Chapter 9
Dante
Autumn’s kiss with Jason was roaring thunder in my heart. My pulse thumped so loudly in my ears that I barely caught the fight coordinator’s cut. My hands shook from adrenaline and annoyance that I couldn’t get that image out of my head. Breathing heavily, I cracked my neck and knuckles, wiped the sweat from my eyes, and scanned the bodies groaning on the ground all around me.
I should be relieved that Autumn didn’t get the part. They gave it to some LA girl that was fucking the director. She was about as green as Autumn when it came to stunts so it’d be almost the same amount of work on my end. Autumn was by far the better actress though, but that never mattered.
Whatever. This would be easier for me now, because I didn’t care what happened to the LA girl. I’d do exactly what Lionhouse wanted; I’d make train her for four weeks and walk away. Whatever happened after that was all on them.
So why couldn’t I stop thinking about Autumn and her mother, then?
My own mother was gone. I couldn’t help but wonder, what she would think of me right now? Knowing I had the power to help Autumn and her family, but didn’t do it because I was afraid of my past catching up.
And afraid of myself if I fell for her.
I’m not the hero of this story. I’m something so much worse.
The stunt guys slowly got back up. They grabbed their guns, walked back to their first position, and muttered under their breath to each other. Even with pads on, they shook the soreness out of their limbs. I didn’t feel at all bad for them if I was going too rough. All of them were martial artists in their early twenties and they were being paid extremely well to be here.
They should be able to take it.
I couldn’t shake how incredible Autumn looked all done up. I thought Linda and Melissa would strip Autumn of her natural beauty, but they only enhanced it. I’d burned every inch of her into my mind. Every soft, enticing feature complemented every other part of her. Deep reddish brown hair layered around her face like a cascade of dark chocolate perfectly framing her. Her dark lashes and dusky eye shadow sucked all the attention in the room into her warm, brown eyes.
Her beauty made the kiss even more difficult to watch.
Why did that bother me so much? She wasn’t mine, and now that I was the one training her, she never could be. Still, that anger at Jason seared my insides like a steak on hot cast iron skillet. It took everything I had to walk out of that room…
And not take Jason’s fucking head off.
“Can we take a breather, Boss-man?” Tony, a heavier-set Asian stunt guy asked Henry, the fight coordinator. While both Tony and Kevin were too goofy and laid back for my liking, they were always brought their A game when the cameras were rolling so I kept hiring them. “We’ve been doing this all day.”
“Then why haven’t you gotten it right yet?” I snapped before Henry could answer. Tony’s lips pushed together in a stiff white line as he fell silent.
The other unions—Set Decoration, Carpenters and the Scenic Artists—gave us a wide berth as they worked on the rest of the warehouse set for the running gunfight we were filming later in the week.
Even they could feel the intensity in the air.
Being that this was a Lionhouse film, I was the de facto stunt coordinator. It was part of my original exclusivity contract with them. With bigger films or while multiple shows filmed simultaneously, I brought in fight coordinators to help with the nuts and bolts of action heavy scenes. Henry was at the top of that list. Although technically I was his boss, during the scenes he was coordinating, I followed his lead. He understood film fighting better than anyone and was the best martial artist I knew.
“We go again.” Henry leaned against the plastic-wrapped pallet of boxes in our section of the warehouse and frowned at me, but kept his concerns private. His high cheekbones and severe features gave him a quiet disapproving look. He critiqued everyone, fine tuning the timing, flow and intensity of the fight that would really bring it to life on camera on the day we shot. He drew a quick circle above his head with his hand, motioning for us to get ready. “One more, then we take a break.”
Let her go. You know the rules. My dull inner voice took on Mitch’s smooth, charismatic pitch to the point where I couldn’t tell the two points of view apart. Why don’t we ever get attached?
Despite the years since I’d seen him, all of Mitch’s hard lessons were as much a part of me as my hair color or my scars. I knew in my heart of hearts, that regardless of how many films I did or how many people I trained and kept safe on set, it was all just pretend. I was only one bad day away from turning back into the man he made me.
We don’t get attached because the ones we love always get hurt.
That was my very first lesson. It was the hardest to learn. I could still feel the cold steel of his gun barrel pushing into the side of my head as they all made me watch. That was the last day I ever cried.
“Remember half speed, guys,” Henry repeated, although everyone in that room knew he was only talking to me. He lifted his handheld camera and called it. “And ACTION!”
Thick, three-inch-wide strips of plastic cascaded over me as I stalked through the loading dock entrance. The first two guys rushed me, the first with a pipe, and the second with a shotgun. I dipped in close just beneath the arc of the pipe swing, then stripped it away, and used it to take them both down.
