Page 99 of Unseen Danger

“You know, I wouldn’t be talking to you if you hadn’t done what you did.” Jill Jacquet leaned forward from the sofa to lift her wine glass off the marble coffee table in front of her. The bent-over position let her surgically enhanced assets hang mostly uncovered, barely tucked into a lowcut top that was cropped and tied in a knot above her belly button.

Nevaeh glanced at Branson, sitting in a large striped armchair, to see if he was drooling yet.

The man opened the small notepad he’d brought for the interview and jotted something with a pen, as if D-Chop’s soon-to-be ex-wife had said something significant.

Was he trying to avoid looking? That would be unusual for a guy.

“I suppose I should thank you.” Jill stared at Nevaeh over the rim of her glass as she leaned back.

“You don’t have to.”

The woman pursed lips she must’ve covered with an inch of lipstick. “Don’t get me wrong. I’m grateful you protected my kids. And I’m sorry you were kidnapped.” She paused like she wanted a response.

Nevaeh gave her a nod.

“But D-Chop is bad news. I knew my kids weren’t safe with him. That’s why I want custody.”

“Has anyone been watching your children, or has anything unusual happened around them when they’ve been with you?”

Jill shifted her dark gaze to Branson, lifting her sculpted eyebrows with the haughtiness of royalty. “Certainly not. They’re perfectly safe with me.”

“I understand.” Branson wrote something else in his notepad. He was really taking this detective role seriously. “Do you have any idea who might have wanted to kidnap your children?”

“Why should I know something like that?” Offense lifted the pitch of Jill’s voice.

Alvarez stood from where he’d been lying by Nevaeh’s feet in front of the sofa she occupied facing Jill. Nevaeh stroked his head to calm him.

She could tell Jill had evil intent almost as easily as the K-9 could in this case. But was that evil aimed at D-Chop, her children, or everyone who didn’t prioritize Jill Jacquet above all else? The woman acted more like a spoiled brat than an adult with a billion-dollar fortune.

Even so, if they were going to get anything useful out of this interview, they’d have to get on Jill’s good side. Nevaeh forced a smile. “I know most people adore you.” Out the corner of her eye, she saw Branson throw her a look. But she kept her focus on the privileged woman in front of her. “I mean, why wouldn’t they?”

A self-satisfied smile cut into the stretched olive-toned skin that had seen too many plastic surgeries. “Exactly. I don’t know anyone who’d want to hurt me or my kids.”

“Jealousy is a powerful motivator.”

Jill’s smile faded, but she held Nevaeh’s gaze without irritation.

“You know tons of women are jealous of you. Your beauty. The life you lead. Maybe one of them would want to target you or your kids?”

Jill’s lips pressed together. “It’s true. Every woman wants to be me.”

Not every woman, honey. Nevaeh kept the smile plastered on her face as she forced down the retort she wanted to launch.

Jill sighed dramatically. “And I suppose some of them are jealous because they can’t be me. But harming me? I don’t know about that.”

“We believe ransom was probably the goal in the attempted kidnapping.” Branson glanced at Nevaeh before returning his attention to Jill. “Could be someone who simply wants money.”

A sultry laugh came from deep in Jill’s throat. “Oh, baby. Doesn’t everybody?” Her gaze skated over Branson’s muscled physique. “Although there are other things in life just as enjoyable.”

Nevaeh stifled an eye roll. Was there anything this woman didn’t get that she wanted?

Branson met Jill’s gaze. “Like motherhood?”

A snicker bubbled up Nevaeh’s throat, and she tried to choke it back. Which turned it into a cough instead.

“You okay?” Branson leaned toward her.

But she spotted the twinkle in his blue eyes. He knew exactly what he’d done.

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