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“Yeah, fine. Get them situated and park yourselves in my office in two minutes or less.”
“Yes, sir.”
Noah cupped Violet’s elbow and guided her toward the empty office with Seth and Teagan a few steps behind. As they passed various desks with detectives watching their progress, the ugly whispers reached Seth’s ears. Muttered curses and vitriol became more vicious as they passed the detectives who Seth would have said were good friends 48 hours earlier. Now, he hated to have his back to these fine men and women.
Once inside the office, Seth shut the door and glanced at his partner. Noah’s expression was as grim as Seth suspected his own expression was. This wasn’t good.
He turned to Teagan and cupped her cheeks, well aware of the audience staring at them through the windows. “Do not leave this office for any reason, sweetheart. I wish I could say you’re absolutely safe in here. Now, I don’t know.”
She leaned into his palm. “We’ll be fine. We can take care of ourselves. Finish this step so we can go on with the next phase of this mission.” Teagan smiled. “After that, we’ll try dating like normal people.”
That brought a chuckle, and still he hesitated. Seth didn’t feel right leaving her and Violet in this office without him or Noah.
“Go,” she murmured. “Clock’s ticking.”
Right. “Watch your backs. If you need us, sing out.” He bent his head and brushed her mouth with his before grasping the knob and stepping outside the office with Noah on his heels.
The noise level dropped to nothing again as they approached Burnett’s office.
“Traitors,” someone muttered.
Seth stopped and scanned the room. No one would meet his gaze. An elbow nudge from Noah got Seth moving again. Noneed to let their coworkers see how much this was getting to him. They had a role to play. Time to get on with the mission.
He knocked hard on the LT’s door and opened it without waiting for an invitation to enter.
“Forgot your manners, Dixon?” Burnett snapped.
“Reporting as ordered, sir,” he retorted, contempt in his voice. Man, he hated to disrespect his commander.
“Get inside and shut the door unless you want the whole bullpen hearing our conversation.”
Noah followed him into the office and slammed the door shut behind him.
Playing his role for the avid audience staring at them from the bullpen, Burnett glared at Seth and his partner. His words were spoken for their ears only. “Give the ladies my apologies for their reception. By the time I arrived for my shift, the entire squad was in an uproar about you two. More than one of them demanded I fire you on the spot.”
Seth snorted. “Nice to know they have our backs.”
“As you can tell, the Fortress tech crew did their jobs well.”
“I know, sir.” Seth grimaced. “My parents and brothers started messaging me around one this morning. My brothers are threatening to come to Ardmore to have a heart-to-heart talk.” Except knowing his brothers, talking wasn’t on the agenda.
“Maddox is efficient. I’ll give him that.” Burnett motioned for them to take the seats in front of his desk, dropped into his own chair, and flipped open a file folder filled with information about Noah. “Mann, you still want in on this op?”
“Yes, sir. No way I’m letting my partner do this alone.”
“Last chance to back out, son.”
“Pass. I’m not letting Seth, his girlfriend, or Violet go into this situation without me.”
“Understood. You have my thanks and that of the FBI, Noah. We’ll do our best to reverse the damage once this is finished.”
He grimaced. “I understand, sir.”
Burnett twisted the file and shoved it across his desk. He jabbed a finger at something on the page. “Is the rest of your team prepared?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Here we go, son. Just know I understand that none of this is true. No matter what happens, I’ve got your back.”