Page 48 of Unseen Danger

“Both of you get outta here.”

“Hey, I got a ticket.” Tall Dude dared to challenge her. Doubly ironic since he probably hadn’t even gotten his ticket honestly.

“You also got an attempted assault charge and some K-9 teeth marks if you don’t beat it in the next ten seconds.” Nevaeh met his stare with a glare of her own.

His gaze darted from her to Alvarez and back again. “Whatever.” He spun away and stalked out one of the doors marked Exit Only.

“You.” Nevaeh pointed at Short Guy. “Escort your grandma home and see she gets there safely.” Nevaeh pivoted to find the grandma in the cluster of people. “Ma’am.” She waved, and the woman headed their direction.

Nevaeh glanced at Greg as he let the woman back through. He gave Nevaeh a thumbs up.

She nodded but didn’t relax until Short Guy left the building with his grandma and she reported on coms the situation was contained.

If that was the most exciting incident to happen tonight, they’d be doing all right.

This wasn’t over yet.

Branson watched closely as Louis patted down each person who showed him a ticket to enter the exclusive meet and greet with D-Chop in a backstage room. Technically, it was a teacher’s lounge, but it was the best option at the high school.

Branson glanced at D-Chop. The rapper stood near a short sofa and posed for no-touch selfies with fans one by one under Darren’s careful watch.

They’d made it through the concert without incident, thank the Lord. Other than the scuffle at the entrance that Nevaeh had handled with impressive ease. But a meet and greet was always a moment of possible danger for celebrities.

People were allowed closer than usual, and the expectation was that they were friendly, there to fawn over their favorite idol. After all, they usually had to pay for the privilege.

In this case, some of the fans had paid an additional price, but most were chosen because they were students who attended Wilton High and were excelling musically or academically. Their parents were allowed to accompany them, so many of the twenty-five fans were adults, too.

Security should be well in hand. Louis stood outside the door, checking invitations and searching for weapons, Darren was posted by D-Chop, and Branson worked the room. But the knife incident still set Branson’s instincts on edge.

Nevaeh had pointed out that it seemed malicious. She was right.

Malicious and angry. Violent.

What would a person who had left that kind of message do next?

A direct attack on D-Chop seemed like the probable next move.

Branson needed to make sure that didn’t succeed.

He scanned each of the ticket holders’ faces as they entered the room. An informal line formed leading to D-Chop, though the fans were free to go anywhere in the room and enjoy snacks and drinks laid out on the counter that lined one wall.

The people who had already met D-Chop and gotten their selfies wandered toward the refreshments, some chatting excitedly with each other as they threw glances at the rapper.

Another teenager with an adult woman and man Branson assumed were the girl’s parents entered through the doorway.

The two females paused at the end of the line, while the man drifted farther into the room.

Curious.

Maybe the guy wasn’t a D-Chop fan and had only come for his daughter’s sake.

Branson kept an eye on the middle-aged man as he meandered toward the food and drinks.

He didn’t look at D-Chop at all. Not once.

Branson’s on-edge instincts raised warning flags in his mind. Even if the guy wasn’t a rap fan, wouldn’t he at least look at a famous celebrity out of curiosity? Or to see what his daughter was so excited about?

But he didn’t look at his family either. If the woman and the girl were his family.