Page 72 of Last First Kiss
“Yeah, we’re good. Have to have someone pick up the car, though. Keep safe. File a report, call NHN, and let Jax or Joey know.”
“Got it, kid,” he said as she hung up with a frown.
“What happened now?”
“I hate it when they call me kid.” She shook her head and then explained what Ben had said. “I’m glad we didn’t risk going the other way.”
Rocco rubbed the palm of his hand over his face. God, she was losing it and he wasn’t sure how to break the news. “Annabelle, please don’t take this the wrong way, but they weren’t going to kill me. I’m used to a crowd of people. This was overkill.”
“How’s this overkill? Did you want to be ambushed by an angry mob?”
“The news was there. No one was going to pull out a gun. It would’ve been a huge pain in the ass, but it would have been okay.”
She processed that. Would it have been okay? Last time she was in a crowd of people, things were not okay. Not at all.
Was she taking this job overboard? She hadn’t doubted her ability before, but now . . .
Her phone rang as she was mulling it over. “Bad news. The set was destroyed,” Joey said, alarmed.
“What?”
“Burned down completely. Almost everyone was out but a few crew members were hurt fighting with the mob. Annie, these people are serious. I’m thinking there’s more to this than we thought. Their purpose is to sabotage this movie, completely. And they are not afraid to get violent. I’m going to the set. See what I can get from the cops and the scene before I pick you up. You’re safe?”
“Yeah. No worries. Keep me posted.”
“By the way, rumors are that Julia is going to take a big hit from this. The studio is livid and is fining her through the nose, since it was her fault.”
“Good. It’s deserved.”
“Certainly is. Call you back.”
“We didn’t overreact,” she said, setting her phone down. “The set burned down. There’s some injuries. Julia is getting fined. Paul would probably know more about that, though.”
“Are you serious?”
“Dead serious. I have a bad feeling, Rocco. Joey does too. Don’t make me question my decisions again. I know what I’m doing, and I have to trust my instincts.”
“Well then, fuck. Colombia’s going to be interesting.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
NHN to pay a fine of seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars after the set for the filming of El Traficante was set on fire in the middle of the Everglades, Friday afternoon. Government officials are calling it negligence on the part of NHN. NHN is claiming arson. Regardless, NHN is responsible for any damage in the national park while shooting on site. It took five hours to put the fire out. Rocco Monroe was not seen leaving the set, but reports have him safe and sound at his Coral Gables home. It is rumored that NHN will pull the plug on the movie after all the setbacks . . .
“You okay?” Paul asked, his voice serious and concerned.
“Yeah, fine. Just had to outrun the paps. Is the movie really getting pulled?”
“No. But the studio has decided to keep quiet about future shoots. Only the immediate crew will be given details and it will be a completely closed set. We don’t want any leaks.”
“So we’re still flying out tomorrow?”
“No, the studio’s going to convene and figure things out,” Paul said. “I just drove by your house and it is swarming with news vans. Go somewhere safe, I’ll call you when I know more,” Paul said before hanging up.
After they finished their beers, they each went to the bathroom to try to wipe off some of the mud, but it was of no use. They’d need a pickax to take the hardened dirt off their skin. Plus, they were itching from all the mosquito bites.
“How are you not going crazy?” he asked, scratching his red and bumpy arm.
She shrugged. “Been though worse, I guess.”