Every stunt performer I dropped wore Mitch’s grizzled, clean-shaven face. His voice vibrated in the back of my mind with old reaffirmations. Her kind of love isn’t for you
Three more stunt performers ran into frame unleashing a hail—of what would later be added as CGI—bullets. Using the first guy as a human shield, I scooped up the shotgun and shot out would be steam pipe after the scenic art team was finished with it. When we filmed, it would level the playing field for my character. We didn’t have the actual fog yet either, which was fine because it didn’t matter for our practice. Everyone in the affected area just pretended that the warehouse was filling with steam. As each performer stumbled out of the make-believe fog choking and firing wildly, I stepped in with a cloth over my mouth and took them apart, punishing blow after punishing blow.
You were raw when I took you in, Dante. An angry slab of malleable steel. Mitch’s voice crept into the recesses of my memory. I forged you, refined you, and gave you purpose. Every time I brought my hammer down and put you through the fire I hardened you, made you stronger.
This was a particularly vicious fight scene. The director wanted it to look as violent as possible. No fancy spin kicks, or elaborate wall run takedowns, just elbows, knees, and hard impacts. With the way I’d been feeling this past week that was exactly the performance I would give them.
I could do violent.
Kevin came in too high and fast. My footwork wasn’t right. I was off balance, but I still managed to lock his gun hand up. I strained against him, making a good show of the rising tension. Kevin was quick and had me at a disadvantage. Sometimes to make it work on camera you couldn’t pull your punches. You had to go all out.
I gave you an edge, then showed you how to sharpen it. Why the fuck are you using the dull backend of the blade?
Kevin squeezed off two rounds as we wrestled for control of the pistol. The gasses and tiny particles from the blanks tore thin, shallow scratches into the side of my face. I growled against the red, ringing in my ears from the blanks being fired off way too close, caught my footing and put my weigh into him. The plastic chest protector Kevin wore cracked loudly against my punch to his sternum. Despite the nearly football-rated pads, he dropped hard, wheezing for air.
Your tenacity and temper…you got a gift, Dante. Some people are born musicians and artists. You’re a killer, boy. You have the heart of a great white shark.
And it took me ten years to realize that Mitch had the heart of a crocodile.
Todd, the tallest of the stunt guys, grabbed me from behind. It took a conscious effort to avoid breaking his nose when I did the choreographed reverse headbutt. I got my snap nice and crisp, catching only air, and he staggered back like he was supposed to. The camera only reads two dimensions so you don’t need to be anywhere near a person sometimes to sell a good hit. That’s why I heard a muffled gasp when I followed up with a heavy right cross and felt the tip of Todd’s nose graze the back of my hand.
Tony was the last one standing, firing wildly with an assault riffle. I didn’t know if it was him or if he was acting the part, but he radiated trepidation as he approached. I’d ducked behind a pillar and some warehouse equipment and waited for him to lose me.
You can’t escape me forever Dante.
The second Tony came into to striking range I lit him up with a series of light blows that would look devastating on camera. My vision was a cloudy red mist. I was too distracted with my past and thoughts of Mitch and the old crew catching up with me while I was training Autumn to pull back when I needed to.
It’s only a matter of time. I’m coming for you, boy.
Crack.
My elbow buzzed with sobering pain, clearing my head immediately. Tony’s head snapped hard to the side, his eyes rolling up into his skull. He was unconscious before he hit the ground. During a stunt fight, you knew right away when you fucked up.
And I’d just fucked up.
“Cut!” Henry yelled. Not even he could hide the frustration and inevitability from his voice.
“Shit.” I dropped to a knee to see if he was alright, but the onset medic stepped in and pushed me out of the way. Tony was already coming to when the medic rolled him onto his back. He was only out for a second, but that didn’t matter. Hitting him like that was extremely unprofessional of me.
“Everyone take lunch, we’re back in forty-five. Dante, can I talk to you?” Although I didn’t mind confrontation, Henry was far too professional for any kind of public argument. He led me toward the stairwell to the second floor that led to a closed children’s Karate studio.
“You’re not the easiest guy to work with on good days,” He said flatly, his thick, Chinese accent making his words sound even harsher than he probably meant them. “What’s going on with you? Why are you being an asshole?”
To most people Henry came off as abrasive and cold. He was a blunt man with his opinions, typically speaking without restraint when he found it appropriate to do so. The film industry was chock full of sycophants and smiling liars, which was why I liked having Henry around. He and I respected each other enough to be brutally honest, and we worked well together because of that.
If I was the type of guy who had friends, he might’ve been one of them.
“My head… I’ve just got a lot going on right now.” I paused, wanting to explain myself and my actions more, but there was so much I couldn’t find words for. “It’s a long story. I’m not feeling great today.”
