Page 10 of Unseen Danger

Nevaeh handed over the keys, not bothering to deny she was that jumpy right now. Jazz would see through it anyway.

“We didn’t find anything out there. Empty vehicles. Flash didn’t alert at all. Did Alvarez?”

Nevaeh shook her head.

Jazz locked the doors and started the engine. “Do you think someone was there?” She tossed Nevaeh a glance as she drove across the open lot, crisscrossing the painted stall lines and ignoring the arrows.

“Probably my imagination.”

“Or your instincts. They’re good.”

Nevaeh’s mouth tugged into a partial smile. Jazz was always her champion. No matter what. “You saw me tonight. I don’t think my instincts are doing anything right now. It’s all panic and cow—”

“Don’t say that.” Jazz’s eyes flashed. “You are not a coward.”

“Sure. Because every normal person has to hide in a bathroom after some guy gets within six feet.”

Silence hung between them.

But it wouldn’t last long. Not with Jazz.

“You went through something no ‘normal,’” Jazz made bunny ears with the fingers of one hand in the air, “person has experienced. Something that would’ve turned most normal people into vegetables who’d never step foot outside again. You’re the bravest person I know, Nev.”

Jazz turned her head away from the road and looked at Nevaeh long enough for the sincerity in her gaze to spark hot tears in Nevaeh’s eyes.

A lump stuck in her throat, and she swallowed, blinking back the tears so she wouldn’t have to add crybaby to her list of failings for the day.

“You saved a man’s life tonight. Don’t forget that.”

A perfectly timed reminder. Typical from Jazz.

“I mean, come on, girl.” She reached across the console and gave Nevaeh’s shoulder a shove.

A smile found Nevaeh’s face, lifting her heart. “Yeah. I guess there’s that.”

“Yeah.” The emphasis Jazz gave the word that might as well have been duh bubbled a laugh up Nevaeh’s throat.

They laughed together as the tension she’d been holding for hours started to ease.

“Seriously,” Jazz smiled as their amusement wound down. “That was amazing what you did for that guy.”

Nevaeh lifted her shoulders. “I guess once an EMT, always an EMT.” Even if she couldn’t cut it on the job when she’d tried. Though not for lack of knowledge or skill.

Jazz’s eyebrow arched. “Not sure that’s standard EMT training, but I’ll let you retain some humility. Don’t want my BFF getting a big head.”

“Me?” She pretended to fluff the natural coils around her head with her hands. “Never.”

Jazz laughed.

Nevaeh grinned as she looked out the window. But her own reflection in the darkened glass caught her attention instead.

Her smile faded. Like it was a mask she couldn’t keep wearing for long. Without the mask, nothing but fear stared back at her.

“I know it wasn’t the fire that scared you.” Jazz’s voice reached for her, but Nevaeh didn’t turn. “The hulking bodyguard was a trigger, I know. But you haven’t been…yourself for a while now.”

Nevaeh stared at the lights outside the window. The gas station they passed. Street lamps.

“August twenty-ninth.”

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