Read All The Pretty Lights (The "A" List #1) for Free Online Page B

care if he speaks to his shoe next.
    The tall man that leads me expertly away pushes through, parting the sea of people. “No comment,” he abruptly tells person after person as they continue to hurl questions at me.
    A security guard opens one of the glass doors for us to escape through. I can feel the rush of the crowd behind me, following me, even though we’re speed walking away from them.
    “This is us, ma’am,” the tall man reaches forward to open the car door handle to a dark black sedan parked illegally in front of the airport exit. I stop in my tracks. Whoa, this was not part of the deal! No way am I getting into a car with a perfect stranger!
    Daylight now fully hangs in the sky, all traces of early morning haze being burned away by the rising sun. I can see more of the man now, see his dark navy blue suit, his black tie. His hair is cut extremely short, almost military-like.
    “I—I don’t know you. I’m not getting into a car with you,” I explain. I may be grateful to him for getting me out of the airport in one piece but I’m not stupid.
    “Ma’am, I work for Colton Webb. I’m his personal security guard. He’d like for you to get in the car.” His claim is outrageous.
    He must be crazy. Must be one of those crazy stalker fans I’ve seen movies about. “Oh, yeah? And how do I know that’s true? How do I know you’re not going to kidnap me and hold me hostage in some small house somewhere, to re-enact your favorite Colton movie?”
    Even with his sunglasses on, I can see I’ve stumped him. He opens his mouth to answer in some way although the kind of question like I’ve just asked him has no acceptable answer.
    “Because I’m telling you it’s true, Speedy. Now get the hell in !” Colt calls out, frustrated, through the window that’s moving down automatically.
    I look back and forth between the two men. The tall man in the suit smirks as I piece the puzzle together. The door swings open when Colton pushes it from the inside. He disappears inside the depths of the car to make room for me to enter.
    The broad daylight hides the flashes but the shuttering sounds let me know just how many pictures are being snapped as the paparazzi have gained on us.
    “Uh, sorry about that whole kidnap thing…” I apologize to the security guard as he takes hold of the door to close it behind me.
    He laughs. “Happens all the time, ma’am.”

CHAPTER FOUR
     
    COLT
     
    Marcus turns the car sharply just as the traffic light changes, leaving the three small cars that have been tailing us behind. Another quick turn ensures that they won’t be able to pick us up again.
    “This is insane!” Daphne watches through the rearview windshield. “They were following us!”
    I laugh. “Yes. And now they’re not. Marcus’ is very good at his job. He can lose the paps in seconds.”
    Daphne now watches the back of Marcus’s head as I speak his praises. He’s everything rolled into one. He’s my driver, my bodyguard, and my overall go to fix-it guy. He’s paid well, and earns every single penny of it.
    “They knew my name!” Daphne adds.
    That part surprised me, too. I mean, I knew the news would spread. I knew once the pictures hit the web and the paps caught wind of Daphne that they’d be interested, but I had no clue that they’d take it to this level so fast.
    She’d given her address to Marcus as soon as we’d left the airport, and even though we’ve taken quite the detour to get rid of the people following us, we’re headed there now and we’re running on borrowed time.
    She’s right about what she said. They know her name. It’s only a matter of time before they know her address, if they don’t already. We’ll find out for sure in a few minutes. Daphne’s kind of freaking out from the press barraging her at the airport. I don’t need to tell her that they could be waiting at her door, too.
    I’ll cross that bridge when, and if, we get to it.
    “Look, I’m sorry. This all just