Page 19 of Beyond the Badge: Nox

It was also a reminder of what a damn small world it was.

Crew narrowed his gray eyes on Nox. “Why are you asking about that riot?”

Shit.“It came up in conversation the other day.”

“That shit doesn’t come up in casual conversation,” Crew insisted.

“I met the widow of Mark James,” he admitted.

Silence circled the table and all eyes rose from the playing cards in their hands to land on Nox.

“Aaliyah James? Where?” North asked, dragging a hand down his dark cheek.

Nox ground his hand back and forth against the back of his neck. He wasn’t sure how much he should reveal. His brothers tended to turn any info into ammo.

“Met her in passing.”

“Nah, that’s bullshit,” Crew said. “You don’t strike up conversation with random strangers.”

Nox shot him a frown. “How the fuck would you know?”

“Because I know you.”

I know you.

ChapterFour

I know you.

I know you because I used to be you.

“I remember her,” North said. “She was pregnant when her husband was killed. A damn shame.”

“Damn,” Crew whispered.

“I had heard that,” Miller said next.

“That had to hit harder than normal,” Nox risked saying. He hoped North would share more details without him having to dig.

If he showed too much interest, red flags would begin flapping in the breeze.

“I would recommend staying clear of her,” North warned.

That was the last thing he expected out of the man’s mouth. Nox frowned. “Why?” That would be difficult if he continued going to the grief group as required.

“Because of the company she keeps.”

Nox opened his mouth to ask North what he meant but noticed Crew watching him too closely. He slammed his trap shut since the man was really damn good at figuring shit out. One of the reasons he was a senior agent with the DEA and the leader of their federal task force.

But it wasn’t only North’s comment making Nox wonder about her connections. On Wednesday night out in the parking lot, Aaliyah had also mentioned something along that line. Her words had stuck with him.

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

While he had been curious at the time about who those people were, including her father, North’s warning now made him want to know even more.

His BAMC brother knew something Nox didn’t.

And Nox didn’t like being unprepared.

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