Page 161 of Beyond the Badge: Nox

Hell, he didn’t want to get in a shoot-out when hewason-duty, either. Most departments, including the feds, frowned on that.

“You there?”

Nox shook himself mentally and gave some of his attention back to Fletch. “Yeah. I’m here.”

“Rumor has it you’re seeing someone now.”

Nox grunted.

“Brother, you don’t know how fucking happy I was to hear that.” When he grunted again, Fletch laughed and asked, “She a keeper?”

Was she? “It’s new, Fletch.”

“How new? I heard you also kept her a secret for a few weeks.”

“Who had diarrhea of the mouth?”

“The list for whodoesn’t would be shorter.”

“Fact.”

Fletch chuckled again. “Look, I’m happy for you, even if it’s only a fling. I only want the best for you, Opportunity Nox.”

That was a new nickname.

“So let’s hear it, what’s she like?”

Nox pursed his lips and thought about Liyah. “Gorgeous. Well-spoken. Extremely successful. A class act, actually.”

“What’s she doing with you, then?”

“I ask myself that question daily.”

“And what’s the answer?”

“I don’t have one.” Nox sighed and dragged his fingers down his cheek. “She’s so fucking out of my league, Fletch.”

“You don’t think she’ll stick?”

He honestly didn’t know where they would end up. They were taking it day by day. No pressure. No talk of any future together. Nothing. They were only enjoying the time they spent together. In bed and out of it, too.

“Do you want her to stick?”

Did he? “Yeah. I think so.”

“Then, tell her.”

“We’re not there yet.”

“Sounds like you are.”

“Maybe. But…”

“But she has two sons, and her father is the big, bad motherfucker who’s the sergeant at arms for the Dark Knights.”

Nox sucked on his teeth. “Yeah, someone was running their fucking mouth.”

Another chuckle filled his ear. “Of course. Have you met him?”

---