She’d tied us together in a way that could never be forgotten.He thinks Adrianne could be like Laura. That’s what Foster had said in his text. No one couldreplaceLaura, and I resented that Callan might think otherwise.
The F150 appeared over the crest of the hill, and then it pulled in beside my Jeep. They all climbed out and met me on the sidewalk. Callan couldn’t look at me.Shocker.“Merc,” he greeted.
The wordsyou’re firedwere on my tongue, but I just smiled in a way that made him back up a few paces. “You” —I pointed at Foster— “and you are going to the executive office to meet with their security and the head of production. I want you to talk them through Adrianne’s stalker and how they plan to help us keep her safe.”
“What about—” Callan started, but I glared at him until his words faded away.
“I’ll take over as Adrianne’s personal bodyguard,” I said.
Both men were surprised, and I couldn’t blame them. I hadn’t assigned myself as a bodyguard in so long. There was never really a need for me to.
The firm had excellent bodyguards, and I was more of a numbers guy. “Get going,” I told them. “The execs are waiting to speak with you.”
Callan nearly told me to go to hell. I could see it on the tip of his tongue. He whispered something in Adrianne’s ear, kissed her cheek, and then he and Foster dutifully climbed back up into the truck. I offered Adrianne, who was in workout gear and had her face scrubbed free of makeup, the crook of my elbow.
“Shall we?” I flashed her a grin.
She smiled and slid her arm through mine. “We shall, Mr. Mercado.”
“I thought we agreed that you’d be calling me Ethan, Ms. Montoya.” Adrianne looked up at me through her dark eyelashes, and I shouldnotbe flirting with her. It would be hypocritical, at best, but it was just so much... fun to see her flustered.
“So long as you call me Adrianne,” she countered a touch defiantly.
I grinned. “We’ll just see about that.”
We walked onto set, and the hair and makeup people swept Adrianne away. It took two hours to apply what didn’t appear to be a lot of makeup, but her hair was in a complicated twist that would be secured under an explorer’s helmet.
She lookedexactlythe way I had always imagined Dr. Maria Falconi to look, ever since I read the series when I was young. “You look gorgeous,” I told her as she stood, waiting to be called to begin. They were filming the ending first. Adrianne would be vowing vengeance on those who took her family, and there would be the dramatic reveal of hersuper suit.
“Thank you,” she said.
Before we could have any sort of conversation, the director—a man by the name of Lee Wynn—called her onto the set. The entire sound stage went silent. He walked her through the scene, and then the camera was pointed her way.
I sat in the corner by some of the biggest celebrities in Hollywood, and I could not have cared less. My eyes were on Adrianne as she worked. The scene was dramatic and tragic all at once, but the reveal of the suit was meant to bring hope... and signal that another movie was on the way.
Adrianne delivered her final monologue flawlessly. The crew that moved all around me had stopped to watch her. I couldn’t tear my eyes away, and I realized with a little start that I was at half-mast, trapped by my jeans. Just from watching her work.Shit.
But before the big reveal, Lee sent her back to one, and she did it again... and again. Each time he told her to start over, his tone became more and more condescending. But with each attempt, Adrianne had gotten better and better.
He kept saying that he wanted more, wanted bigger, but no one around me could tell what he meant. They started taking bets on who he was “for sure” going to make cry today. Adrianne was at the top of the list.
“Okay, we need to take a break,” Lee snapped, getting in Adrianne’s face. “Go look over your notes and remind yourself that your production company is spending tens of millions of dollars on this film, and then maybe we can get to work.” As he walked away, they all heard him when he said, “I cannot believe they chose tits over substanceagain.”
Adrianne’s eyes were shiny with tears, but she spun on her heel. The trailers for the stars were all in the back lot behind the studio.
I stalked after her, a few steps behind, and when we got outside, she stopped by her trailer door. I climbed up the steps, opened the door, and did a quick scan of the small trailer. No crazed fans waiting to jump her today.
“It’s clear,” I told her.
Adrianne stomped passed me and threw herself onto the couch. Tears were on her cheeks now. I sat at the banquet table across from her and did my best not to reach out and swipe her cheeks with my thumb. “I knew he was going to be difficult,” she said through her tears. “Everyone warned me that Lee was a ballbuster, but he seemed to hate me, right? I’m not imagining that?”
I shook my head. “You’re not imagining that,” I all but growled. It took everything in me not to storm back out to set and break the guy’s face.
More tears, but then she wiped them away with an impatient hand. “Screw him,” she spat. “I’m going to kill this role and become the most beloved character in the whole damn franchise, just to spite him.”
A laugh, large and surprising, spilled from my throat. “That is probably the best response I have ever heard.” I reached across the small space between us and wiped at her tears. “You’re scrappy. I like that.”
Her cheeks flushed, and her eyes went a little wide. “Uhm, I...”