Thick muscles covered Bishop’s chest and torso.
Ash wore a flirty smile, and Rafe… well, Rafe looked like the kind of man no one would ever want to meet in a dark alley.
“They’re a local motorcycle gang based near Grand Rapids. I want you to infiltrate the gang, find information to take them down. They’re hosting a Christmas party at their club tonight. I want you there.” Captain Delaney leaned forward.
Any hint of softness he might have shown his other detectives turned into hard lines and cold glares as he swept a glance down my body.
“I’ve sent in several others before you. All men. No one has made it longer than an hour. Consider this your trial by fire. Get what I need and you’ll be considered part of the team.”
Like all my years of work meant nothing.
I wanted to be grateful for the opportunity, and I was, but knowing he’d sent so many ahead of me meant my chances were next to zilch.
Except I was a woman.
“What exactly are the parameters of my mission?” My mouth went dry as my gaze fell once more to the folder in my lap.
“Information on smuggling and any nefarious and illegal actions taken by the Steel Vipers.” His eyes hardened to dark chips of unforgiving ice. “By any means necessary.”
Holy shit.
My breath shuddered when I tried to inhale. “Yes, sir.”
“You’ll be wearing a wire at all times. Tonight is your one chance to find an in with the gang. Snoop around while you’re in the clubhouse. It’s unlikely you’ll get any further than that, but your femininity might finally work in your favor.”
Heat gathered in my cheeks in a furious flush.
“Yes, sir.” I stood and held out my hand. “Thank you for the opportunity.”
His firm handshake should have been encouraging, but it only drove the wedge of doubt deeper.
No one here believed in me.
I finished out my workday the same as I would any other day, spending the entire day at my desk enduring the chattering laughter of grown men making asinine remarks about me like we were in junior high.
I hated that it bothered me.
Hated them for making my weight and femininity an issue.
I could outshoot half of them at the firing range and out-fight the other half in self-defense.
Did any of that matter?
Not a bit.
Did any of them care that I’d wanted to be a detective since I was old enough to say the word?
Of course not.
By the time I left the station and changed into a red dress and heels to complement my red curls and the Christmas vibe I loved so much, I’d almost talked myself into believing I had a chance at pulling this off.
I pulled into the gravel parking lot in front of the Steel Vipers’ bar and club and took several deep breaths that did nothing to ease the savage pulse pounding through my ribs.
My entire body vibrated, and not from the blaring music.
The bar looked like any other from the outside.
Even the line of motorcycles parked out front made it look normal.
