Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 79425 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79425 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
“Why don’t you make me?” he murmured, shoving a piece of gum into his mouth. “Take a swing the way you enjoy.”
I laughed bitterly. “You’d like that, wouldn’t you? I’m past that, Flynn. You and your sordid little pictures don’t scare me anymore. I have nothing to hide. You’ll get bored soon enough.” I towered over him, my words clear. “Leave me alone. Leave the set alone. Whatever crumb you think you found is nothing.”
He chuckled, the sound infuriating and grating. “My source is pretty solid,” he mused.
I was going to lose it. I could feel it.
I brushed past him, accidentally pushing him away. “Oops, sorry. I slipped.”
He held out his arms. “An accident. Those happen, don’t they, Mr. Big Shot? In life, on set…” He trailed off. “Things happen. People get hurt.”
And he turned away, whistling. “See you around, film star.”
I climbed into the car, pulling out my phone. “Get me back to Richton. Fast.”
Hours later, I sat across from Davis, with Annie and my lawyer on Zoom between us.
“How did he find me?” I demanded. “And who is this source?” I looked at Davis. “Who all knew about the fall?”
“Everyone on set,” he replied. “The owners of the ranch, extras. Someone might have talked in town, but how Flynn got involved or why, I have no idea.” Davis shook his head. “I hate that piece of trash.”
I looked at Annie. “I need him gone. He’ll fuck everything up here. You know he will.”
She looked toward Malcolm, my lawyer. “Can you get the restraining order expanded?”
He shook his head. “Not easily. It would take days—weeks, even. It would have to be handled there, and he hasn’t done anything.”
None of us said it, but we all thought it.
Yet.
I stood and paced. “Why? Why is he doing this? What has he got to gain? What kind of story is me falling off a horse during a shoot? It’s nothing! Are the rags that desperate?”
Annie was vaping so much, swirls of the mist encircled her head like a halo. But her expression was anything but angelic. “It could be a coincidence. He could be there for something else. Saw you and decided to push your buttons. Spew a bunch of shit and see where it got him.”
“He knew about my injury.”
Davis half chuckled. “Anyone looking at you knows about your injury, Oliver. You walk like you have a pole stuck up your ass.”
Even I smiled at that one. I had been teased all day about it. Except Sheri—she had barely glanced my way, which was fine in my books.
“Let’s not decide on the worst quite yet, but let’s be proactive,” Davis offered.
“I’ll make some calls and see if I can find anything,” Annie announced. “If it’s about you, you know he’ll twist it. You were drunk and fell. Something.”
Davis shook his head. “Easily disputed. But Oliver’s right. I don’t like this.”
I sat down, dropping my head and pulling on my neck. “I felt as if I were being watched the other day. Here. Outside the drugstore. I told myself it was my imagination.” I shot up out of my seat, ignoring the blast of pain. “I felt it again at Kassie’s. Fuck.”
“Calm down,” Annie warned. “We don’t know anything.”
“But we can be prepared. Get ahead of it. Maybe I’ll do a quick interview, talking about the film. One of the networks has been pestering me. Share a funny anecdote about you falling off the horse. Talk about what a great cast it is. Water down whatever angles he’s going to use,” Davis offered. “I can call in a favor and get it aired tomorrow.”
Annie nodded. “Good idea. Go on the offensive before he has a chance.”
We all agreed and ended the Zoom. I looked at Davis. “Sorry about this.”
He waved me off. “Not on you. I want to know who alerted him here if that is the case.”
I scrubbed my face. “I want to know why.”
“In the meantime, watch your back. Let me get you a driver—”
I cut him off. “I’m fine. He’s a little weasel. He won’t attack me. He’ll try to pick at me until I go after him, but I know better. What is he going to take pictures of? Me grocery shopping? Working?”
“You and Kassie together,” he interjected. “I doubt she’s prepared for something like that.”
I nodded in agreement. “I’ll talk to her tonight. Ask her to stay away from the set. I’ll use the tub at the Y. We know he’s here now, so we can be careful. Warn her what to do if he approaches her.”
“Good plan.”
“I’ll get security for her if needed.”
Davis studied me. “You’re very protective of her.”
“She needs protection. At least in this case. I’m used to the lowlifes that pass themselves off as press. Kassie didn’t sign up for shit like this. I brought this to her door, so I have to fix it.”