Page 178 of Beyond the Badge: Crew

Once more, Luis Cabrera stared at him for far longer than was comfortable. And because of that, Crew wasn’t expecting the next statement out of the man’s mouth. “You love her.”

“I wouldn’t still be standing here dealing with the shit you’ve been shoveling at me if I didn’t.”

“While you’re a good man and a great agent, Crew, I’m not sure you’re good for my daughter.”

“I guess time will tell.”

“And I’ll be watching.”

“Like any good father would,” Crew responded. “I only ask you don’t interfere.”

“That’s a lot to ask.”

“Then I won’t ask. I’ll outright tell you not to interfere. It’s a quick and sure way to alienate your daughter if you do.”

“You act like you know my daughter better than I do.”

“We know her in two different ways. To you, as a child. To me, as a partner. I thank you for everything you’ve done for her as her father, by raising her and giving her a solid start, but I’ll take it from here.”

Again, Cami’s father didn’t say shit for the longest time and only stared at Crew.

After a few more moments, Cabrera said, “I look forward to us reconnecting over dinner. I’m sure we both have eighteen years’ worth of stories to tell about our time in the DEA.”

What just happened?

Even if it was only a temporary reprieve, it made Crew’s chest loosen enough for him to breathe a little easier.

He nodded. “Should be an interesting conversation. I’ll let Cami know you’re in town. I’m sure you’ll hear from her once I do. Now… Am I dismissed or does Williams need me for something else?”

“He doesn’t and you are.”

Thank fuck.

Crew blinked in surprise when the man extended his hand again. Could this be a truce? Was Cabrera done trying to flay Crew open?

He took it and gave it a firm shake. “See you tonight,” Crew said as he stepped around Cami’s father so he could get the fuck out of there while the getting was good.

As he did, Cabrera stopped him with, “One more thing… Don’t ever call me Dad,” and slapped him hard on the back.

Epilogue

“Is that normal?”Cami whispered in Crew’s ear.

“What?”

“That the man rides behind the woman. I never saw that before. Not with your MC or with the Demons.”

“It is definitely not normal,” Crew assured her, glancing over at where Monty straddled her Harley and her boyfriend Clark sat behind her as her backpack. Clueless to the fucking world. And the judgment from the rest of Monty’s “brothers.”

“Why do I get the feeling you guys bust on him for it?”

“Now why would you think that?” he asked innocently.

“You can’t see my eyes rolling,” she said, “but you can probably hear them.”

“We were told to leave Clark alone.”

“And do you?”

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