Page 43 of Unseen Danger

Nevaeh moistened her lips. Phoenix had told her a lot of stuff about fear during their training. But she could guess what Phoenix meant now. “If I don’t control my fear, it will control me.”

“Your fear is there for a reason. Use it as a tool, and it will serve you well. Let it run wild, and it will destroy you.”

Nevaeh gulped. Was it too late? Had she already let the fear run unchecked too long in the last couple months? She opened her mouth to ask.

“You’re due at Wilton High School for the concert in thirty-five minutes.” Phoenix’s reminder shut Nevaeh’s mouth with a surge of panic—of a different kind this time. Punctuality was one of the boss’s top rules for her team, especially on jobs.

“On my way.”

For once relieved that Phoenix never wasted time or words, Nevaeh locked the door after the boss and rushed past her two dogs to get ready. She’d have to skip the shower she’d planned on taking, but that’s what deodorant was for. Since she didn’t wear makeup on protection jobs anyway, all she needed to do was change, touch up her curls, feed the dogs, and grab her and Al’s gear.

And get a grip on the anxiety that lurked as a subtle churn in her belly, waiting to take control of her at the slightest sign of weakness.

Though if her fear was legit, the fear itself could be the least of her worries.

Thirteen

Security was going to be a challenge. It was admirable and typical for D-Chop that he wanted to support the high school he’d attended, but Wilton High wasn’t set up to host a celebrity of D-Chop’s fame, or one who was being threatened.

Even so, things were starting to look brighter. Branson smiled as he spotted Nevaeh’s familiar abundant curls and red jacket through the glass front entrance. Jazz and a woman he didn’t recognize walked alongside her with their dogs, but his eyes didn’t stray from Nevaeh more than a second.

His heart beat faster as he opened the small gate to bypass the metal detectors and made his way to the double doors. He gave a little wave through the glass as he unbolted one door and swung it open.

“Welcome.” He smiled as he held the door wide. “I feel better already now that you’re here.” He moved his gaze to include all of them, but they exchanged peculiar smiles with each other as they passed through the opening.

Nevaeh scooted through last and moved away quickly—not before he caught her raised eyebrows.

A flush crawled up his neck. Did they think he meant he felt better because Nevaeh was there? It was true, but he hadn’t meant to announce it like that. He rushed to explain. “The security here isn’t great. You and your K-9s will really help.” The clarification sounded weak to his own ears. Moving on. “You must be the bomb detection team.” He switched his gaze to the newcomers, a brunette with a black Labrador on a leash.

The woman gave him a friendly smile and extended her hand. “Bristol Jones. Nevaeh’s conscience.”

Branson paused mid-handshake and sent Nevaeh a curious look.

She rolled her eyes, a good-humored smile shaping her closed lips. “Bris is also one of our resident Bible thumpers. Never leave home without it, do you?”

“Not when I know you’re going to be there.” Bristol grinned. “You need all the help you can get.”

Nevaeh’s dark eyes glimmered with amusement as she chuckled. “Meanwhile, Jazz and I have to put up with impromptu sermons and random Bible quotes at every team meeting.”

“And you wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Nevaeh wrinkled her nose at Bristol. “All families have their weird children. But we love you anyway.”

“Back at you.”

Branson couldn’t help but smile at the friendly banter, especially since it exposed a lighter side to Nevaeh than he’d seen before. It didn’t come as a surprise. Somehow he’d sensed she had a fun sense of humor, maybe from the glimpses of her laughing and chatting with Jazz before she’d get close to him and go quiet.

But two other realizations tampered his enjoyment in seeing Nevaeh’s real personality. Bristol sounded like she was probably a Christian. What a wonder that would be since he’d never encountered fellow Christians in his line of work.

The second reality made it hard to retain his smile. Nevaeh, though clearly teasing, didn’t seem in favor of the Bible or Christian behavior.

That should’ve been the first thing he’d wondered about once he knew he was interested in her. The state of her soul should’ve been his primary concern. Maybe he’d gotten farther away from a Christian mindset than he’d realized. Being immersed in the highly secular celebrity culture for years had taken a toll, in more ways than one, apparently.

“And this guy,” Bristol brought him out of his disturbing thoughts as she glanced down at the black Lab who wagged his tail as he watched Branson, “is my partner, Toby, explosives detection K-9.”

“Glad to meet you both.” He was tempted to pet her friendly dog, but the K-9 handlers he’d known didn’t like that while the dog was working. “Are you the team that cleared the PowerSource Arena before D-Chop’s concert?”

She nodded, her smile shifting to a wry angle. “Don’t hold that against us.”

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