Page 6 of Keeping Astrid

“Fair enough.” How could he argue with that?

Growler looked back to the bar and couldn’t find her. The crowd had swallowed her up, and a shaft of disappointment lanced him.

He shook it off and downed the rest of his beer, reminding himself where his focus needed to be. On his job and not on a pretty celebrity chef.

Chapter Three

“What do you mean, someone saw you? Aren’t you the best in the business?”

Pedro withstood the glare from Mr. Rook on the computer screen. He didn’t know his real name. No one did, he was known around the drug world as Mr. Rook and that’s all everyone called him.

“I am the best. Don’t worry, I’ll find her because I got a good look at her. I think she’s famous. She looked familiar to me. Shouldn’t be too hard to find her.”

Mr. Rook laughed harshly. “You’re in fucking Los Angeles. There’s a starlet on every corner. Find her and deal with her. If you don’t, you’ll regret making this mistake.”

The screen went black, and Pedro slammed his hands on the table. He never made mistakes. If the chump hadn’t made a grab for the gun, he, Andrés and Enrico would’ve knocked Luiz out and put him in the car.

He’d deliberately chosen that parking lot because of the location. Everyone minded their own fucking business and didn’t flinch if they did see or hear something.

The woman had looked too refined to belong in that area. He bet the bitch was the owner of the newer model BMW parked in the lot. No one who lived in that area drove a car like that. He’d been surprised it hadn’t been stripped when they’d gotten there.

He hadn’t lied when he told Mr. Rook that he’d thought he recognized her.

Yes, he was aware they were near fucking Hollywood and everyone in the town wanted to be a star. It was why it was so easy to lure women into his car with promises of a better future. Once he handed them off, he forgot about them. He’d done his job.

One he was damn good at. He had plenty of people happy with his services, and he’d prove to Mr. Rook that he was a man of his word. He would find her and eliminate her. Then he’d progress a little higher up the chain.

Pedro turned his attention back to his computer and opened an internet browser, searching for stars who helped out at Skid Row. He didn’t think there would be that many, but it may help him narrow down who he was looking for.

Four pages later of articles and pictures, he was beginning to think that maybe he’d been wrong. And then he saw it. “Found you.”

Chapter Four

Astrid checked over her shoulder again as she made her way toward the store where she was supposed to be doing her in-person event. Ever since she’d gotten out of her car, she’d had the weird sensation that someone was watching her.

Or maybe after the shooting incident, I’m just jumpy.

After she’d given her statement to the police, she’d called her friend from culinary school who’d invited her to drinks before she headed back to New York. Initially, Astrid had told Emery that she couldn’t make it because she’d be tired from filming all day—which she had been—but after what she’d seen, she’d decided she needed to get out and to not sit at home alone, and brood. And worry. And not freak out.

It hadn’t been a great idea. She’d hated being at the crowded bar. The noise grated on her frayed nerves. As always, she’d been recognized, and she’d smiled for selfies when asked. All throughout the night, she hadn’t felt like she was being watched, unlike now.

Sparing another look over her shoulder, she found the sidewalk empty, and there was no strange car creeping down the street toward her.

“Okay, stop imagining things that aren’t there,” she muttered as she stopped at the shop next to the one she needed to enter.

As far as she knew, Penni would be waiting for her inside. The last thing she wanted to show her new PR person was any sign of freaking out. Yes, she found in-person events difficult, but she got through them. This feeling, though, it was different from her normal anxiety, and she was sure it was written all over her face. Penni had told her she had an expressive face, which was why she appealed to so many and was a natural on the screen.

“I am confident. I am a good cook. I am happy. Positive and energetic.” Astrid muttered the words she always did before she walked onto set. She’d started saying it the first day she’d started at culinary school and found comfort in the words now.

Straightening her shoulders, she marched to the front door. She plastered a smile on her face and pulled it open, relaxing a fraction when she saw Penni was waiting for her, as promised.

“Astrid!” Penni came rushing over and gave her a big hug. “So good to see you.”

“Hi, good to see you too.” Astrid returned the hug, but even she heard the tentativeness of her response.

Good impression there.

“Are you okay?” Penni stood back and gave her a once-over. “You’re not needed for another fifteen minutes. Do you need to get some air?”

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