Total pages in book: 133
Estimated words: 131888 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 659(@200wpm)___ 528(@250wpm)___ 440(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 131888 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 659(@200wpm)___ 528(@250wpm)___ 440(@300wpm)
Crew always had a way with words.
“He’s an excellent cop. He only needs to get over this hump.”
That was a relief to hear from Jamison, since he was Nox’s Shadow Valley PD supervisor. Nox liked his job and he wanted to keep it.
“Or he needs to find someone to hump. Getting some good pussy tends to help a man’s outlook on life. Right, Cross?” Crew chuckled.
For fuck’s sake. Nox had heard enough.
“I’d have to take your word for it, since—”
Stepping out into the common area interrupted Cross mid-sentence and all eyes turned toward him. Jamison’s widened while Crew’s crinkled at the corners.
Nox pretended as if he hadn’t been eavesdropping. “What’s up?”
“Nothing. We’re just,” Jamison grimaced, “hanging out.”
Sure.
“Where have you been?” Crew asked, drawing Nox’s attention. “Your bike was gone all weekend.”
Someone had been paying attention. Unfortunately. “Had some things to do, Dad.”
Crew, Jamison and Cross all exchanged glances.
“Should we bother to ask?” came from Cross.
“Nope.”
They all shared glances again.
Crew frowned. “You’re not even going to give us a hint on where you were or what you were up to?”
“The hint was when I said nope.” He turned toward their president. “Did Finn get the run scheduled for next weekend?”
Jamison nodded. “He did. We should have enough members available so all the kids can go. Or at least the ones who want to go.”
He glanced at Cross. “Are your kids coming?”
Aiden Cross nodded. “They’ll be here, whether they want to be or not.”
His daughter Bri was more agreeable about doing family activities than his son, who was more like Cross’s husband. “What about Nash?”
His fellow BAMC brother stared at him. “When has he ever joined us on a run?”
The answer was never, but… “He could always have a change of heart.”
Cross snorted. “Yeah, just as soon as the DAMC does and lets me join in on theirs.”
“Do you even want to?” Jamison’s question was colored in surprise.
“If Nash asked, I would,” Cross admitted. “I’d do it for him.”
Jamison’s eyebrows shot up toward his hairline. “Has he ever asked?”
“No.”
Crew chimed in with all his deep wisdom, “I bet if you look up ‘opposites attract’ on Wikipedia, it would have a picture of you and your hubby.”
Cross shrugged. “Our situation isn’t perfect, but we make it work.”
“And that’s all that matters, brother,” Jamison agreed, since his wife was DAMC born and bred, unlike Nash who joined the DAMC as an adult.
Both Jamison and Cross were in similar situations. Their spouses were part of an MC family that didn’t welcome cops.
Hell, Jamison’s grandfather was one of the founders of the Dirty Angels and he wasn’t welcomed. All because he wore a badge. Tolerated? Somewhat. Welcomed with open arms? Fuck no.
Just like Nox most likely wouldn’t be accepted by Liyah’s family. At least the side that included her father and his club.
Crew nudged him with an elbow. “What’s that look for?”
He shuttered his expression. “Just thinking how much tension it could cause.”
“What do you mean?”
“The situations with the prez and Bella, as well as Cross and Nash. It can’t be easy.”
“But like Cross said, it might not be perfect but they make it work. As long as they’re happy, right?”
Nox shot Crew a look. “You really think love can conquer all?”
Crew’s face twisted. “Fuck no. Look at the disaster with me and Sasha. Anyway… I told Dylan he’s riding with you on Sunday.”
“He’s good with it?”
“Thrilled, if you want to know the truth. Most likely because he’s not stuck riding with me.”
“The kids will come around.” Nox sure as fuck hoped they would. For Crew’s sake.
Crew’s lips flattened and his jaw tightened. “Maybe.”
The task force leader could be a cocky asshole, but no one would ever doubt that he loved his kids. He ended up getting the short end of the stick when it came to his marriage. And divorce. And custody of his two children.
His ex caused problems every time it was Crew’s scheduled weekend, even though it was only once a month.
If Nox had kids…
He closed his eyes and breathed through the burn in his gut.
“You all right?”
He opened his eyes and answered Crew with a, “Yeah. I’m good.”
“You seem to be heading that way. What changed?”
“What do you mean?” He noticed that Jamison and Cross were now standing over in the kitchen area grabbing beers from the fridge and not paying attention to his and Crew’s conversation.
“Is it the therapist? The weekly group meetings?”
Nox answered with a simple, “Yeah.”
“Yeah? Which one?”
It was time to change the subject. The fuck if he was telling Crew about Liyah. He’d never hear the end of it. “Any word on the indictments?”
“The AUSA is working on them. Are you still up for busting in some doors… And heads?”
“Always.” Especially after what those fuckers did to Sloane, Sapphire, Mel and Sadie.
They needed more than their heads busted in.