Page 57 of Unseen Danger

But if it was him…or someone like him. Nausea twisted her belly, and she closed her eyes.

“You see him in your nightmares. In your flashbacks.”

That was more the boss’s style. Statements instead of questions. Probably more efficient for someone who knew everything.

Nevaeh nodded, opening her eyes before those images could flash in front of them again.

Phoenix stepped closer, an odd move for her, though there was still a good three feet between them. Intensity darkened her eyes as she stared at Nevaeh.

The hairs on Nevaeh’s arms stood on end. She’d never seen any kind of emotion in Phoenix’s gaze before. And there was something frightening about this one.

“The next time you see him, turn the tables.”

Nevaeh blinked. “What?”

“When he appears in your mind, in your dreams—you’re not the victim. You are the aggressor. You are the one in control. You are his worst nightmare. Make him fear you.”

Nevaeh stared at her boss, shock and wariness freezing her in place.

Phoenix stepped away. “Let’s go again.”

Nevaeh watched her walk to the middle of the mat as her words sunk in. Could Nevaeh do that? Would it work?

“You’re not the victim. You are the aggressor.”

A shiver shot up Nevaeh’s spine. How empowering that would be. If she could do it. If she could believe it.

“We have ten minutes left.” Phoenix’s reminder pushed Nevaeh’s feet forward, and she met her boss on the mat.

But instead of launching a surprise attack without warning, Phoenix looked into Nevaeh’s eyes. “Is there something you want to tell me?”

Nerves tickled her stomach with the question, as unexpected as most things were with Phoenix.

The pickup truck. Nevaeh had planned to bring it up this morning. But she’d thought better of it. Phoenix already knew her PTSD was flaring up and had barely agreed to let her stay on D-Chop’s security detail. What would she do if she knew Nevaeh might be imagining dangers that weren’t there and leaping to conclusions?

There were plenty of dirty pickups driving around Minnesota. And most of them were probably black. The one outside her house last night didn’t have to be the same one she’d seen on the road.

And despite Phoenix’s warning to take her fear seriously, Nevaeh was pretty sure that didn’t include irrational, paranoid fears that would mean she couldn’t be trusted and couldn’t do her job.

She couldn’t risk Phoenix knowing she was that far gone. And besides, with this extra training, she was already regaining confidence and skills. Soon she wouldn’t be imagining pickup trucks or freaking out around muscular men. She shook her head. “No, not really.”

Phoenix swung a punch at Nevaeh without giving her a moment to think. But that was the point.

And this time, Nevaeh was ready.

Seventeen

Something was different about her. Branson noticed the change as soon as he opened the front door, and Nevaeh and Jazz entered the large foyer with their dogs.

To begin with, Nevaeh almost smiled at him. Well, maybe it was more the hint of a smile, of friendliness in her eyes. But he’d take it. Much better than the cool expression or fear that had been the pattern before.

“How are you doing tonight?” He tried to throw in a glance at Jazz when he asked the question, but his gaze returned to Nevaeh like a magnet.

“Great. Ready for hours of keeping this place safe.” A note of humor colored her voice, then her full lips angled in a closed-lip smile. At him.

His pulse skittered. A responding grin stretched his mouth as he fought not to stare. “Glad to hear it.” He forced himself to take a turn looking at Jazz. “We haven’t had any more incidents since the concert last night.”

“No escaping cats?” Nevaeh’s unexpected question shot his gaze back to her face. One dark eyebrow quirked.