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Bentley.”
    “Oh, don’t worry. I will. Just as soon as I know you’re safe. Which, right now, you’re not.” He pushed open the door and cool nighttime air hit them. He did a quick examination of the area outside to make sure everything was clear. Just as they stepped onto the sidewalk, a black SUV pulled to a stop and one of his agents stepped out.
    Denton led Elle to the backseat, opened the door and gently prodded her inside. He climbed into the front seat and did another scan of the area for danger. Nothing appeared out of place. Without wasting any more time, he pulled away.
    Elle leaned between the two front seats. “Who was that who drove the SUV to the door?”
    “Sit back and put on your seat belt. And that was one of my men.”
    Her harness clicked in place. “You had some of your men at the event tonight? I thought my father only hired you?”
    “He did. But I always plan for the worst. It’s a good thing I did.”
    The suburbs and strip malls of Virginia Beach blurred past them as Denton escorted Elle away from the Convention Center. He let silence fall while the reality of the situation sank in for Elle.
    The person behind these threats was brave. Coming to an event like this and sneaking into Elle’s dressing room where they could easily be caught showed a lot of brazenness. The suspect was clearly bent on making Elle shake in her boots. But despite the threats, Denton would make sure that all this ended well. He’d see to it that nothing happened to Elle.
    “Where are we going?” Elle’s voice sounded quieter than usual as it drifted from the backseat.
    “To your parents’ house.”
    “But they took pictures of me there. Is it safe to go back?”
    “Those pictures were taken with a telephoto lens. Most likely, the photographer wasn’t even on your father’s property—not directly, at least—when those pictures were snapped. My men are going to canvas the perimeter tonight. We’re stepping up security.”
    Silence stretched for a moment, until Elle finally whispered, “Denton, I’m scared.”
    He softened his voice. “I know, Elle. Let me do the worrying, okay? That’s my job.”
    In the rearview mirror, Denton saw her nod, but her eyes didn’t look convinced. She hunkered down in the backseat, just as he ordered. He glanced in his rearview mirror again, this time at the road behind them. Though it was dark outside and an array of headlights glared behind them, his gut told him they were being followed.
    He watched the vehicle behind them, noting that it was keeping pace with them at a close clip. He needed to figure out if they were being tailed. He switched lanes and noticed the vehicle behind them did, also.
    “Your seat belt is on, right?”
    “Of course. Why?”
    “Because this ride is going to get a little crazy.” He pushed on the accelerator and shot into the right lane of the interstate, swerving onto an exit ramp.
    “What are you doing?”
    “I’m making sure we’re not being followed. Stay down.”
    Elle’s eyes widened just before she disappeared behind the seat. His gaze went to the rearview mirror again. The headlights were still there.
    He zipped down the right lane of the highway. The vehicle behind them was so close now that Denton couldn’t even see the headlights except for the rays that illuminated up from his bumper.
    A red light waited ahead. He couldn’t stop. Not now.
    As the intersection approached, he didn’t slow. He remained in the right lane, prepared to turn. When he reached the cross road, he jerked the steering wheel to the left, narrowly missing the oncoming traffic. Horns blared. Tires skidded. People yelled.
    But everyone was safe. For the moment, at least.
    Elle’s high-pitched voice rose in the backseat. “What are you doing? Are you trying to get us killed?”
    Denton watched as the SUV behind him threw on the brakes then skidded to the right.
    Denton breathed easier. He’d lost them. For now. It would only be a matter of time