Page 14 of Beyond the Badge: Nox

The only way to be a family again would be to join them.

But if he told anyone he wanted to be placed with Jackie and his daughter in their casket, they would lock him away. Far away from them.

Probably in some locked, padded room. With a mattress and no sheets. No metal utensils.

No shoelaces.

Nothing. Because they knew what was better for him than he did himself.

That was the excuse they’d use.

When it wasn’t true.

“Brad.”

ChapterThree

When his namewhispered through his head, his eyes opened and he glanced around looking for the owner of that voice.

Jackie.

She was calling out for him.

Just like she probably had on that day.

Someone to his left droned on about the loved one they lost. Reminiscing about a core memory that made them both laugh and cry at the same time.

He didn’t give a shit. But he damn well betshedid. She was probably blubbering, too.

He glanced across the circle, surprised to find thatshewasn’t listening to that person at all.

Shewas watching him.

His heart began to race, and his eyesight began to narrow. His ears rang so loudly, it drowned out the person talking.

He needed to get the fuck out of there.

Shewas going to break him open and turn him inside out.

Shewas going to make him feel again.

And he couldn’t risk that.

Not again.

He jumped out of his seat and beelined toward the door.

Not hearing anything.

Not seeing anything but escape.

He made it out the door and down the hallway. But before he could shove his way through the double glass doors leading outside, his elbow was grabbed and squeezed hard.

He jerked his arm free and spun to confront the person.

Of course.

It washer.

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