I took another drink and crossed my ankles.
I hadn’t bothered with my uniform but strolled in wearing one of my favorite pairs of Christmas leggings with a green sweater dress over them.
“I’ve been following a few leads. Tracking down potential witnesses.” I spoke the jargon, twisting it to fit my narrative without lying. “There?—”
He cut me off with a growl. “Leads? Do you even realize how little you’ve uncovered? You’ve wasted time. I’ve received word that the Steel Vipers will be moving a large shipment on Christmas Eve.”
“What kind of shipment? Where did you hear this?” As my captain, he should be forthcoming with his information.
How could I succeed if he withheld pertinent information?
Maybe that was the point.
I’d suspected they all wanted me to fail.
The fact that I hadn’t faced any scrutiny or catcalls this time wasn’t a show of respect.
It happened because there was no one around.
Captain Delaney slammed a folder down on the desk with enough force to send papers flying off to the side.
“What does it matter?” He finally looked at me, and hatred filled his eyes. “Could be drugs. Weapons. Possibly human trafficking. Could be all of it. Who knows with these motherfuckers. I don’t know, and I don’t care. What I do know is that I want it stopped.”
He stood. “You find the shipment, and you make an arrest on Christmas Eve. I want this bullshit wrapped up.”
The coffee I’d drank soured in my stomach.
I’d never seen him this angry.
Even when I lambasted him for the treatment I’d received, he hadn’t cared this much.
“On Christmas Eve?” I hadn’t meant to question him, but how could I not?
I mean, Christmas Eve was one of the major days for the Vipers.
His eyes narrowed. “Do you have a problem with that,Detective?”
The title startled me into motion.
I stood, sloshing coffee over the rim of my cup and across my hand.
It was lukewarm so it didn’t hurt. “Sir, I’m not sure your information is correct.”
Their faces flashed through my mind.
Rafe. Bishop. Ash.
Smiles and laughter.
Teasing caresses that led to passionate nights.
“I know for a fact that the Vipers have plans on Christmas Eve, and it has nothing to do with a drug deal.”
“Oh, really? So you’re saying that the intel you’ve received from the men you’re sleeping with is superior to what I’ve receivedfrom a respected member of the community? A report that clearly states the Vipers are moving a large shipment of illegal goods from a warehouse on Eighth Street. You’re saying the men fucking you wouldn’tlieto you? They’re bikers, Noelle. Jesus.”
He spat the last word and slammed both hands onto the desk. “I knew this was a bad idea from the beginning. You’re too weak for this. No woman should be out there doing this job. You’re compromised, and you can’t even see it.”
Compromised.
