Page 3 of Beyond the Badge: Nox

Finn threw his hands up. “Because we had no choice! C’mon, man, just sit so we can get this over with.”

“You’re family and we all love you like a brother, and you have us all worried,” North said next.

Nox pulled at his chin and let his gaze circle the group. “What’s this about?”

He knew. He fuckingknew.

“Sit and we’ll explain,” Jamison urged. “If you want to keep your job at SVPD and also stay on the task force,” Nox did not miss him and Crew exchanging glances, “you need to sit.”

“What are you going to do, fire me?”

“I’ll put you on administrative leave,” Jamison threatened, “and if you’re on that, you’ll be automatically removed from the task force.”

Jesus fucking Christ.If he lost his job and was also removed from the task force, he’d have nothing left to keep his mind busy.

His own brothers were hobbling him. “For my own good, right?”

Did he sound bitter?Yeah well, he was fucking more than bitter.

“Yes, Nox, for your own good,” Jamison answered. “Now, don’t make me do shit I don’t want to do.”

“Then, don’t.”

Pinching his nose, Crew dropped his head. Without warning, the man surged to his feet and yelled, “You’re off the task force!”

The room went dead silent at that outburst.

He glared at Nox as he spat out, “You made your choice, now you have to live with it. You can go back to SVPD and working patrol.”

“No, he won’t.” Jamison shook his head. “Like I said, with the way he is right now, I’ll be talking to the captain. He won’t be on patrol, either.”

Nox’s gaze bounced from Crew to Jamison before it dropped to his boots. He pulled in a deep breath, held it and, after a few moments, released it.

He needed to go.

He needed to get the fuck out of that room.

He masked his expression when he lifted his head and considered them all.

Everyone in that room loved him like family. They cared about him. They were worried about him.

That was cemented when Rez said softly, “We love you, brother. If you love us, then you’ll hear us out.”

Fuck.

His heart knew they cared about him, but his brain was still screaming at him to escape. They warred with each other.

The bottom line was, he needed his job, he needed the task force, and he needed his brotherhood.

The last being the most important.

He’d be nowhere right now without them. Maybe not even breathing.

With a single nod, Nox went over and sat in the spot where Jamison had pointed.

Avoiding everyone’s eyes, he stared straight ahead at the wall. “Let’s get this over with.”

“You’ve fallen down that deep, dark well again,” Jamison started.

---