Page 16 of Beyond the Badge: Nox

As he turned, her hand shot out and snagged his forearm. Why did she keep touching him?

He stared down at her tight grip.

“I’ve been thinking about something you said last week. You mentioned you were forced to be here. By who?”

Her question made him raise his eyes back to her face. It was so strikingly fucking beautiful.

He grimaced at where his thoughts went.

That grimace deepened when he answered her. “By the people I answer to.” Why the fuck did she have the power to get info out of him?

You have the right to remain silent.

Her eyebrows knitted together. “What do you mean?”

Anything you say may be used against you…

“People I report to at work,” he answered.

He wasn’t going to get into details. He certainly wasn’t going to tell her about the task force or the Blue Avengers. He didn’t want to give her any more than what he had to.

And even that was too much.

“Your police department,” she surmised.

She could take his answering grunt however she’d like. He didn’t care.

“Then I bet they wouldn’t like you leaving before the meeting even begins.”

He met her gaze head-on. “Who’s going to tell them?”

“Ah. Is that the ol’ ‘snitches get stitches’ threat?”

He grunted again.

She could take that answer however she’d like, too. Because, once again, he didn’t care.

“Just so you know, I don’t scare easily. Only two people exist on Earth who’re scarier than my father. And one isn’t you.”

He frowned. Now he was curious about who her father was, as well as those two other “scary” people. Who the hell was she hanging out with?

“Look, you told me where you work. I know your name. I can easily find out who your immediate supervisor is. It’s not some secret. Don’t make me tell them you’re skipping out on required meetings.”

Damn, that was a low blow.

“But if you want to bow out tonight, fine. Do that. It’ll give you a whole week to mentally prepare to. Sit. In. A. Fucking. Circle. Next. Week.” She bit every damn one of those words off.

This woman was not fucking around.

He sneered, “Like in kindergarten.”

“That’s a fitting comment since you’re acting that age. Maybe I’ll bring carpet squares next week. We can all sit criss-cross applesauce on the floor. Maybe clap hands while we sing the songIf You’re Happy and You Know It. I’m sure you know the words.”

“I don’t know the words.”

“Figures you don’t.” She sighed. “Leave tonight if you must, but I want to give you something first. Can I trust you not to hightail it out of here before I do?”

He grunted.

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