Page 12 of White Raven (Nevermore Duet #2)

“I hope I didn’t make you uncomfortable, detective.

That wasn’t my intention. I’m just trying to make friends.

” Sykes poked a painted lip out, and that urge to bust it nearly made Rhaena’s knuckles crack.

Foley looked curiously between them all, finally singling Rhaena out with a pointed stare of disappointment.

Athan shoved his fingers in the open handles on each side of the cardboard box and lifted it to his middle.

“I’m sure you and Northwood will get along just fine. I don’t need any friends. No offense.”

That woman looked wholly unaffected by his dig. Must be nice to have that kind of confidence about yourself. Sykes shrugged and smiled it off. “Understood. Have a nice, relaxing vacation, Detective Kane. I’ll keep your space tidy.”

Kane’s eyes were a combination of apologetic and amused when he met Rhaena’s hard stare. “See you in the trenches, partner.” He slid past them and spun his keys as he made his way towards the elevator. Foley’s eyes followed him the entire way.

“Don’t take it personal, detective. He’s like that with everyone.” The captain shook his head. “Least you caught him on a good day.”

“Oh, it doesn’t bother me. I bet he’s lots of fun on the bad ones, yeah?” She grinned and stepped over to Athan’s desk, making herself right at home. It did something to Rhaena.

“Cap, could we talk in your office for a moment?” Rhaena asked, nodding towards his door. He glanced at Sykes, and then back at her before gesturing towards his office and following behind her as she entered and shut the door.

“Would it kill you to be nice to other females, Gloves?” he chuckled, taking a seat at his desk.

“I don’t wanna work with her, Malcolm.” Rhaena folded her arms over her chest and pursed her lips.

“Why? You don’t even know her. And before you try to use the senses we both know you have, just remember I have them too. She smells just fine to me.”

Rhaena peeked through the blinds at the tart sitting at Athan’s desk. “Yeah, I’m sure somebody that looks like that smells delicious to just about every man in this office.”

Foley scoffed, shaking his head and laughing under his breath.

“That’s not why I gave her the job. I’m sure you never would have guessed you’d become so close to St. James and Vintorri, either.

But one of them practically lived with you throughout that whole case. Can’t you just give her a fair shot?”

“Must we?” Rhaena tapped her foot on the floor. “I don’t want strangers all in our business.”

“She might be a stranger, but she’s got some pretty bright recommendations from her precinct.

She’s smart, and apparently gets along great with others.

She’s also not afraid to get her hands dirty according to her previous captain.

Her transcripts are impressive, and she’s got a wall full of degrees back home.

She’s well on her way to becoming a high-ranking agent.

I thought for sure you’d be excited to work with a woman around your age that seems just as tough as you are. ”

“I’m sure she does get along well with others,” Rhaena rolled her eyes. “And what the hell makes you think she’s tough?”

“Well, she handled you and Kane with enough grace to grow a pair of angel wings. That’s saying something, at least. So, she’s friendly.” He shrugged. “So what? Is that such a bad thing? I like the idea of at least one person walking around here with a good attitude towards things.”

Rhaena slowly shook her head, not balking from Foley’s stare. “You’re not gonna assign someone else, are you?” She knew the answer to that question before she asked.

“Afraid not, detective. Personal or not, this case you’re on is still your job. Let some more hands in the pot. She might surprise you.”

“And the other case? ”

The lines in his forehead smoothed out. He knew exactly what she meant. “That’s different.”

“Is it?” Rhaena asked, stepping closer to his desk and dropping a hand to her hip. “So ‘ brown-noser’ isn’t allowed to sniff around our side project, but Athan and Sarah’s case is fine?”

“Touche, Rhaena.” Any amusement he was getting out of this was long gone.

Maybe she was getting a little too comfortable with her captain.

He was still her boss. One would argue that knowing what she did was growing her a set of nuts.

“She doesn’t need to know about us for obvious reasons.

You and Kane kept that shit from me and everyone else for years.

Hell, the public doesn’t even know that beings like me and you even exist. If the two of you were able to hide it for that long, then I’m sure you’ll have no problem doing it with her.

My decision’s been made. Unless you give me a better reason than you ‘just don’t like her’, then she’s your partner for the next month. Are we clear?”

