Page 60 of Nothing Special X: The Last Stand

He had no idea how or where to start.

His mouth went dry and his palms grew so damp he had to wipe them on his jeans.

“So,” Michaels said, absently peeling the label from his bottle. “Why’d you call an emergency meeting?”

“I didn’t say it was an emergency.”

Ro raised one blond brow. “You said please.”

Hart leaned back, his chair protesting with a loud creak. “You actually called me…no one calls me.”

Furi forced a breath out and took another long sip of his beer.

“I just wanted to see how you guys have been. It’s been a couple months, and with the task force shut down, or paused, audited, whatever-the-hell they’re calling it, I wanted to check in with everyone.”

Ro stared at him.

Michaels’s mouth twitched.

Hart crossed his big arms over his chest. “Bullshit.”

Furi glared at them. “I’m serious.”

“You’re stalling,” Hart rumbled.

“I can care about how you’ve been.”

“You can,” Michaels agreed. “But I know you didn’t call us here for a wellness check. But I’ll humor you anyway. I’ve been chillin’. I’m learning tai chi because my man thinks its sexy. I’ve gotten into birdwatching, which is a lot more interesting than it sounds. A couple weeks ago I tried goat yoga…I don’t recommend it. I jog about six miles every day. And I’m finally golfing a single-digit handicap.”

Ro laughed. “Single-digit my ass.”

“Noted. Don’t do goat yoga.” Furi tipped his head at Ro. “And how have you been?”

Ro laughed under his breath. “I’ve been bored and missing my team. But over this break, I’ve realized that I’m not getting any younger, and kicking in doors, hopping six-foot fences, and jumping outta two-story windows is for rookies with good knees. I’m thinking of using my impressive skills elsewhere now.”

“So you gonna take me and Judge up on our offer?” Micheals sat up taller, a wide smile splitting his handsome face.

Ro nodded once. “If the task force is over…then yeah. I think we’ll make damn good private investigators.”

“Fuck yeah we will!” Micheals jabbed Ro in his chest.

“Wow,” Furi said. “That sounds great. Looks like everyone has a plan.”

Except his Syn.

“What about you, Hart?” Furi asked.

“SWAT still exists, Styles.” Hart grunted. “I’ve been working.”

“Right.”

Everyone went quiet as Furi struggled to make eye contact.

“This is about the new video you made for Illustra, isn’t it?” Micheals blurted.

Furi choked on his own saliva.

Hart turned his head and spat his mouthful of beer onto the floor.