Face of Danger by Roxanne St. Claire Read Free Book Online Page A

for the paps to believe it’s you.”
    “What if the… killer shows up?”
    She sincerely doubted one would, but for a million smackeroos, she wanted Cara to believe she was getting her money’s worth. “We’ll catch him,” Vivi assured her with a smile.
    “About our plan…” Cara said, one hand on Stella, who flattened her length against Cara’s thigh and rested her snout on her lap. Her other hand still held the gold statuette. It had to be hot from almost twenty-four hours of nonstop handling. Cara had yet to put that sucker down since it had been handed to her onstage.
    “What about the plan?” Vivi asked.
    “I’m changing it.”
    Vivi remained still, despite the full-body discomfort caused by the extensions pricking at her hair, the falseeyelashes pinching her lids, the stilettos squashing her toes, and, now, the sixth sense that she wasn’t going to like this change in plans.
    The plan called for Vivi’s trial run as Cara to be the most difficult test of all: getting through the gauntlet of paparazzi and fans, encircled by bodyguards and the pack of people in the other car. Cara would blend in as just another in the group, while all eyes would be on Vivi, still dressed in the last outfit Cara had worn for interviews, including a hat worn in the movie, complete with netting covering her face. And, of course, she’d be waving the Oscar for all the world to see.
    Then they’d all fly to Nantucket together on a Gulfstream G650, a brand-new private jet Cara had rented for an entire month. After landing on the island, Cara would take some of her entourage to a safe house that the Guardian Angelinos had already found and rented, while others would stay with Vivi to ensure the trick worked.
    “There’s nothing wrong with our plan,” Vivi said. “You’re just nervous.”
    Cara looked out the window as they pulled into the traffic of the Burbank airport. “Damn right I am. One of the people in that pack of paps could be him. Bullets could fly.”
    “You’ll be well protected in the middle of the circle, and it’s not far from the VIP limo parking to the private planes. I’ve checked all this already, here and in Nantucket.” Vivi leaned forward and Stella snarled. “Trust me, Cara. We can do this.”
    Cara shook her head, her eyes filling. “I’m scared.”
    “You’ve been out all day doing interviews. That didn’t scare you.”
    “All in protected environments.” She nestled next to the dog. “I’m not getting out of this limo.”
    Vivi leaned back, practically tasting the other woman’s fear. She knew fear, knew the desire to hide from a threat. “Fine. We’ll stay in L.A. This same plan can work from your house in Brentwood. There’s no reason for you to fly to Nantucket. You can change your mind and go home right now.”
    “No, I can’t. But I’m not going to Nantucket.”
    “Then we’ll—”
    “You are.”
    “Where will you be?”
    “I’m not going to say.”
    “I need to know where you are.”
    “Why?” Cara shot back. “You actually don’t need to know. It’s safer that way.”
    Safer for Cara? Maybe, maybe not. Vivi should know where her client is at all times. “Look, you have to trust me. I need to know where you are.”
    “You’ll have Marissa’s number.” She held out the Oscar to Vivi. “When you get to Nantucket, give this to Mercedes. She’s my housekeeper. She knows you’re coming in my place.”
    Vivi took the Oscar; she didn’t like this plan. Cara was supposed to be close by, not at some undisclosed location. “The Guardian Angelinos have arranged a completely safe place for you to stay,” Vivi said.
    “Of course you have to take Stella.”
    She hadn’t even heard Vivi. Instead, Cara’s focus was on the dog as she closed her hand around Stella’s belly, lifting the tiny body and kissing her head. “Be careful not to let her run too much. She was the runt of the litter, born with a funky foot. Weren’t you, baby?” She cradled