Page 3 of Reckless Storm
Her eyes light up in victory, reinforcing the fact that I can’t say no to her.
“I’ll take it,” she says, squeezing my leg as she bounces around on the couch. “For now, anyway. I have no doubt I’ll change your mind.”
CHAPTER ONE
Hayley
THREE MONTHS EARLIER
“And… Action.”
Tears streak my face as I run forward, my gaze never leaving the man in front of me, watching as he falls to the rugged terrain, the life leaving his eyes before his body hits the dirt.
I’d scream but it’s no use. I’m too late. And it’s all my fault.
My heart shatters as I reach him, a million shards cutting me from the inside, destroying me like I destroyed him. A broken cry pierces the silence, and it’s only when I fall to my knees and wrap my arms around him that I realize it was mine.
Someone touches my back but I shake them off. I don’t deserve their sympathy.
Before we met, this man was an angel. Now he’s been reduced to nothing more than the skin and bones tucked beneath my grasp. The frail human that risked everything to protect me.
A man willing to die for someone born to be a killer.
I cry again, but this time my wail isn’t so foreign to my ears. This time I recognize it for what it is—the sound of a woman scorned. The sound of a woman losing the last shred of innocence she’d been trying so hard to hold on to. The sound of a woman realizing she’s just lost the love of her life, when he was the only good thing left in her world.
Leaving me as a shadow of my former self.
And shadows can easily be taken to the dark side.
“Cut. That was perfect.”
“Oh. Thank God.” I release a long, obnoxious sigh and slowly lift to my feet, wiping the tears from my eyes as my co-star Evan stares up at me, awe in his expression.
“Holy shit, Hayley. You nailed that. I think I might actually be in love with you.”
“Shut up.” I happily wave him off, appreciating his humor after one of the most intense days of filming that I’ve ever experienced.
Evan’s eyes widen as his gaze drifts to someone behind me, and I don’t need to look to know it’s our director. We’ve been working on this scene for days and that last moment was the final piece to the puzzle and, in my opinion, the most crucial. The turning point for my character. One I had to get right. There was no other option.
The movie we’re making is based on a book. An extremely popular cult-like book. And if I hadn’tnailed it,as Evan said, I’d be crucified at the stake. There’d be no coming back from this.
Yet… I feel freaking amazing because I just gave the performance of my life and I couldn’t be prouder of myself.
“HayleyfuckingJackman.” Our director, Steve, pulls me into a hug, suffocating me in his grip, confirming that he’s just as relieved as I am. “There are tears in my fucking eyes and I’m three times divorced after all my exes left me for my lack of emotion. Turns out, I’ve just been waiting for you to bring it out of me. Maybe my next marriage will work out fine.”
I laugh awkwardly while Evan rolls his eyes. Steve’s known for his eccentric happy-go-lucky manner, but he’s also known as a director who never gives compliments unless they are well and truly earned. We usually find out we’ve done something right when the assistant director, otherwise known as the AD, announces we’re moving on to a new scene while Steve casually walks off set, waving cheerfully as he goes.
It’s been a ride, but one I wouldn’t get off, even if you had a gun to my head.
“Honestly, Steve, I’m not sure I’ve ever felt that connected to a scene. Any chance we can go back and re-record a few other scenes now that I’m in the zone?” I elbow him in the chest and comically wince until he smiles.
“Not on your life, Jackman. But…” He pauses, and I find myself leaning in with anticipation, as does Evan.God knows why.“I will admit that you have nothing to worry about. You were born to play Riley. Audiences are going to love it.”
He walks away without waiting for my response while Evan and I stare at him in shock.
“Did that really just happen?” Evan’s the first to speak, his eyes on Steve’s back as he heads over to our AD.
“I think it did,” I whisper, my voice trapped as I process. “And I hate to say it, but that means hell just froze over.”
