Page 206 of Beyond the Badge: Nox

Hearing Liyah sniffle next to him made him wonder if she was emotional from visiting the cemeteries or if it was because of the frigid temps.

“You want to go?” he asked her.

“When you’re ready.”

He glanced at the strong, smart woman who single-handedly set his life back on the right path. “I’m ready. And I’m sure your family is wondering where we are.”

Liyah snorted softly and jiggled their clasped hands.

“Okay,” he admitted, “Cait might be wondering where we are. Your father won’t give a shit if I show up. Come on, let’s go before the boys complain.”

“They probably don’t even realize what time it is.”

“I’m sure their stomachs are growling,” he said. They were bottomless pits. If it was edible, it disappeared like magic.

“True. Food is the only thing that makes them pause their video games. I’m sure they’re trying to conquer a few more levels in whatever their latest favorite is since I told them once we arrive at their grandparents’ house, the phones will be put away for the rest of the day. Christmas is a day to spend with family.”

“Thanks for the warning. I’m sure their eyes and fingers will be twitching,” he teased.

“Actually, I expect them to sneak upstairs to play on Caleb’s gaming console.”

“Won’t they want their presents first?” The back of his new Chevy Tahoe was jammed-packed with wrapped gifts.

He didn’t want to know what Liyah spent on all of that.

“Oh yeah. They’ll rip through their gifts, shovel dinner into their pie holes and then rush upstairs and not be seen again for the rest of the evening.”

“Sounds peaceful,” he teased.

“Right?” Liyah laughed. “Until they begin to fight over the controllers.”

“We’ll just turn up the Christmas music to drown them out.”

“That’s the spirit!” she exclaimed as they walked hand-in-hand back to his vehicle.

* * *

Despite Magnum “taking care”of both Saint and T-Bone—and Nox didn’t know or want to know the details—things between him and Liyah’s father still remained tense.

Magnum had subtle ways of showing his displeasure about Aaliyah letting Nox move in with her months ago. He was slick enough to make sure only Nox noticed in order to avoid both his wife and daughter giving him hell about it.

But the big man left no doubt he was not happy about the arrangement since he wanted his daughter to be with anyone but a “pig.” He’d even prefer Liyah be with Romeo, known for using women and tossing them away when he was through. A true pig in Nox’s eyes.

However, somehow, they managed to keep things civil. Magnum tolerated Nox, only for the fact he wanted to keep his oldest daughter in his life. As well as his grandsons.

If that was what it took, then that was what it took.

If it wasn’t Christmas Day, Nox wouldn’t be hanging out with the whole family, anyway. When her father was home, Liyah normally visited by herself to keep the peace.

Even though there hadn’t been any more “fist meet face” episodes, Nox tended to keep his guard up around the Knights’ enforcer.

Nox stood in the corner by the roaring fireplace, taking in the disaster left behind after everyone opened their gifts. Boxes, torn and balled up wrapping paper, forgotten gifts, empty glasses, coffee mugs and spilled bowls of nuts and pretzels littered the room.

Of course, he and the big man did not exchange anything but guarded looks.

Now Nox sipped at a beer with his gut jammed pack from a great early Christmas dinner and even better huge slice of sweet potato pie, drowning in real whipped cream. One of Liyah’s specialties.

She had brought over four pies. All four had been decimated.

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