Page 97 of Beyond the Spotlight Discreet Version

It’s October, so that means Addy is back at school—a kindergartner now. She’s done by three so at two forty-five, I leave to pick her up. Sarah and Henry follow close even though I haven’t seen that creepy guy since the day we visited Reynold on set. While I wait inside the courtyard, Sarah and Henry stand just outside the fence, scoping out the area.

After about ten minutes, Addy runs out of the private school’s entrance and slams into me with the biggest hug.

“I touched a snake today!”

I gasp. “A snake? Was it scary?”

“No! It was cool and weird and now I’m going to ask Dad if I can get a snake.”

Dear Lord, I hope he says no. I’ve been terrified of snakes ever since I went camping with Justine in high school, and a copperhead tried to get into our tent. A group of guys camping nearby heard us screaming and saved us. They wrangled the venomous intruder and tossed it back into the woods, far, far away.

“I also pet a wolf.”

Addy’s class took a school trip to the Bronx Zoo today.

“That’s pretty cool, Poppy.”

Addy giggles at me using her father’s nickname. The first time I said it, her eyes lit up, and she tackled me with a hug. She said only Reynold and I are allowed to call her Poppy.

“I can’t wait to tell dad,” Addy says as we walk out of the schoolyard and turn right to head back to the penthouse.

“He’s not your real father, kiddo.”

Instinctively, I grab Addy’s arm and hide her behind me as I turn to face the asshole who dared to say that.

I expected it to be someone from the paparazzi who snuck by the bodyguards. Instead, it’s the man from that day at the carousel. My stomach drops. I whip my head around, searching for Sarah and Henry. They’re nowhere to be found.

Shit. Shit. Shit.

“They’re incapacitated at the moment,” the man says, answering my silent panic.

I scan the area, hoping to spot the backup bodyguards.

Where are they?

How the hell am I going to get away from this man? I’m freaking the fuck out and I can’t focus.

“Who are you?”

“I’m Kyle. That little girl’s real father.”

My heart hurts at how fast it’s beating.

Kyle. Addy’s biological father. I’m not even going to call him her father. He’s not. He’s just a sperm donor. The asshole called her little girl, like he can’t even say her name.

“Give me the kid and tell that rich boyfriend of yours he’ll get her back when he pays me five million dollars.”

I take a step back, trapping Addy between me and the fence surrounding the school. Parents walk past us, taking their kids home, oblivious to the danger we’re in.

“I don't believe you. Kyle is supposed to be in prison.”

“Savvy?” Adeline whispers behind me, her voice shaking.

Over the man’s shoulder, I finally see the backup bodyguards. Larson and Melanie cautiously approach. Kyle took out Sarah and Henry, but he must not have known about my hidden protection.

“Yeah, well, I’m out and I’m here to collect what’s mine. That bitch Annalee never told me about her rich brother. If he wants the kid back, he’s going to have to pay me.”

“You’re insane. I’m not letting you take her.”