“You have shit taste in men, Finn,” Ryan said falling on to the couch in my trailer. “What did you even see in that guy?”
“A fat cock and low IQ?” I joked as always. Because I did have shit taste in men. I liked them hard, wild, and rough. Beyond that, I didn’t know what I liked. I was young and figuring it out.
“At least you haven’t fucked Talon,” he sobered. “Which means there’s hope for you yet.”
“About that,” I hedged.
“Tell me you didn’t!” Ryan roared.
“You fucked that married tattoo artist in Reno!”
“She wasn’t my employee, Finn!”
“But she was married!”
“Not the same and you know it,” he said and the disappointment in his voice hurt. “Talon is responsible for your image and securing future work, Finn. And let’s be honest, he sucks at it. This is going to fuck you in the ass.”
“I know what I’m doing,” I mumbled.
Except that I didn’t have a clue.
I’d be lying if I said, Nix leaving halfway through my scene didn’t sting.
But, the few times I sought him out, he looked ready to murder Walter, so I figured his leaving may be for the best. When the star of the movie and my sometimes friend, Silas Goode makes his way to my side, I give him the same fist bump I always do.
“You kicked serious ass today, Finn,” he praises me.
“Thanks,” I smile wishing I could tear this wig off. I was done up to look like his co-star, Celena Carver, who happened to have platinum blonde hair. My tits were flattened and I was sweating like crazy.
Seriously, what this guy saw in me I’ll never know.
“Staying in town after the shoot?” he asks smirking at my discomfort.
“Haven’t decided,” I shrug. “Thinking about heading down to Mexico.”
“Ever the adventurer,” he says moving closer. “How long until you say yes?”
“Silas,” I sigh in annoyance, tired of the game. “Can we not?”
“I spoke with the studio, Finn. You should be taking these roles, you’re too good to be stuck in the shadows. Together we could –”
And that’s when the air shifted which in my opinion, was eerily cool.
Before I could even turn around he placed a possessive arm around my waist pulling me to his side. Silas’ confusion quickly turned to anger and I was saved from speaking when the director called me over.
“Go,” Nix says in my ear but his eyes were on Silas. “We’ll wait here.”
Nodding, I head over to the production tent and only half listened to the people speaking to me. My eyes were focused on Nix and Silas. I couldn’t hear what was being said but if Silas’ reaction was anything to go by, it wasn’t good. With a final look from Nix to me, Silas stormed away. For the next thirty minutes I shared my input, critiqued the footage, was ready to come out of my skin and that was before Walter made his way to Nix.
Now the two of them were talking, and for the first time in history, I saw Walter rattled.
Thanking everyone for their time, I quickly head back to Nix and before I could say a word, he took me into his arms and kissed me.
“What are you doing?”
“Staking my claim,” he says with heated eyes.
“Um, why?”
“Silas wants to fuck you and Walter will think twice before putting his hands on you again.”
“Well, Silas isn’t fucking me,” I argue loudly. “And Walter is being paid to put his hands on me. What is the matter with you? I’ve known you less than twelve hours and you’re already losing your shit? Mind telling me why?”
Instead of answering he lowered his eyes and asked, “Do you want me to leave?”
“You know what, Nix?” I ask pulling away. “Actually, yes. I do.”
And I was never admitting that his departure bothered me either.
So that’s why three hours later when a man stepped out from the shadows in the parking garage, I was not in the mood to explain why I was covered in (fake) blood. “Never thought I would see the day,” he says beginning to circle me. “Phoenix went and got himself a weakness.”
While I didn’t know what that meant, I was curious. “It’s my charm,” I smile broadly. “It’s contagious.”
“Perhaps it’s the blood, or the way you carry yourself, but you’re not as weak as most women.”
“Then goal achieved since I’m not weak at all.”
“Today’s body count?” he asks eyeing my legs.
“Three,” I supply. “But the last one took like seven cuts before it stuck. Call it an off day.”
“When I heard he took a partner, I didn’t believe it. This is…unprecedented.”
“I don’t know that a good deep throat constitutes being partners, but you’ve got some years on me so I’m guessing it’s a generational thing.”
“Pity,” he tsks. “I’m disappointed he won’t be here to see it.”
“See what?”
“The life leave your pretty eyes, of course.”
Hold up. “You want to kill me?”
“It’s not a matter of want, I’m afraid,” he says reaching into his suit pocket and producing a wicked looking knife. “Unlike him, I follow orders.”
“Wait,” I say holding a hand up. “He’s supposed to kill me?”
“Are you daft?” he asks, rolling his eyes. “You don’t walk away from this business and live, female.”
“Tell me your name.”
“Mr. Smith.”
“Like the Matrix,” I snort. “So, Mr. Smith, Phoenix doesn’t plan to kill me but you have to because, if I’m hearing you right, he left the business. Am I up to speed?”
“Phoenix will return,” he snarls. “It is the way it has always been, the way it must be and anyone in the way, dies.”
Shit. I’m thinking I should have pushed a little harder to find out what he did for a living before I let him suck me to orgasm. But for now, I had to figure out how I was going to get out of this. I’d start with stalling.
“What do your serial killer friends call you? Because Mr. Smith is already taken and he's a superior actor.”
“Robin,” he says moving closer.
“Like the sidekick,” I chuckle at my own joke.
“Not like the sidekick,” he begins circling me again and licking his lips.
“Okay so, I have to be honest here. I’ve never been in a real fight and I don’t have a weapon to protect myself with. It’s only fair you get rid of yours and we do this old school.”
“Old school?” he laughs. “You expect me to believe you’re not armed.”
“Search me,” I offer. “I just left work, I’m tired, hungry and unarmed. Pinky swear.”
“It’s been some time since I’ve snapped a neck,” he says removing his suit coat. “And yours is rather lovely…”
“So it’s a date,” I say forcing myself to relax and watch his movements. As he looks me up and down, I slow my breathing and taunt him with, “Ladies first.”
Listen, I wasn’t lying. I’ve never been in a real fight. But I have spent my life learning from the best and no B movie cast off was snapping any part of my body. And I let him know that by landing a diagonal knee strike.
Hitting the floor, he rolls and comes up swinging wild. Blocking his reach, I lunge forward issuing a straight punch that clearly shocked him. “Who the fuck are you?” he asks wiping blood from his mouth. “I’m done playing, bitch.”
“So, I can stop holding back now?” I taunt him by twirling. And yes, my mom insisted on ballet to help with flexibility. She is a very wise woman. Listen to your mother, girls.
With fury, he attacks and when his fist lands in the soft of my gut, I doubled over grunting, “—didn’t learn that in school.”
And on it went for what felt like forever but was actually just a matter of minutes. When he went for his coat, I gave Robin a punishing curving knee strike which put him down hard. “Oh my God, I am super good at this!” I praise myself. Pointing at him, I accuse, “And you were going to cheat! Fucker!”
“Kill you,” he growls trying to stand.
“Unless you plan to do it with your death glare, Robin, I suggest you get up. I've got shit to do.”
And that’s when the air shifted.