Page 7 of Unseen Danger

Jazz laughed. “Fine.” She let out a dramatic sigh. “I’ll just have to talk to him. And you can eat your heart out from the sidelines.”

They veered across the hall to the backstage door as Nevaeh snorted. “No clue what you’re talking about. He wasn’t even hot.”

Jazz arched an eyebrow as she reached for the door handle. “Somebody wasn’t looking.”

That was an understatement. All she’d seen was a hulk appear behind her, all muscles, massive shoulders, and broad chest. The power to—

“There’s Sofia.” Jazz’s voice stopped Nevaeh’s dangerous mental spiral. “Why don’t you find where she wants us posted, and I’ll go talk to the guy who apparently blinded you with his good looks.”

More like his potential to be as dangerous as the man in her nightmares. But Nevaeh rewarded Jazz’s attempt to distract her with a smile. “Maybe you can get his number.”

“I’ll do that.” The redhead’s musical laugh trailed behind her as she and Flash disappeared around the partition that blocked the stage entrance from view.

“Get burned?” Sofia’s voice, suddenly behind Nevaeh, would’ve startled her. But four and a half years at the Phoenix K-9 Agency had gotten her used to the boss, who could appear from nowhere even more quietly than Sofia.

Nevaeh turned toward the petite woman, her waves of black hair disappearing in shadows on her shoulders.

Raksa, her German shepherd protection K-9, swished his tail at Alvarez.

“A little.” Now that the adrenaline and fear were fading from Nevaeh’s system, the pain in her left hand finally registered. She lifted it to look at the palm. “Some of the flames tried to sneak out when I was smothering them.” The extent of the damage was hard to assess in the dim lighting.

“You should treat that.”

“Looks like first-degree. I’ll be fine.”

“You’re the expert. You’re also an instant legend from the stories I’m hearing.” Sof’s white teeth sparkled in the darkness as she smiled. A new smile Nevaeh was still getting used to.

It was still big, but not as frequent and quick as the smile Sofia used to flash when she went by Amalia Pérez. Truthfully, it seemed like she meant it more now. Like there was more…warmth to it. Which was a strange word to use for Sofia. She’d never been anything close to warm. Awesome and fun, but not warm.

Going through an identity change, getting married, and adopting a kid all in the span of a few months was bound to have some kind of effect. Nevaeh had only just started to adjust to Amalia’s new name, Sofia Gomez, when the woman married Michael and changed her last name to Barrett.

“A legend, huh?”

“Yeah. Superwoman. You apparently leaped on the burning man in a single bound and put out the flames with your red cape.”

Nevaeh laughed. “Some superheroes don’t like capes, but I always knew mine would come in handy.”

“Obviously.”

“Don’t worry. I won’t do anything heroic enough to threaten your superspy status.”

The former CIA agent’s dark eyes twinkled. “I’m too busy being a mom these days to engage in any such behavior.”

“It is so weird to hear those words come out of your mouth. ‘Mom?’”

“I know, isn’t it?” Sof shook her head with a grin. “Okay. Back to work. You take the stage. I’ll cover back here. Tell Jazz to patrol the backstage hallways.”

The stage was where the Hulk still was. “Care if I swap with Jazz?”

“Any special reason?” The look Sof gave her was too suspicious. Did she know?

“Never mind. Stage is fine.” Nevaeh swung away. “Come on, Al.” She and Alvarez headed in the direction of the stage with a confident stride she hoped Sof would buy.

And she should be confident. Jazz was right. With everything Phoenix had taught her, Nevaeh was a whole new woman. She knew how to handle herself. She could take out any guy she needed to.

She rounded the barrier and walked out on stage.

Her gaze found Jazz. Standing behind the man with the bodybuilder physique that undid any benefit from her pep talk in two seconds flat.

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