Chapter 27

27

GENESIS

H ow Amity can nail a complicated stunt in just a few takes when Monica takes twelve just to stand on the right mark is beyond me. If there's an actual hell, I'm in it.

"And… cut. Everyone take a fifteen-minute break," Stefan shouts.

"Thank you, Jesus," I mutter under my breath as I watch Stefan storm over to Monica.

"What the hell is going on, Monica? If this keeps up, we'll never make the deadline."

"You don't understand, Stefan. I'm under a lot of pressure, and everything with my stalker is just draining me. I can't eat, I can't sleep. I'm scared all the time, and nobody has any idea who it could be. Hell, for all I know, it could be you!"

Stefan splutters, shocked by the accusation. "I can assure you, it's not me."

"Yeah, but isn't that what my stalker would say?"

He closes his mouth and shakes his head. "Why don't you go lie down for a little while? With G guarding your trailer, I'm sure you'll sleep fine."

"Well, if you insist. Genesis, would you like to come inside with me? I'm sure you'd be more comfortable on my couch."

"I'm good where I am, Monica. I don't need to be comfortable to do my job."

She giggles. "Don't be silly. How can I be just a job when we're friends?" She trails her fingers down my arm before I can move away.

I scowl at her, but she's already walking away.

"That woman," Stefan grumbles.

"Was she always like that?"

"Believe it or not, she was a completely different person during the first movie. Then it was released, and it was a big hit, launching her into a stardom she'd only ever dreamt about before. And suddenly, the girl she once was was gone, and she was replaced with… that."

"They say fame changes people."

"It does. Look, I've been in the industry for over twenty years, and it's not for everyone. It sure as hell isn't as glamorous as people think. There's a toxic undercurrent that runs rampant, and only the strong survive." He slaps me on the back. "I'm going to see if Amity will shoot this scene. If Monica can't get it right, I'll just have the visual effects team superimpose her face onto Amity's."

"Monica will shit if she finds out Amity's shooting her scene."

"Then she needs to remember the first rule of Hollywood: everyone's replaceable. There are a hundred more Monica Millers just waiting for their chance to shoot their shot. If she keeps carrying on like this, nobody will want to work with her. She's already building a reputation that's making the studio uneasy."

"I guess she'll have no one to blame but herself."

"Don't be ridiculous. Nothing's Monica's fault," he laughs as he walks away.

I take my seat and watch as he heads over to Amity to discuss what he wants. She nods and lets him pull her away from Jack and his crew to work on the scene. I can't take my eyes off her. She might not be the star of the show, but there's something so damn captivating about her that it's impossible to look away. Monica could be getting murdered in her trailer, and I wouldn't even notice. I just don't care.

An hour later, Monica's screech cuts through the air, telling me she knows Amity just finished up her scene. I see Amity turn her head before laughing. Her eyes briefly catch mine before she looks away.

I sigh and stand up, stretching out the kinks as I check my watch. Amity's last stunt for the day is coming up, so I head over to Craft Services to grab a coffee. Just as I reach the drink station, Monica comes stomping over, snapping at the server to make her a drink that I've never heard of before.

"She did this because she's jealous. She thinks I took her man, so now she's trying to steal my role. But she doesn't stand a chance. The world wants Monica Miller, not little nobody Amity Hollis."

I grit my teeth, ready to lay into her when she apologizes.

"I'm so sorry. That was totally uncalled for. Whatever issues I have with Amity shouldn't affect our friendship. I never wanted to put you in the middle like that. But honestly, I just find her behavior so unprofessional. Who does she think she is?"

I lean closer so that only she can hear me. "She's mine, so I'd think very carefully before you keep talking crap about her. If you don't like her shooting for you, then you should've acted like a professional and shot it yourself. She didn't steal your scene. You threw it away by acting like a diva. Stefan was the one who asked her to step in and help out, got it?"

She gasps and storms away, heading for her trailer. Thank God.

I look at the woman she was shouting at and smile.

"You think it was something I said?"

She chuckles, then reaches down and grabs a chocolate muffin and tosses it at me.

I catch it with my free hand.

"It's on me."

"Isn't it free?"

"And that's why it's on me."

I laugh, making her blush.

"Now, get out of here before I forget I've been married to the love of my life for thirty years."

"Yes, ma'am."

I head back to my post where I can keep an eye on Monica's trailer and Amity. I settle back down and pull out my phone. I fire off a text to Mac, asking him to cover me so I can leave early with Amity. I can't let this shit come between us. I refuse to.

