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)
Don Mullins, a task force member, was also a narcotics detective for Pittsburgh PD, so that made sense.
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.
Chapter Four
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.
Aaliyah had given him her card, but he had shoved it deep into his front pocket, pretending he didn’t want it. Even though it had burned a hole through his jeans that night, he hadn’t looked at it. In fact, the pair he’d been wearing still hung over the back of his couch.
Tempting him.
He was afraid if he saw her phone number, he might text her.
To meet up.
To have conversation.
And get busted again for staring at her tits and ass.
But now… Those discarded jeans called to him like a damn siren song. Urging him to run upstairs. To grab that business card.
To find out her connections.
He almost jumped out of his skin when Crew’s cell phone rang. The volume of his ringtone had to be turned up to the max.
Miller winced. “Damn, old man, are you deaf or something?”
“Maybe Cabrera is right, and you do need hearing aids,” North ribbed Crew.
“Eh?” Crew curved a hand around his ear before snagging the phone off the table. “It’s Fletch.”
“Yeah, we know, since his mug is filling your screen. Do you have all of our pics on your phone?” Miller asked.
“No, just the pretty ones,” Crew answered dryly. “You don’t qualify.” When he answered the call, he immediately put the BAMC vice president on speaker phone. “Yo.”
“Boss,” Fletch greeted, using the nickname their newest task force member called Crew to get under his skin.
“Fuck off.” Crew warned, “I’m at church with North, Miller and Nox and you’re on speaker phone.”
“What’s up, fuckers?” Fletch asked on a laugh. “Believe it or not, I miss you assholes. Hopefully, our time being undercover is coming to an end soon. Right, Crewser?”
“I know you want to be free of that assignment, but I need you two to stick it out for as long as possible.”
“We should have enough shit on them to bring the whole MC down.”
“Yeah, for the most part, but that’s not the only reason I want you to stay under with the Demons. We need someone on the inside to make sure we’re one step ahead of them.”
“Group one has two members within the Demons,” Fletch reminded Crew.
“Yeah? And now so do we.”
“For fuck’s sake. I didn’t want to be under for more than a few months and here it is going on year two.”
“Jesus, have you been gone that long?” Miller asked. “I didn’t miss you at all.”
“It hasn’t been two years,” Crew insisted.