Page 67 of Nyx

"He said he had a right to his kids. I told him the restraining order against him said otherwise."

"That all?" Shadow asks.

The man knows exactly what was said. They record everything in case it’s needed for court or for police reports later.

"He claimed he had stopped drinking, which was clearly not the case. He continued to yell. At this point, the wife and small children were at a minimum in the doorway, if not on the front porch. I didn't pull my eyes from the suspect to check."

"They were standing outside the door," Holler clarifies.

"And?" Shadow asks.

"He was still trying to get to his feet," I continue. "I told him that if he made it to his feet, it would be the last time he ever stood up."

Shadow nods as if those words are the entire reason he's here—to debrief my ass.

"As in?" he prods.

I frown at him, resisting the urge to look away.

I don't know that there will ever come a time working for Cerberus when I don't feel like I'm walking a tightrope and one slip is going to have me plummeting to the earth, alone, and without a team of men at my back.

"I think you know what I meant," I mutter, keeping my eyes on his.

"The man is claiming harassment and brutality by both the police and Cerberus," Shadow says. "Did you use those words exactly, or did you tell him you were going to kill him?"

"Those words exactly," I say, telling the truth.

"He never said he'd kill him," Holler adds. "We never even pulled our guns."

"The guy was too drunk to do anything," I say. "He acted like an ass, and his kids had to witness that. It's disgusting for a man to put his family in that situation."

"I don't disagree," Shadow says. "We just have to dot our Is and cross our Ts. What else?"

"That's it," I say. "The cops showed up and took him into custody. Holler dealt with the police, and I got back to my post."

"I think you guys handled the job perfectly," Shadow says. "We don't get many incidents like this, but—"

"Help requested at Cottonwood," Max says, his voice coming through my earpiece. "Physical altercation on the front lawn."

I start to argue when Shadow shifts in his seat and slaps on his seatbelt, but I know the guys who are outside of Juniper are more than capable of handling any situation.

"We're closest," Shadow says.

I pull on my seatbelt. "You were saying?"

Shadow shakes his head as he backs out of the driveway. "Is it a fucking full moon or something?"

Oracle steps from around one of the other vehicles, nodding at us as we pull away. Beth is inside for school with the kids, leaving three men to secure the house rather than the minimum of four they have when one of their women is inside.

"Should I stay?" I ask, but we're already pulling away from the house.

Cottonwood House isn't far, and it only takes us four minutes to get to the property.

"Something in the water," Shadow says as we pull up to find Legacy in a brawl with a big guy.

I don't wait for the SUV to stop before ripping off my seatbelt, opening my door, and heading that way.

Legacy is holding his own, but this guy seems strong as hell. They aren't so much fighting, even though fists are flying. It's more like a fucking wrestling match.