Read Linda Kay Silva - Delta Stevens 3 - Weathering the Storm for Free Online

physically drained. I woke up in a sweat for a week straight before it was all over. I kept seeing him over and over again. I kept hearing his insane laughter pierce through my sleep. I know how it affected me and I know it touched you as well. Hell, it still does. Give yourself a break. Let someone else take the point for awhile. Let someone else put his ass on the line every night. Take a minute to smell the flowers. You’ve earned it.”
    Releasing Connie’s hand, Delta slowly rose and walked over to the sink. Yes, the Zuckerman caper nearly cost them their lives and the lives of the women they loved. In the same way she had relived it every day since it happened, Delta painfully remembered a little girl’s broken body and saw her cold, dead eyes, staring up at her through the haze of an unwanted memory.
    Affected her? She had been afraid to go to sleep at night for fear of having yet another nightmare. Elson Zuckerman may be dead, but he still haunted the living. He had left his share of scars on her; some were physical, most were emotional, but they were scars she would carry with her for the rest of her life.
    “I’m not sure I even know how to slow down.”
    Connie rose and joined her at the sink. “Hasn’t counseling helped at all?”
    Delta winced. She and Megan went into therapy shortly after the Zuckerman case. She thought they were going in for couples counseling, but when they started to delve into their relationship problems, it became clear that it was Delta’s half of the relationship that needed the work.
    “Slowing down, mellowing, taking a break—no matter what you call it, it amounts to the same thing: I only know how to go full speed.”
    Connie reached up and lightly touched Delta’s cheek. “Right. And those of us who love you just don’t want to see you crash.”
    “You think I will?”
    “I think it’s time you really focus on what you and Meg are trying to do in your sessions and use this opportunity to get a handle on both your relationship and your career. If you’re not careful, Storm, you may lose both. Then where would that full speed get you?”
    Delta nodded. “I hear you.”
    “Do you? Then hear this. I’ve never seen you take an assignment you can’t handle. You can do this, and you know it. You just need to put your heart into it. Whenever you do that, you’re unstoppable.”
    A grin forced its way to Delta’s face. “Flattery isn’t your style.”
    “And quitting before you begin isn’t yours.”
    “Touché.”
    “Wouldn’t it be better than being behind a desk?”
    Delta nodded. Anything was better than pushing paper. “Yeah.”
    “Then give it your best shot. Some rookie is going to be awfully lucky to have the Delta Stevens as his or her teacher.” Delta grinned sheepishly. “Thanks.” Touching Delta’s shoulder, Connie unlocked the door. “Look, I’ve
    got a ton of work to do. Meet me at Harry’s after work? If you’re still in doubt, we can discuss it more then.”
    Delta nodded. “Only if we can agree on one thing.”
    “And that is?”
    “I may slow down, I may even take a breather, but I will never mellow.” Connie turned and hugged Delta tightly. “Good. I’d hate to have to change your nickname to Sprinkles. Somehow, that just doesn’t fit.” Tossing her head back and laughing, Delta nodded. Storm it was, and Storm it would always be.

Chapter 4
     
    Pulling into Harry’s Bar, the newest cop hangout, Delta turned off the truck’s engine and laid her head down on the steering wheel. She knew things would be different when she came back after her suspension, but she never imagined just how different. Driving over to Harry’s, all Delta could think about was working with someone who would ask too many questions, try too hard to impress her, and generally make a nuisance of himself. She couldn’t envision herself explaining to every rookie why the shotgun was always her weapon of choice, why vans were one of her greatest fears, or