Infamous (Beautiful Idols 3)

Tommy ran an uncertain hand across his chin. A moment later he’d agreed, and they were just leaving the store when his phone began to ring.

He paused in the sunlight and peered at the screen.

Madison hoped it wasn’t someone from his record company, or worse, the actual writer from Rolling Stone.

“If that’s your girlfriend, you might want to get it.” Madison’s voice was peppered with amusement. “This could take a while.”

Tommy shook his head and let the call ring into voice mail. Turning to her, he asked, “Who’s driving?”

Madison studied him. She’d accidentally left her keys with him the night she was taken, only to have her car end up outside Paul’s office with her purse locked in the trunk. Was Tommy somehow responsible?

What she said was, “I ask the questions. You drive.”

She was relieved when he readily agreed. Last thing she needed was to drive Paul’s car for any longer than necessary. He was probably in search of her at that very moment. Hell, for all she knew, the car had probably been outfitted with some kind of tracking device.

A chill skittered across Madison’s fl

esh. She couldn’t believe she hadn’t bothered to consider that. It was the sort of sloppiness that could bring the whole thing crashing right down. Paul was a pro when it came to deception, which meant Madison couldn’t afford to be anything less than vigilant.

Tommy was staring. She’d been silent too long.

“So where you parked?” she asked, her skin sheening with sweat as he deepened the stare.

“How’d you hurt yourself?” He motioned toward her ankle.

“Balance beam accident.” She shrugged. “It happens.” It was an obvious lie, but at least it worked to make him laugh. “Is that really what you wanted to ask?”

Tommy chewed his lip. “It’s just—”

She waited.

“You remind me of someone.”

Her breath hitched in her chest.

“Can you do me a favor and . . . I know this sounds weird, but can you just like . . . take off your glasses?”

“Seriously?” She stood frozen before him.

He nodded. “Sorry, but yeah.”

She pressed her lips into a thin, grim line and did a mental countdown from three. “Well, okay then.” Without another word, she lifted her glasses onto her forehead and peered at him through a pair of dark brown contact lenses. “Would you like to see my ID too?” She shoved a hand into her oversize bag. It was the sort of bluff she couldn’t afford to lose. If he said yes, she was screwed.

She retrieved the cheap nylon wallet and slowly pried it open. It was a game of chicken she was determined to win.

“No, you know what, it’s fine.” Tommy flushed and waved it away.

Madison waggled the wallet before him. “Maybe it’ll make you feel better about getting into a car with a strange girl who’s at least half your size.”

Tommy gave an embarrassed laugh. “No.” He shook his head. “Really, it’s okay.”

Madison dropped the wallet back in her bag and shuffled alongside him as they made for his car.

SEVENTEEN

iSPY

Sipping from their to-go cups, Aster and Ryan stood outside the trailer and considered their options.