Page 27 of Unseen Danger
“Yeah, yeah. Love you, I guess.” The smile in Sher’s voice came across the line just before she ended the call.
Nevaeh chuckled as she pulled back into the right lane ahead of the semi. Nothing like some family time to right her world. Her siblings might be messed up, but they always grounded her.
She glanced in the mirror again.
The black pickup switched lanes to fill the space behind her in front of the semi.
Her nerves tingled as she looked forward, then checked the truck’s reflection.
The license plate was caked with dirt, making only one number and one letter clear. Couldn’t run a search with only that much of the plate. Dried dirt splattered most of the truck itself, like it’d been taken off-road or maybe to a construction site.
A sign for the next exit ramp grew large as she passed it. Her usual exit wasn’t for six more miles, but she signaled to take this one.
How long had the pickup been behind her? She wasn’t watching as closely as she did on the way to a protection job. Then she followed Phoenix’s protocol to constantly check for tails and automatically throw in extra turns and take roundabout routes to the destination.
But she didn’t bother when she was headed home. And her concentration wasn’t at its best given she’d been battling PTSD when she started off from the estate.
She checked the mirrors as she took the ramp, slowing for the stoplight at the bottom.
The black truck zoomed past the ramp at freeway speed.
Nevaeh let out a slow breath and relaxed her grip on the wheel. “Pretty pathetic, huh, Al?”
The rottie mix faced forward and stuck his head past her shoulder to look out the windshield.
“Now I’m imagining somebody’s following me. Don’t tell anyone, okay, bud?”
He swung his head past hers as he turned away, giving her a heavy dose of doggy breath from his panting mouth.
He didn’t seem to care enough to tell anyone. But if she didn’t get a grip on her PTSD nerves soon, Phoenix or someone else from PK-9 would notice.
Or, worse, it could keep her from doing her job. And someone could get hurt.
“Two Phoenix K-9 agents on their way to you.” Louis’s voice sounded in Branson’s ear through coms as he finished pouring two mugs of coffee. The brew smelled tempting, but he’d resist since he would be going to bed soon.
His stomach might not like it anyway. Enough anticipation fluttered there to remind him of his one high school crush.
A laugh floated from the hallway outside the kitchen just before they entered. It was musical and joyful. Was it Nevaeh’s laugh? He hadn’t heard her laugh yet. He’d settle for seeing a real smile if he could get that far.
Jazz appeared in the doorway first, her wavy red hair pulled back in a ponytail. But his gaze didn’t stay on her or her dog, instead hopping to the woman who’d had him checking his watch, counting down the hours all afternoon until she’d return.
Nevaeh’s hair was styled in a mass of tight coils around her head as before. Her skin was just as smooth as he’d remembered, her full lips just as distracting, and her eyes—just as cool.
“Welcome.” He gave her one of his biggest smiles.
She didn’t look away, but her distant expression didn’t change either.
Probably his fault. He’d been so focused on the threat they posed to his job earlier today, he’d been more brusque and less friendly than his norm. But they’d helped, not hindered his work.
And D-Chop had taken the news of the gate attack in stride. He’d recognized he had been safe in the house, and Branson’s security hadn’t failed to protect him. His only concern had been the press getting wind of it since Branson informed the police. But Branson had assured him the police said they’d be discreet and leave D-Chop’s name out of it.
Whether or not these women were a threat to his job security, he knew better than to treat them with less friendliness than he would anyone else. He was supposed to show Christ’s love to everyone, no matter the circumstances.
He would do a better job of that with both ladies tonight, even if Nevaeh didn’t respond in kind.
So he hung on to his smile as he grabbed the mugs and held them out to the women. “I made you coffee. In case you’d like an energy boost before your patrol.”
Jazz glanced at Nevaeh, then returned Branson’s smile. She stepped closer and took one of the mugs.