Page 56 of Lethal Danger

“You sure?” Nev grinned.

Jazz stuck out her tongue.

Nev laughed. “Good. ’Cause the boss ain’t gonna do that.” Nev took another drink of her coffee and lowered the mug to the table, her mouth pressing into a more serious line. “But she can save your life. She take care of her own. The whole PK-9 family.”

The PK-9 family. Another family Jazz wasn’t a part of. Same with her biological family, the Army family she was supposed to be able to join, and now the Phoenix K-9 family. There really must be something wrong with her. Or maybe it was a jinx, a curse.

“You’ll see when Phoenix gets back. She’ll take care of this for you. Make sure you safe.”

Like she’d done for Nevaeh? Jazz bit back the sarcastic retort. Though she didn’t understand how Nev and the other girls at PK-9 could still act like Phoenix was so perfect at saving everyone when she’d failed to keep Nev from getting kidnapped by the same man who’d assaulted her years before.

Nev had almost been killed, even though Phoenix had known she was in danger and was supposedly taking care of it.

Jazz had been in security long enough to know that no one could prevent every attack or foresee every possibility. Phoenix was human just like everyone else, and Jazz didn’t blame her for that. But she didn’t get why the PK-9 agents still acted like their boss was superhuman and could fix everything when she’d nearly let Nev die.

“You don’t think she’ll help you.” Nev delivered the words as a statement, not a question.

Jazz stared at the dark liquid in her mug and shrugged. “Doesn’t matter. I’m cool on my own.” A touch on her hand made her look up.

Nev covered Jazz’s hand with her own. “I still got your back, girl.”

Jazz dug out a smile. “I know.” She turned her hand up to squeeze Nev’s.

“And that’s why I’m gonna look into this Hawthorne Emerson dude. I know you like him.”

Jazz pulled her hand away and wrinkled her nose at Nev, not bothering to deny it.

“You even know how long he’s here for?”

Jazz frowned. “No.” He’d said he was at the fair for research. Did that mean he’d move on right after the fair ended in only nine days?

“He’s probably taking off as soon as the fair is done.” Nev’s echo of her thoughts didn’t help soothe the disappointment pooling in Jazz’s chest.

“So? We could have a good time before he leaves.” A great time, judging from how well they’d clicked tonight at Just Climb It.

Nev’s eyebrows lifted. “That what you want? A fling?”

“Be better than anything I’ve had for a long time.” But the pinch in Jazz’s heart contradicted her words. Because it would end the same way as most things in her life. With rejection. Getting left behind.

“How do you know he isn’t tied in with these three attacks on you?” Nev leveled a stare at Jazz.

“Only two attacks. One punctured tire.”

Nev tilted her head to the side with an exasperated expression that said Jazz should knock it off and answer the question.

“Because I trust him. He’s a good guy. Very gentlemanly and…”

“Hot? Fun? Oh, and hot?” Nev ticked off the qualities on her fingers.

Jazz laughed and stood, reaching to shove Nev’s shoulder. “Yes. And he wants to put me in a novel.”

“Ooh, that gotta mean he solid.”

“I’m going to bed.”

“Running away, you mean.” Nev chuckled behind Jazz’s retreating back.

“’Night.” Jazz didn’t look back as Flash caught up with her in the hallway.

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