The fact that he let me go without questioning where I was going or why I’d stopped by haunted me the entire drive to the precinct.
I walked across the lacquered floor with my head held high and my eyes locked on Captain Delaney’s open door.
The brass nameplate never looked so intimidating.
“Hey,Detective.” Detective Pierce catcalled me from his desk in the corner. “That was quite an earful the other night.”
Quincy, another detective who’d shown nothing but derision for me since my arrival, sniffed hard. “Those idiots must be on drugs. No way they’d be into all that.” He motioned toward me with a sneer.
My eyes burned and my hands tried to curl into fists.
I forced levity into my strides and controlled my expression.
If I said anything in response to their taunts, they’d call me emotional and say I had no business working as a detective if I couldn’t control myself.
Nothing I said or did mattered.
Unlike when I spent time with the Steel Vipers.
The contrast was startling, and I hated that the people I worked with were the exact type of men who gave all men a bad name.
Meanwhile, Rafe, Ash, and Bishop treated me with respect.
What had my life come to that I would rather spend time with a motorcycle gang than my own colleagues?
For all their rough edges and lawless appearances, the club had done more to help the community than anyone in this room.
Including me.
I’d allowed my stereotypical view of the world to color my beliefs.
Well, the rose-colored glasses were well and truly off.
Three more detectives chimed in, groaning and rocking their hips toward me.
As if I wouldevergive them a chance to touch me.
I strode into the captain’s office and stood with my hands clasped loosely in front of me.
I still wore my jeans, boots, and sweater, but I’d thrown a long brown trench coat over the ensemble to give a modicum of respect to my superior.
Whether he deserved it or not.
“Noelle.” Captain Delaney barely looked up from the file on his desk. “Close the door.”
“Yes, sir.” I did as he ordered and continued to wait.
When he looked up, he stared past me, locking his gaze on something over my head.
Great, he couldn’t even look me in the face. “I’ve had some troubling reports about your conduct.”
He cleared his throat. “While it is imperative to maintain your cover during this operation, there is no excuse for missing your meetings.”
“Actually, leaving for my meeting would have blown my cover.” I remained standing and stared directly at the man I’d once respected.
“How?” He laced his fingers and set his hands on top of the file. “What in the seven hells could have kept you from passing off information to your contact?”
“The storm.” I locked my shoulders to keep from shrugging.