Exhaustion hit me like a tidal wave of molasses. My adrenaline had crested leaving only bitter depression in its wake. I’d been going too hard with everything lately, but this… There was no excuse for kicking the shit out of my employees.
I remembered when I first started stunt work, how much I enjoyed the challenges that came with every new production. I was never the starry-eyed type, but I used to get excited. The spike of energy that coursed through my veins when the director told me we only had a few takes to pull something incredibly difficult off, then the adrenaline surge that came with nailing it on the first shot. Everyone would clap, scream and cheer for me. I was a rock star for just long enough to take any girl I wanted back to my trailer and fuck her brains out.
It was an amazing high.
Now I couldn’t even keep myself from hurting my own guys during a fucking practice. I slumped against the wall, running a hand through my hair. What the hell was I even doing here anymore?
It was so unlike me to be this twisted up inside. I always knew exactly what I was doing, always in control, but lately… What haunted me more than my past and the sight of Jason kissing Autumn was her face in the parking lot when she finally told me why she was doing all this.
My mother was the only person that ever told me I was a good person. I went on to do some horrible things, but always hoped deep down that she was right. Was that why I came back, for redemption? To see if she was right? Or maybe to prove to myself something I’d always known to be true?
That I was too far gone to be saved.
“You OK?” Henry’s eyebrows pushed together. He cocked his head back, squinting one eye just slightly. It was a surprised mix of concern and disbelief. I was never one to broadcast my feelings.
“I—” I started, but apathy stole my motivation. Invisible pressure was a mosh pit, crushing into me on all sides at the thought of opening up, even to someone I liked. It gave me a claustrophobic, drowning in daylight feeling. The last thing I wanted was someone I respected to see the real me. I sighed, shaking my head. “Yeah. Just tired is all. Listen, I’m going to cut out early. You mind stepping in for me?”
Henry gave a quick shake of his head and agreed.
“Good. Give the guys full stunt adjustments for the day.” A couple extra hundred bucks per person was better than any bullshit apology I could give them for being a prick.
“Grab a beer after? There’s a decent bar a few miles from here.” Henry nodded toward the direction of the bar.
I gave his offer some consideration. We’d done it a few times before when we had to figure out some of the more elaborate fight scenes. It was usually a good time, especially because Henry could never hold his liquor for long. Once I got him to sing Cyndi Lauper’s Girls Just Want to Have Fun at some karaoke dive bar. I laughed hard enough to bring me to tears.
That already felt like a lifetime ago now…
No. This was my problem to deal with.
“Nah.” I offered a convincing enough smirk. I had all the excuses in the world. “I have to get everything ready for this new actress I’m training. Maybe next time.”
The heart of it was that I could risk my life every day, but sharing my emotions just scared me too much. Besides, there wasn’t any coming back from what I’d done. It was best to just keep moving. It didn’t hurt as much that way.
“Next time.” Henry agreed, extending his hand. His face softened into a half smile when we shook. He placed his other hand on my shoulder with a clasp. I recognized it for what it was; an unspoken goodbye.
Avoiding everyone else, I grabbed my crash bag with all my pads and left out the back stairwell.
My mind was made up by the time I walked outside and felt a warm sliver of sunlight that escaped through a hole in the dreary overcast sky. It never took me long to come to big decisions. I’d tell production to have Henry double the actor in my place for this movie when they went to film. I’d never see him or any of those other guys ever again.
It wasn’t the first time I’d burned everything to the ground and walked away. Not that I could do that just yet, Lionhouse had an incredible reach. If I bailed now I’d be on the FBI Most Wanted List before I ever made it on a plane.
Of all the terrible things I’d done in Mitch’s crew, I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I let Autumn’s mother die the same way mine did. There was no getting around it; I had one last obligation to take care of.
I called Lionhouse executive offices and had the receptionist put me through to the CEO, Jonathan. “It’s me. The only way this is going to work is if you hire Autumn Moore for the role.”
“The director has already made her decision,” Jonathan answered.
“I don’t care. You get the final word. Pick Autumn.”
“Why the hell should I do that?” Jonathan scoffed.
“I know there’s something going on with Jane. Speeding up the training time, unrealistic demands, she wants all of this too badly.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Jonathan was caught off guard, but quickly recovered with a canned response. “It’s always been Lionhouse’s goal to combine quality content with—”
“Tell me, Mr. CEO. How is life on Jane’s short leash? Is it starting to feel like a noose yet?” I replied, daring him to answer. Jonathan stayed quiet. Yeah, that’s what I thought. “If you do this, then I’ll owe you a favor.”