and panic crashed through her.
Was the crowd attacking them?
Adam pulled a gun from his waistband, haphazardly firing shots into the air.
Quinn got to her feet, staying crouched low, and stumbled to the side, wondering if this was her one chance to escape.Her headscarf fell off, and fresh panic washed over her.She’d stand out with the purple streak in her hair.Then again, she was a white woman.She didn’t blend in anyway.
Quinn began to run away while Adam was distracted, panic coursing through her.She had to get help.She had to escape.
“Quinncess!”
She froze in shock, almost as if the world had suddenly tilted on its axis.No one else anywhere on the face of the earth called her that, and she knew without a doubt that Cooper Davis wasn’t here alone.They’d come for her.
Bravo Team was here.
She scanned the crowd, frantic.Desperate.Someone elbowed her as they pushed past, and she lurched to the side.More voices yelled, but they were pushing past her, trying to get away.Suddenly there were men in camo gear jogging in the direction she’d left Adam, but beneath their helmets and weapons, she was struggling to ID any of them.
She looked to her left, seeing a mob of angry Afghans.
Quinn took a step back, trying to get her bearings.
Suddenly, a man dressed in fatigues, a rifle slung over his shoulder, a sidearm in one hand, came hustling straight toward her.In that split second, she swore her heart stopped beating.Relief warred with anxiety, competing with a feeling of love so profound and pure, she nearly stumbled.She’d know him anywhere.She recognized his athletic build, his long stride, and even the feeling of electricity scorching the air between them.
It was insane to think she loved Knox Kinglsey, but in that moment, she swore she did.Quinn had never been so happy to see someone in her entire life.
“Knox!”she cried out, panicked he’d somehow disappear.She ran toward him.
“I’m right here,” he said, his voice gruff.Pained.His gaze raked desperately over her, assessing, as he hurried closer.“Are you hurt?”he asked urgently, pulling her into the safety of his strong arms.
Quinn crashed into him, clinging to Knox for a moment, soaking in his solid strength.She looked up into his dark gaze, ignoring the chaos around them.Quinn bit her lip, shaking her head as her eyes filled with tears.
“Shit.Don’t cry.We have to move—now.Once we’re safe, I want to hear everything.You’re safe with me,” he assured her, before gripping her biceps and turning her around, her back to his front.Knox didn’t let go, just held her to him.
One of his teammates said something, and Quinn realized he was wearing an earpiece and mic.Of course he was.These guys were armed to the teeth, all former Deltas in complete commando mode.Cooper was already hustling to one side of them, the other men also on the move.
“Good to see you, Quinncess,” he said, flashing her a quick grin.
“Let’s get the fuck out of here,” Gage replied, moving to her other side.
The crowd was growing frantic, and as she glanced to the right, she could see several Afghani police arriving.But where had Adam gone?She frowned, realizing her kidnapper had seemingly disappeared.Escaped.
Knox pressed closer behind her as they moved through the crowd.One big hand landed on her hip, his grip tightening.The other took her hand as he guided her forward, keeping her close.His fingers wrapped around hers, sure and steady.Quinn felt surrounded by him.Shielded by Knox’s strength and warmth.He could easily crush her with his strength, and instead he protected her from any danger.
Relief coursed through her as she soaked in his touch.She felt desperate for it, for the safety and security he provided.Knox calmed her.He soothed her overwrought nervous system, making her feel as if everything was right once again.His presence felt as necessary to Quinn as oxygen.In that instant, she didn’t think she could live without this man.It was crazy and confusing given they were merely colleagues and friends, but no one—no one—looked at her the way he did, as if Knox could see inside her very soul.He seemed to feel the same thing she did at the moment, his hold on her sure and secure.He guided her forward as if they were one.There was no way this man was letting her go.
Knox didn’t have his hands on a weapon anymore, but his teammates flanked him.Fanned out around them.Quinn hardly knew where to look.They’d appeared out of nowhere, all helping to escort her to safety.How had they even found her?
Quinn glanced around in awe.She was completely out of her element and knew it but had to trust the men who’d come for her to keep her safe.It was a humbling thought.She’d never have escaped on her own, and tears smarted her eyes, the crowd growing blurry.Knox shifted even closer, somehow hearing her distress.“Shhh,” he soothed, his head lowering, his lips at her ear.“I’ve got you.You’re safe, sweetheart.”
“Knox,” she whispered.