Rhaena ground her teeth. “Yes, sir.” She turned to walk out the door and paused when he called her out.

“Northwood,” he started. Her hand stilled on the handle. “You will give her a fair chance. You were the new girl once.”

She was, and he was right. About the only one who really spoke to her when she first came to the 12th was her captain.

Athan was standoffish enough on his own, but he warmed up as much as his character allowed over time.

The rest of her peers often sized her up to no better than a rookie, and a woman—which, in their eyes, made her less.

She said nothing as she swung the door open and stormed out without giving him another look.

This was necessary. She kept reminding herself of that as she fluttered a booted heel over her knee and stared at the streaks of the white board that her new ‘partner’ had quickly wiped down upon her introduction.

Northwood didn’t like her. She sensed that pretty quickly when she shook her hand.

That’s fine. She wasn’t really here for her anyway, but it sucked that the woman she’d be stuck with while keeping eyes on Sarah St. James was going to prove to be a steady pain in her ass.

It would have at least been nice to have someone pleasant to be tied up with while she was here.

Rhaena Northwood wasn’t bad on the eyes either.

It would have been even better to have someone interested in other fun activities that didn’t involve the reason she was in Boston.

Sadly, Athan Kane hadn’t seemed particularly interested either—but she already knew why.

That night she’d stood across the street watching them fuck without shame in that apartment above the art gallery, she’d promptly delivered John’s message and recalled every scrap of bare skin while she pleasured herself in her hotel room.

They were enticingly beautiful together.

She would have loved to squeeze in the middle for a bite of their dinner.

Her master wouldn’t have approved of her having a taste of his daughter.

Maybe she’d keep that little attraction to herself.

It didn’t take much compulsion to fabricate a wealth of false history or achievements to deliver to the captain of the 12th precinct, winning her this glowing spot in the middle of the little posse of misfits.

Ryan wondered how long she’d be able to hide the fact that she also knew exactly who—and what—the saucy detective and her captain were.

Enter casing point. Northwood practically stomped back to her desk and plopped down in her seat, spinning with vigor towards her computer screen. It was hard to keep the smile from creeping across her face.

“You don’t care much for me do you, detective?” Ryan asked, adjusting her back in the unusually squeaky chair. Her new partner’s face twisted with irritation at the sound.

“I don’t know you,” Northwood answered, not bothering to look at her while she spoke. “I can’t really say that I don’t like someone I don’t know anything about other than the fact that you’re from Seattle, and the last person that came here from Seattle was a thorn in my side.”

“I’ve heard Foster was kind of a bitch,” Ryan snorted. “But you have to admit, she’s a determined little twat. And while her work ethic might suck, she does tend to get shit done. I admire that.”

Rhaena looked at her then. She could have sworn a slight curl turned the corner of her mouth up, but it was gone in a second. “Twat is a fitting way to describe her.”

“You know…I’ve never had a partner before. This is new for me too. What can I do to put you at ease, detective? Do you drink? Smoke? Frequent any night clubs? We could go do something fun. Get to know each other better?”

“I generally don’t go out like that. I’ve been known to have a beer or two occasionally, but I’m more of a homebody. Especially now that I’m dating someone.”

Ryan’s brows perked up. “Yeah? Guy or girl?” One would have thought she’d asked where Rhaena Northwood kept her sex toys with the look she gave her then.

“I’m—I’m not…”

“Gay?” Ryan laughed, leaning forward. “I’m not either. Actually, I don’t have much of a preference. I enjoy both.”

Rhaena cleared her throat. “I see. I prefer not to complicate myself that much. I find I don’t really have the mental capacity to handle the opposite sex as it is, let alone the idea of spreading that out. I’m not really much of a people person, honestly.”

“I don’t think that’s true.” Ryan picked at her nails. “Your partner certainly seems close to you.” She could tell that recognition made the detective uncomfortable.

“That’s complicated too.” Her shoulders tensed when she reached for a tumbler and sipped out of the straw. “And before you ask, no…we won’t be talking about it.”

“You used to date?” Ryan smiled.

“No. And what part of ‘we’re not talking about it’ was confusing?”

Damn she was a tough one. It was gonna take a lot to peel the layers back. But Ryan found herself intrigued enough to dip her toes in, nonetheless. “Apologies. I’m just trying to get to know you.”