Chapter 18
“I’m nervous.”
Emily looked from her own reflection, where the stylist was pulling her hair into a messy ponytail, to Faye beside her. “Me too.”
It was the honest truth. And the fact that no one was stopping this production from going ahead was ridiculous.
Faye angled her body toward Emily, not seeming to care that the stylist had to drop the curl she’d been holding. “First Preston’s chased through the woods, just like his character, then someone hits me from behind, just like my character.”
Ten days had passed since the incident at The Pancake Bar. Faye hadn’t suffered a concussion, but she’d still stayed in the hospital overnight for monitoring. Now she was expected to just get back to work like nothing had happened, even though they had no clue who’d attacked her.
“I know.” Emily swallowed. “Roscoe needs to tell the studio that this has gone too far. Something needs to change, maybe more security. Maybe pausing production until the person responsible is caught.”
“He cares about one man, and one man only—himself.” She scoffed. “There should be a clause in our contracts that if movie killers come to life, we’re allowed to walk away without breaching.” She sighed. “Not that I could even do that. I need this job.”
Emily almost told the other woman that no job was worth her life, but she bit her tongue. She hadn’t been a struggling actress for a long time, so saying anything felt disingenuous. “You really don’t remember anything about what happened in the bathroom?”
Faye shook her head. “I was just walking into the stall. I didn’t even hear someone come in behind me before suddenly everything went black.”
Emily nodded, frustration crawling up her chest. One question was on her mind, the same question that had been there since Faye’s attack…would she be next?
She looked back at her reflection. There were still two SAR guys on set at all times. They’d be okay.
The stylists finished with her and Faye at the same time. Emily had just touched her hand to the doorknob when Faye leaned in close.
“Preston’s scared too. Really scared. He dies in the movie.”
Emily let the words sink in for a second before looking at the other woman. “Everyone’s going to be fine. The sheriff’s looking into it. Ryan and his team are watching the set. Everything will be okay.” She had no right to promise that, but with the fear in Faye’s eyes, she had to say something.
Faye nodded, looking unconvinced.
Outside, Ryan stood by the trailer opposite, talking to Preston and Zac.
Unfortunately, her mother was the second person she saw. She was closer, standing at the bottom of the trailer steps, clearly waiting for Emily, tablet and pen in hand.
“Emily.” Her mother tapped something on the tablet. “We need to talk about details for your next film.”
“I’ll see you on set.” Faye squeezed her shoulder before walking over to Preston and the guys.
Emily gritted her teeth before heading toward the forest to today’s shooting location. “Mom, I don’t know how to say this in a way you’ll understand, but you don’t work for me anymore. I fired you as my manager.”
“Don’t be silly, that was a little argument.
” Her mother matched her step for step. “I’ve booked our flight home for the day after filming concludes.
We’ll have one month in California before we make our way to Atlanta to start filming Flicker Stone.
This movie’s going to be big, Em. Huge budget and costarring alongside Teddy Fallor. ”
It was actually unbelievable that, after everything, even telling the woman she was fired, that her mother could just act like nothing had happened between them.
She hadn’t so much as apologized to Ryan for accusing him of breaking into her room and attacking her.
And the worst part was, Emily knew with every fiber of her being that if Ryan hadn’t had that video evidence proving he’d been at the firehouse when her mother had been attacked, her mom would have done and said anything to ensure he was arrested.
“I’ve arranged for us to fly private. Of course.” Her mother touched something on her tablet. “I’m just looking forward to putting all this Deep River nonsense behind us.”
Emily stopped at the filming location. A dozen people moved around the space, but she gave her mother her full attention. “You actually think I can put everything you’ve done to me behind me?”
“Everything I’ve done to you?”
How could she say that like she was confused? How could she not see how wrong she was, to meddle in Emily and Ryan’s lives?
A sinking sadness filled her belly. Sadness that her mother would never get it. And she’d never stop. Not unless Emily put some distance between them.
“I’m not going back to California.” It was the first time she’d said the words out loud. It felt good though. The right decision.
“You’re flying straight to Atlanta?” her mother asked, clearly confused.
“No. I’m not leaving Deep River. I’m staying here.”
