Page 64 of Unseen Danger

Then he inhaled a deep breath and knocked on the door of D-Chop’s bedroom suite.

“You know what to do.” D-Chop’s answer came through the door in a lazy tone. Good. He didn’t sound more intense or serious than usual.

Branson opened the door and went in, scanning the lounge area.

D-Chop sat on one of the two white sofas in the center of the room, leaning back against the cushions. He wore a thick bathrobe and watched Branson with a darker expression than he’d hoped to see on his client’s face.

The rest of the room appeared unoccupied, other than discarded wine glasses, beer bottles, and women’s clothing strewn on one of the sofas—leftovers from D-Chop’s visitor last night.

“Darren filled you in?” Branson headed directly for D-Chop and stopped at the end of the coffee table in front of him.

The rapper leaned forward, his movement slow and painstaking as if the effort cost him something. “My kids are here, B. Nobody threatens my kids.” D-Chop lifted his gaze to Branson, intensity shining from deep within his dark eyes.

Branson didn’t look away. “I know.” He thought a moment, then added, “We kept them safe. We’ll always keep them safe.”

D-Chop entwined his fingers together, folding his hands in a prayer-like position between his knees as he moved his gaze to stare as if unseeing at the wall. “Yeah. But if they tell their old lady, I’ll lose the chance for custody. I’ll never see ’em again.” His eyes angled up toward Branson. “I can’t let that happen. You feel me?”

Also D-Chop’s way of saying he didn’t want the incident reported. Since the rapper was the only victim, Branson would have to abide by that. “I understand.”

D-Chop shifted his jaw and leaned back into the plush sofa cushions. “You sure you got this under control, B?” The question was delivered in his usual laidback tone.

But it stiffened Branson’s muscles anyway.

“We can hire more security if you want help.” Meaning D-Chop thought he needed help?

Branson’s chest clenched. He could not lose this job. He drew in a slow, calming breath through his nose before he responded. “I’ve got it, D-Chop.” He kept his tone even but firm. He had to convey the confidence his client needed to see right now.

“Okay, man.” D-Chop pushed off the sofa and stood. “Get Nevaeh and her dog to watch the kids tomorrow. They going to that Fun Land place.”

D-Chop didn’t trust Branson to protect them. Not fully. The realization settled like a hard rock somewhere behind his abs. “She’s scheduled for overnight patrol. She wouldn’t be able to do both.”

“Then get that other girl to cover for her at night, the Latina chick Darren told me about.” D-Chop shoved his hands into the thick pockets of his robe, a deceptively relaxed gesture. “Just get her here.” His gaze angled up to Branson’s greater height. “I want my kids protected.”

Branson nodded. “They will be.”

D-Chop didn’t break his stare.

“I’ll get Nevaeh and her K-9 for tomorrow.”

“A’ight.” D-Chop dipped his head in a nod, then turned and headed for the door that led to his bedroom.

Branson watched him go with a clenched jaw. If these incidents didn’t stop, he was going to lose his job. And his dad would lose the chance at treatment. At life.

If D-Chop wouldn’t let the police investigate, whoever was doing these things would keep going unchecked. And probably escalate for whatever purpose the culprit had in mind.

That was not going to happen on Branson’s watch. He’d have to do some investigating himself and determine who was behind the attacks. Soon.

Because each attack hit closer to home. And the next one could be deadly.

“Time to get this party started!” Nevaeh grinned at her PK-9 family as she marched into Cora’s house with a bowl of cheese puffs in her hands.

“Nevaeh’s here!” Cora’s beaming smile stood out among the crew as they all greeted her with warm laughs and hellos from the open living room.

Looked like everyone was there, including most of the dogs, some lounging near their humans on the sofas and chairs, and others wandering around sniffing each other.

Alvarez and Cannenta, off leash, were already enjoying a friendly greeting from Toby and Raksa.

“Here, let me take that for you.” Cora smiled at the orange contents of the bowl. “I knew I could count on you to bring cheese puffs.”