Page 81 of Redemption

Ignoring it, he starts his computer and enters his password. Mrs.AshleyTate1002*$

The screen displays an error, but he just closes it without reading. “Damn password security requirements,” he mutters.

For security purposes, they have to change their passwords every six weeks, and his must’ve expired while he was out on leave.

“Grayson,” Travis says and stops at his desk as he walks by. His boss looks startled by his presence and glances around. “You’re here.”

“Didn’t you get the note from my doctor? I’m not going to be running down any drug rings anytime soon, but I’m able to be on desk duty. And considering how much everyone around here hates paperwork, I figure I can be helpful.”

He stares at him with his brows drawn so close together it looks like one unibrow. “I thought Julian called you.”

Pulling out his phone, he looks through his call log. “No, I don’t see anything. Is something wrong?”

“Let’s go talk with the Chief.”

He realizes how silent the room got, and everyone avoids making eye contact. Something is clearly wrong, but he can’t figure out what. Are they worried he won’t want to only do paperwork? They should know him better than to assume he believes anything falls beneath him. Even though he’s the most tenured officer on the force below Travis, he’s never tried to pass off his duties to someone newer. He carries his own weight, and he thought people respected that.

“Chief,” Travis says and leads Grayson into the large office, shutting the door behind them.

Julian turns around, jumps slightly, and sighs. “Tate, I didn’t know you were coming back today.”

“Didn’t you get my paperwork? I was cleared to ride the desk. I can call and get it sent over again.” He reaches for his phone, but the man reaches and places a surprisingly dainty hand on the desk to stop him. How has he never noticed the feminine hands the Chief of Police has?

“No, we got it. I just didn’t expect you.”

“I don’t understand.”

Leaning back, he looks to Travis, who avoids eye contact with either man and looks anywhere else. “The shooting has brought up some concerns.”

“Concerns?”

“About the safety of the department.”

That’s what everyone seems concerned about? “Guys, I wasn’t the target.”

“Tate-”

“It wasn’t intentional. The person who did this didn’t even know I was a cop. I was out of uniform, and I’ve never seen them before. They also had no idea where I’d be when it happened, so it-”

“It’s not that,” Travis interrupts him.

He looks between the men. “Then what is it?”

“It’s your affiliation with the club,” Julian says.

The way he says it instantly pisses Grayson off. “Myaffiliation?”

“You’re sleeping with a daughter of an Original Ten.”

The fact everyone talks like he’s simply bedding someone rather than building a future makes him want to punch both of them in the face. “That’s not how it is.”

“It might be more beneficial if it was,” Travis mutters.

“You’re in a relationship with someone who has close ties to the club. You have to understand how this affects everyone,” Julian says. He shakes his head and shrugs as he leans back like Grayson’s the ridiculous one in this situation.

“Wait, this is about my relationship, not the fact I was shot?”

Travis leans against the wall and tilts his head to the side. “They’re related.”

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