Her mother flinched like she’d been slapped. “What are you talking about?”
“I’m taking a break from acting.” That break might last a year. It might last five. It might be forever. She had no idea.
Her mother’s eyes narrowed. “Contracts have been signed, Emily. You can’t just take a break.”
“I’ve spoken to the producer. He’s not happy, but I don’t think he’ll sue me—”
“You don’t think?”
From her peripheral vision, she saw Ryan step onto the set, his focus on her.
She shifted her attention back to her mother and stepped closer.
Ryan couldn’t hear this right now. She’d tell him, but not in the middle of a busy movie set.
“I can’t keep doing this. This job, this lifestyle…
it’s killing me. Just the thought of spending the next ten months filming a movie I never wanted to film, in a place I don’t want to be, with people I have nothing in common with…
it makes me feel physically sick. So yes, I’m sure I can get out of my next contract without being sued—and that’s what I plan to do. ”
“Why are we not in position, people?” Roscoe called from behind her. “We should be rehearsing right now.”
Emily went to move toward her position, but her mother grabbed her arm.
“This conversation is not over,” her mom hissed.
“Actually, it is. You don’t work for me anymore. I was telling you because you’re my mother. Now, I have work to do.”
“Everything okay here?”
She looked up at Ryan. “Everything’s fine.” Then she glared at her mother, a silent “drop it.”
A few long, heavy seconds passed. Seconds where she wondered if her mother would make a scene. Maybe repeat everything Emily had just said here and now.
Instead, she released Emily’s arm and stormed off down the trail, back toward the trailers.
“What was that about?” Ryan asked, watching the back of her mother.
“I’ll tell you later.” She lifted to her toes and pecked his cheek before getting into position.
Roscoe clapped his hands. “All right, quick run through. We’re filming so we can watch back. I want full energy!”
Faye picked up the prop knife from the table beside the cameras and took her position opposite Emily.
Emily took a deep breath as the set quieted around her. She closed her eyes, slipping into the role she was being paid to perform.
“Action.”
Emily’s eyes snapped open and she lifted her hands, breath skittering out of her chest in short puffs. “What are you doing, Vanessa?”
“Stay back!” Faye’s voice trembled with what sounded like real panic.
Instead of stepping back, Emily inched forward. “It’s okay. Everything will be fine. But I need you to put down the knife.”
“I can’t. They all think I did it! They think I killed Adam. They’re going to send me away. I can’t go to prison. I won’t.”
“No.” Emily shook her head, taking another small step forward. “You’re not going anywhere. I’ll tell them it wasn’t you.”
“No one believes me when I tell them I’m innocent!”
“I believe you.” She held out her hand. “Just give me the knife.”
A crash sounded from a few feet away. Faye glanced over her shoulder.
Emily lunged, but before she could grip the hand with the knife, Faye turned back and swung, slicing at Emily’s midsection.
At first, Emily didn’t feel it. Then a sharp sting ripped through her stomach. Not a soft ache from being hit by a prop. This was real pain.
She stumbled back and looked down, hands intrinsically going to her abdomen. Warmth spread between her fingers, wetness coating her skin.
She looked up.
Faye’s jaw dropped, her face paling. “I…I didn’t… It was supposed to…”
Pounding footsteps sounded. There was a “Cut” called out by a familiar voice.
More shouts, someone calling for a medic.
Shock and pain caused Emily to sway. She almost fell, but strong arms were suddenly wrapping around her waist, easing her to the forest floor.
Ryan’s familiar warmth slipped into her side.
He cursed before whispering, “I’ve got you.” But there was fear in his voice.
She wanted to ask if it was bad, but she couldn’t seem to get the words out.
Zac appeared too, pressing something to her stomach. A cloth, maybe?
Her vision blurred, and she wasn’t sure if it was shock or something else.
“I didn’t know!” Faye gasped.
But someone did. Someone had swapped the prop knife out for a real one. Someone had wanted the scene to be real.
Black dots danced in her vision before finally the forest turned dark, and she passed out.
The distant voices of various people played in the background. Footsteps. The sharp ding of machines. The only thing Ryan could concentrate on was Emily.
