Total pages in book: 125
Estimated words: 125248 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 626(@200wpm)___ 501(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 125248 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 626(@200wpm)___ 501(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
Cassidy leaned closer, pushing his palm harder into Xander’s back. “No stopping. No autographs.”
Xander’s mouth curved faintly. “Mmm, bossy.”
“And no distracting me.”
They crossed towards the stage building in a tight, clean formation.
Inside, the studio had tried to pretend it was a normal filming day.
It wasn’t.
The crew gave Xander a wide berth. The director spoke too brightly. The movie extras in the upcoming scene kept glancing toward Xander when he wasn’t looking. Set assistants near the buffet table were whispering then stopped when he glanced in their direction.
But Xander was gracious as always, greeting people by name and asking about their families. He thanked the extras and the cast for being so understanding and patient. He took a little over two hours in wardrobe and makeup, then stepped onto set when called and became someone else completely. Cassidy had seen Xander act before, but today he watched him through different eyes.
Xander was his.
He delivered take after take and received direction without ego. Reset without complaint. Hit his mark every time, even when the room went quiet after one scene landed harder than they’d expected.
Cassidy’s pride swelled until it pressed against his bruises.
By late morning, Xander was performing so effortlessly it was as if nothing chaotic was happening in his life, and the set began to move at a more normal pace.
At lunchtime people had stopped tiptoeing around him, and the cast and crew were back to laughing and playing little pranks.
But his security never relaxed.
While Xander filmed an interior scene at the end of the day, Cassidy asked one of his trusted men, Kellan, to take point while he went into the security office for a short break.
He needed a few minutes to stretch and pop a couple of Tylenol. He snatched a Gatorade from the buffet table, and noticed God standing outside, staring hard at his phone.
Day was beside him. Ruxs and Green had come in from their exterior rotation, replaced with more of his men. Tech and Steele leaned against the wall a few feet away with their arms crossed.
No one was joking.
Cassidy detoured and went to them. “What’s going on?”
God didn’t glance up. “Just got an email from our captain.”
Day rubbed a hand over his jaw. “It’s an official notice.”
Green’s stare stayed on God. “They shut us down?”
Tech read from his tablet. “Administrative dissolution of the specialized task force, effective immediately. Personnel to be reassigned pending budget review.”
Cassidy stared at God. His face appeared carved from stone, stoic. But Cassidy knew the sight of a gutted man.
“We all knew this was the likely outcome,” Day said.
Ruxs scowled. “Reassigned to what? Traffic? Patrol unit?”
“I’ll retire first,” Green scoffed.
“Now isn’t the time to discuss logistics,” Day said.
God pocketed his phone. “Agreed. We have a job to do right now. Stay focused.”
Cassidy had only been around them for a few weeks, but he knew God and his team were a family forged in brotherhood and survival.
Free’s voice came through their comms pieces. “We can challenge it.”
God shook his head. “No. If they want us gone…then we’re gone.”
Ruxs dragged both hands over his head. “What about Syn?”
Cassidy hadn’t heard that name before, but he knew there were a few members of God’s team who’d stayed in Atlanta.
God glanced at Tech. “Still nothing?”
Tech looked grim. “He’s not answering any calls. His Hart Locator is offline. And last I’ve heard from Ro, he left his place and went to Fox and Bull’s ranch. That was this morning.”
Day let out a slow breath. “Maybe that’s not the worst thing.”
“That’s not what we do,” God said. “None of us can just go off the grid. No matter what’s going on.”
“We know where he is. Fox’ll take care of him,” Day said. “Come on guys, we still got one of our own that needs us here.”
Steele glanced toward the monitor showing Xander on set.
Cassidy’s earpiece crackled.
“Kellan to Morrison. Scene wraps in five. Starlight moving exterior for trailer return.”
Cassidy straightened. “Copy. On my way.”
Cassidy felt for God and his team. His life at home was being dismantled and he couldn’t do shit about it because he was two thousand miles away.
The sun had set hours ago, and the cast and crew had thinned to a few stragglers. Xander stood outside near the trailers with Wyatt Stanis and two new actresses appearing in the sequel. He was laughing at something one of the women said, sunglasses pushed into his hair, the late light catching the pale gold in his waves. He seemed even younger for a second, and so carefree. Cassidy stood a few feet away, while Ruxs worked the forward angle and Green monitored the route to the Hummer.
Free came over the comms, “South service has a driver refusing to turn around. Driving a white maintenance truck with no studio decal.”
“Which gate?” Tech answered.
“South service, gate four.”
Cassidy tilted his head. “Mara, Kellan.”