Now all I've gotta do is make that stubborn woman listen to me.

She stands up and shakes herself off with a laugh, like she didn't just fall from a fucking cliff.

I sit down, my legs feeling weak. She's trying to give me a heart attack—that's the only explanation I can come up with. It's revenge.

I glance away and find Monica watching me, a thoughtful look on her face. I turn away before she decides to come over and talk to me. I'm not in the mood, and I don't think it would do me any favors with Amity, at least not until I've cleared the air.

I sigh, leaning forward with my forearms on my thighs, wondering when this heat's finally going to ease up. I wear my cut with pride—I always have, always will. But that doesn't mean I don't sweat like a hooker in church wearing it.

I look back over at Amity and watch as she says goodbye to Jack and the kid that's eyeing her like she's a damn candy bar. Getting up, I make my way over to the RV. I wait for her to round the front before grabbing her and pinning her against the side.

"I'm sorry. Stop being fucking mad at me," I order her, hating that she's been keeping her distance all day.

Tinkerbell came over and said goodbye to me before she left, threatening my manhood if I didn't make things right. I tried to track her down earlier, but she must have been avoiding me because I barely caught a glimpse of her. Now, I need to fix this with Amity, and I won't let anything stand in my way.

"I'm not mad. I'm… I don't know. I'm hurt and confused and frustrated, and okay, I'm a little mad. But I don't like seeing another woman all over my man."

"Say it again," I growl, pressing into her. My hand moves around her neck, my thumb pressing against her pulse point, which flutters wildly.

"What? G?—"

I nip her lip. "Say it again."

"I don't like seeing another woman all over you," she says, her voice uncertain.

I growl. "No."

"My man?"

I reward her with a kiss hot enough to set us both on fire. I pull away reluctantly, wanting nothing more than to lose myself in her, but I need to put some distance between Amity and Monica first.

"I'm taking you home. I called Mac in. He's gonna take over guarding Monica for the rest of the day."

She opens her mouth to protest, so I kiss her again, cutting off whatever she was about to say.

"Don't say no. Let me show you how sorry I am." I tuck a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

"Okay, fine. Let me grab my bag."

"Thank you," I say, relieved as I step back so she can run in and grab her things. It shouldn't take her too long since she was already planning on spending the night.

I wander over to one of the empty seats between the trailers and wait. I should probably get Blade to pull me off this case. I'm not willing to lose Amity over it.

Leaning back, I close my eyes. I must drift off because the next thing I know, Mac's kicking my boot.

"Shit, I didn't mean to fall asleep."

"No worries, I just got here. Where's the woman I'm supposed to be watching?"

I look at my watch. "She should be in her trailer. She only has two scenes left for today, so it shouldn't be too late."

"I'm off tonight anyway. Wrapped up a custom build about an hour ago, so I'm free."

"I appreciate it, man. I fucked up, and I need a chance to make it right," I tell him, getting to my feet.

"I'm sure she'll forgive you."

"I hope so, Mac. I really hope so." I see Amity coming out of the RV with her backpack slung over her shoulder. "Alright, I'll catch you later."

I walk over to Amity and take her hand before she can change her mind and lead her to my bike. I hand her the helmet, and she frowns.

"Put it on, Amity."

"I can't wear this. You need it," she protests, her frown deepening.

"I'm not letting you on my bike without a helmet, Amity. You're precious cargo. We'll ride over on the way and get you a new one."

"I can just wear the other one," she offers, but her face looks like she just bit into a lemon.

"No. Now come on, I want to get to the shop before it closes."

I take the helmet from her and slip it on her head, adjusting the chin strap before climbing on my bike. I wait for her to climb on behind me, and when she does, there's no hesitation. She wraps her arms around me and rests her helmet-covered head against my cut.

I rev the engine and take off, keeping the speed low. The Harley shop's about a thirty-minute ride away, so I take it easy.

After twenty minutes on the road, we hit a red light, and I come to a stop at the intersection, waiting for the lights to change. I slide my hand up and down Amity's denim-covered thigh. The peace of the afternoon is only broken by the rumble of my engine.

When the light turns green, I go, picking up speed. Something to my right catches my eye. But it's already too late. It slams into us, knocking us across the road. I try to right the bike, but the truck clips the back tire, throwing me off balance again.

I fight the bike, knowing it's a lost cause. I try to lay her down as gently as I can, but then everything flips and all I see is black.