Page 125 of Unseen Danger
She pulled out her Sig.
“No.” He put his hand on her wrist. “You can’t. You could get hurt. I’ll go.”
“You could get hurt, too.” Her mouth quirked. “It’s what we do, right?” How could she make light of a moment like this?
Didn’t she know what it would do to him if she got shot? Injured or worse? The air to his lungs stopped somewhere in his chest as his ribs seemed to crunch inward.
He hadn’t known either. Not until this moment—the first time in his life he hadn’t rushed out to stop the bad guy. Because there was something more important. Someone.
Oh, man. He didn’t just care for her. He loved her.
“I’ll take the street. You take the sidewalk?” She already moved toward the front of the car with Alvarez, ducking as she prepared to go around it, to leave their protected spot. She paused and glanced back.
He swallowed. He’d get out in front and entice the shooter to focus on him, not her. He’d keep her safe. He nodded. “On three. One, two…three.”
He dashed into the open.
“Thank the Lord you’re both all right.” Cora’s smile and affection were so comforting, Nevaeh didn’t mind the overdose of Christianese that came with it.
She sat on the truck bed of Branson’s pickup that they’d dropped open.
Alvarez had jumped up beside her and lay with his front legs by her knee, holding his head up as he panted.
The sun had come out, pushing away the clouds that had cloaked everything in an overcast gray before. The warm rays permeated her jacket, chasing away the chill.
Or maybe the cold feeling was leaving now that Branson was safe.
Her gaze found him easily among the cops that questioned him next to the high-rise, probably asking the same questions they’d asked her. He stood head and shoulders above them all, his stance so strong and confident.
But he could’ve been shot.
The knot in her belly twisted, refusing to relax since the first rounds had sounded. She’d grown up hearing gunshots nearly everyday in her neighborhood. They didn’t phase her. But it was different with Branson there.
Her heart cared. Really, really cared.
Jana stepped closer and stretched up to push her muzzle between Nevaeh’s knees. The golden retriever’s senses were nearly as good as Cannenta’s for knowing when comfort was needed.
“Did you tell her?” Phoenix’s deep voice drew Nevaeh’s gaze to see the boss suddenly standing to her right with Dag at her side. Nevaeh had given up a long time ago trying to figure out how Phoenix could appear and disappear so silently.
“I wasn’t sure if this was the best timing.” Lines crossed Cora’s forehead as she looked at Nevaeh. “Are you doing okay?”
“Tell her.” Phoenix seemed a little brisk even for her today. She was usually gentler with Cora.
The blonde looked at the boss before she brought her attention back to Nevaeh. “I dug deeper into Peter and Marsha, and I learned something unexpected.”
“Not about Marsha?” Nevaeh stroked Jana’s soft head. “I can’t see her doing anything to put the kids in danger.”
“No. It’s Peter.”
“The mousey assistant?”
“He has a surprising side to his character.” Cora glanced toward the cops as she moved in closer to Nevaeh. “To begin with, Peter Volrath is not his real name. He’s Peter Ipsen, and he has an assault record.”
Nevaeh stared at Cora. “You’re kidding. That guy?”
“Yes.” Cora nodded, her mouth in a serious line.
“What’d he do, throw his smart tablet at somebody?” Nevaeh let out a laugh.