That moment played over in his mind again and again. The knife slashing across her midsection.
For a second, he’d thought she was acting. Then he’d seen the blood. The shock. The pain.
His muscles tightened, something between rage and fear coursing throughout his body.
His phone vibrated with a text.
Zac: How is she?
Ryan: Wound is stitched. Thankfully, it was superficial. But they gave her strong pain meds that have knocked her out. Anyone figured out how the fuck it happened?
Connor: The prop knife is missing. Prop assistant said they delivered the correct prop to set. They have no idea how it was swapped out. No one saw it happen. All cast and crew have been interviewed by Ward and his team. They don’t have any leads.
Of course they fucking didn’t.
Ethan: How did the woman pick it up and not realize it wasn’t a prop?
Zac: After her panic attack, she just said the prop is a similar weight and feels real unless you touch the blade. She literally picked it up and the scene started, so she didn’t have time to inspect it. Or any reason to.
“You look mad.”
His gaze shifted from the phone to Emily. “You’re awake.”
“I’m awake.” She touched his hand.
He turned his wrist, slipping his fingers through hers. “How do you feel?”
“Tired. But no pain. Did I pass out?”
“You needed the rest.”
She nodded slowly. “Does anyone know what happened?”
“We don’t know how the knife was switched out.”
A small crease etched between her brows. “It’s probably the same person who attacked Preston, then Faye, right? The same person who rang the front and back doorbells of your house?”
“Possibly.”
“Maybe even my mother, if she wasn’t lying. Although, that scene wasn’t in the movie.”
He slipped a lock of hair behind her ear. “Don’t think about that right now. You need more rest.”
“Can I rest at home? And by home, I mean your home?”
Fuck, he liked hearing her refer to his house as home. “I saw your doctor in the hall a second ago. I’ll get him and see if he can discharge you.” He leaned over and kissed her temple before leaving the room.
He was halfway down the hall when he saw the fucking reporter walking toward her room.
“No.” Ryan stopped in front of him and slammed a hand to the guy’s chest.
“Ryan, right? I’m Shaun.”
“I know who you are. You’re not seeing her.”
“Come on. I heard she was hurt on set. Someone swapped out the knife?”
“How’d you hear that?”
“People like me. They talk.” He smiled. If it was supposed to come off as charming, it missed the mark.
“Get out.”
“Come on—”
Ryan stepped closer. “Either you leave on your own, or I’ll help you. And I won’t be gentle about it. The camera will go first.”
The smile dropped from the guy’s face. Yeah, now he knew Ryan wasn’t messing around. He also wasn’t in the fucking mood for this shit.
“Fine.” Shaun straightened. “But Emily Prior’s a public figure. The story will come out, regardless of whether I get her side or not.”
He stormed back down the hall.
Ryan’s hands were fisted as he moved to the nurse’s desk and asked for Emily’s doctor to be sent in. He turned and headed back to the room. He was just about to step in when he heard his name.
“Ryan.”
Jesus Christ. Melanie Prior. The last person he wanted to talk to.
He turned to glare at Emily’s mother and lowered his voice. “She doesn’t want to see you.”
Melanie raised a brow. “You haven’t even asked her.”
“I don’t need to.”
She stepped closer, her voice lower now. “My daughter got hurt today. I’m going in, and I’m seeing her.” She stepped to the side.
He mimicked her. “No.”
The woman’s eyes narrowed. “You think you know her so well. Well, do you know she’s going to get sued because of you?”
“What are you talking about?”
“She’s signed a contract. To lead in a multimillion-dollar movie. And today, she told me she’s going to break that contract. For you. So she can stay here, in this small town, where her career will shrivel up and die.”
Was that true? He mentally shook his head. “Then that’s her choice.”
“You don’t just walk away from contracts like that.
She’s going to be sued for damages. They’re going to demand repayment of her advance and potentially claim millions in losses.
And that’s just the beginning. Word will get around.
She’ll be labeled unreliable and get blacklisted.
Then, if she ever wants to go back to the career that she’s spent her entire life working toward, she won’t be able to.
So tell me, Ryan—are you worth her entire future? ”