Page 40 of Unseen Danger

He shook off the thought as soon as it crossed his mind. His dad always asked about work. And he asked about his dad’s. One of the few things they talked about.

“It’s good. We brought on some additional security personnel.” We was a stretch, since D-Chop had insisted on it over Branson’s objections. But he didn’t mind nearly as much as he’d thought he would.

Nevaeh’s beautiful face appeared in his mind as vividly as if she were standing in front of him. With that sweet almost-smile that had shaped her lips that morning. Heat flared in his rib cage.

“Oh. That sounds interesting.” Dad’s effort to find something to say pulled Branson back to the present.

“Yeah. They’re K-9 units.”

“Oh, they have dogs? What are they used for?” His mom did a better job of conveying genuine interest.

Not that Branson blamed his dad for the lack of it. Pastoral ministry was his life and passion. Their jobs had so little in common, it was hard to find anything they both enjoyed discussing or that would help them relate to each other.

He watched Princess eat and drink as he explained the patrol and security function of the K-9 teams, ending with praise for their work. “Both women seem skilled, and their dogs are well-trained. I’m impressed so far.”

“Women?” His mom’s voice lifted with the question. “I expected men.”

His gut tightened. He knew that tone. “They’re from a security agency that’s made up completely of women agents and K-9s, actually.”

“What are their names?” The curiosity and hope in his mom’s voice multiplied.

He rubbed the back of his neck with his hand as he absently followed Princess out of the bathroom. “The women at the agency?”

“No, the two you’re working with.”

“Oh.” He hesitated. His mom’s matchmaking instincts were legendary. She already boasted two successes—the relationships that had led to marriages for his younger brother and sister closest in age to him. “Jazz Lamont.” He worked hard to keep his tone even as he came to the next name. “And Nevaeh Williams.”

“Tell me about this Nevaeh.”

He lifted a fist in the air as he silently grimaced. The pause must’ve given him away. “She’s great.” Shoot. Why had he let that come out? He hurried to cover the slip. “She’s very professional. She works with a rottweiler named Alvarez.” He floundered for something safe to say. “She actually got the job by…” He caught himself this time. His mom never liked to hear about the dangers of his work. She’d end up worrying more about him if she knew of the fire and that his client had been threatened. “Doing very well on security detail at a venue where my client performed.”

“Oh. Well, she sounds lovely.”

Branson didn’t know where his mom got that idea from the little he’d said, but her ability to read between the lines when it came to her children was always a mystery to him and his siblings.

A hard cough came sharp in his ear. His heart squeezed as if a fist clenched around it. Was a cough part of the cancer? “You okay, Dad?”

“Just a bit of a cold, I think. It’s the season for it.”

But wouldn’t a cold be dangerous for him with his low immunity? Branson’s gut twisted.

“Don’t worry about me, son. You’re taking care of us by paying for my treatments so I can get well.”

“It’s my privilege.” And exactly what he wanted to be able to do—to take care of his parents and the rest of his family, if needed. With his siblings ranging from middle school age to college or buried in college debt, he was the only one in a position to help financially.

And given that his dad’s cancer was a rare form, the only option was an expensive, experimental treatment that insurance wouldn’t cover. Since Branson was the eldest, had been in the workforce longer, and got paid well, he’d been able to put away sizable savings. He’d started saving even more when he began to realize celebrity protection wasn’t for him and aimed to start his own corporate security firm instead.

That money was dedicated for his parents’ use now. And he didn’t regret that for a moment. His first duty and desire was to protect his family.

But it meant he needed an investor to allow him to leave the celebrity protection business that seemed to be slowly draining his soul. Or at least his sense of purpose in life.

And most of all, it meant he could not lose this job with D-Chop. His dad’s very life might depend on it. Then again, with the increasing danger surrounding the rapper, D-Chop’s life might depend on Branson, too.

His massive hands gripped her neck. Squeezed.

The security alarm blared. Someone had activated it.

Why hadn’t they come to rescue her?