Page 135 of Unseen Danger

Cora’s dad went to the empty seat in the front row. At least he’d shown up for the big day. She and Sof had predicted he wouldn’t make it, given how absent he’d been during Cora’s life. Her brother, Bradley, was there, too, sitting next to their dad.

Nevaeh’s gaze skirted past him to search the other people in the full pews. She’d tried to spot Branson on her walk up the aisle but hadn’t been able to. Surprising, given he’d be head and shoulders above everyone else.

There. He sat about four rows back toward the outer wall, which explained why she hadn’t been able to see him past all the people filling the row. But even from this distance, she could see he was watching her. Could feel the warmth of his attention. It drew her to him, tempting her to go down there and sit with him. Especially since he looked drop-dead gorgeous in the navy blue tuxedo that intensified his eyes even from this distance.

Then he smiled. That warm, gentle smile.

And suddenly an image of him at the front of the church, watching and waiting for her to come to him, burst to life in front of her eyes.

Her heart surged in her chest.

Is that what she wanted? Marriage to Branson?

Thanks to him, she’d felt freer and happier these last few days than she had in the last six years. She hadn’t even needed to bring Cannenta with her to the wedding. Cora had said she could if she needed Cannenta’s support, though the formal wedding and reception venues wouldn’t allow the other K-9s to come.

The potentially crowded spaces around men she didn’t know would’ve normally made her nervous. But knowing Branson was going to be at the wedding with her had been all the comfort she needed. And she had a feeling he could be exactly what she needed for the rest of her life.

“That boy won’t have you if you ain’t right with God.” Pops’ words rang in her ears, deflating the confidence that had felt so solid a second before.

Was he right? As soon as they’d moved her sister’s stuff to the new apartment, Nevaeh had to dash to get to the wedding in time for all the preparations. She hadn’t had a moment to talk to Branson about what her grandpa had said. Not that she wanted to. They seemed to be moving along just fine without that complication.

She’d hang on to what they had and trust Branson. He wouldn’t string her along, wouldn’t play with her feelings like some guys. She was as sure of that as she was that she could trust him to keep her safe. Now, and hopefully for a very long time into the future.

Her gaze sought his again.

He still watched her as she’d hoped. But his mouth formed a straight line, pinched at the corners. And his eyes held an expression she didn’t know how to interpret from this distance. One that didn’t look good.

His lips abruptly relaxed and slid into a smile. Probably because he’d seen her watching him. But it was too late.

Doubt stirred in her belly. She switched her attention to the bride and groom and tried to listen to their vows.

She’d be able to talk to Branson soon at the reception. But her nerves didn’t seem to find that thought comforting. Maybe because they knew she wouldn’t like what he had to say.

It was almost over. Regret lodged in Branson’s chest as Cora’s father stepped away from the microphone where he’d just told everyone they would soon gather in the lobby to send off the happy couple on their honeymoon to Europe.

It was too soon. Not to send off the couple he barely knew, but much too soon to say goodbye to Nevaeh.

He looked at her, sitting in the chair to his left. She leaned away, talking to Jazz on her other side. Laughing and happy.

She took his breath away. Every time he looked at her in the blue dress that perfectly draped over her curves, emphasizing her femininity with grace and elegance. When she’d walked up the aisle and stood up front during the ceremony, his mind had easily taken leaps it shouldn’t have. He’d pictured her in a white dress instead, standing there with him. As his bride.

But he had no right to picture anything of the kind. She wasn’t his bride and never could be unless things changed in a big way.

Not likely, given that this may be the last time he’d see her. The painful thought stuck in his throat. He hadn’t even had a chance to tell her about Jesus yet. To point her to her Savior.

But he’d run out of excuses and time to be around her. His idea to ask D-Chop to keep her on for security wouldn’t work. When Branson had stopped at the house before the wedding to change and make sure the security detail was set to cover the rest of his day off, D-Chop had given him the bad news.

The rapper was moving back to L.A. His wife had finally agreed to a settlement that included a split custody agreement, so he didn’t have to keep staying in Minnesota to look good to a judge.

D-Chop wanted Branson to return to California with him. The invitation would’ve seemed like positive news before. Branson wasn’t being fired. That was a good thing.

Except it meant staying in the shallow, immoral, and anti-Christian world he was trying to escape.

And it meant leaving Nevaeh, putting hundreds of miles between them.

But he didn’t have any other option. The email he’d seen on his phone twenty minutes ago had made sure of that.

The investor considering Branson’s corporate security proposal had declined. Maybe they’d gotten wind of the security troubles with D-Chop. Or maybe they had other reasons not to invest. He’d probably never know.