Page 27 of Beyond the Badge: Crew

Fuck me.

She paused in front of Nox’s apartment and pointed.

“No. Keep going.”

She sighed and climbed down the rest of the way, then turned to stare up the stairs. “Is something wrong? Do you need assistance? Do you need one of those motorized stairlifts installed? Do I need to call a couple of the guys to carry you down?”

He sighed and jogged down the steps to prove her wrong. Only, halfway down he stumbled and almost tumbled the rest of the way.

“Holy shit!” she called out, starting to rush up the steps. “Did you break a hip?”

“Stay there! I don’t need your help!” He took a breath and continued down at a more normal pace.

The only thing he proved was that he was a jackass.

When he reached her, he pulled out his keys, unlocked the side door and swept his hand out, indicating she should go inside.

“A conference table?” she asked as she moved through the BAMC’s meeting room.

“It’s where our executive committee meets.” When she stopped suddenly, he almost ran right into her. “A little warning next time before you slam on the brakes.”

“I figured you’d see me stopping. Or do you have cataracts?”

“Aren’t you fucking hilarious,” he muttered.

“Is it like a board meeting?”

“Exactly like that.”

“How many sit on this board?”

“We have a president, VP, secretary, treasurer and sergeant at arms. Then Finn’s the road captain, but he doesn’t get a vote unless someone is missing.”

“Wow. Do you have by-laws, too?”

“Yes.”

“Will I need to be tested on those to join?”

“Are you always a smart ass?”

“Just with you.”

“I feel honored, then. Head out.” He jerked his chin toward the door.

He heard the voices before he saw everyone who had gathered downstairs. All in preparation for Nox’s intervention.

She turned in a circle, taking it all in. “Couches, kitchenette, big screen TV. Pool table, darts, and a card table…”

“A patio out back with a fire pit and a grill,” he added. He was proud about what he and his brothers had achieved in this former shit hole.

“Damn. This is like the ultimate man cave. I never would’ve expected any of this by looking at the exterior.”

“We did that on purpose, and we also put a lot of work into getting it to look this way. It’s like night and day from when we first bought it.”

“If it looked anything like the front, I’m sure,” Cabrera murmured.

As he gave her a quick tour of the first floor, he introduced her to everyone available she hadn’t met yet, including Aiden Cross, Roland North, Tim Frasier and Decker.

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