Page 32 of Camera Stays On

“Very,” he agreed. “I figured with some paint and fake blood it’ll only make things creepier.”

He wasn’t wrong.

“Let’s get this cleaned up. Sawyer wants to move everyone in next week.”

“How?” I guffawed. “You can’t. The mildew smell alone—”

“Sawyer’s taking care of it. It’s part of the deal for getting to film here. He’s going to fix the place up.”

I frowned. “Is that where he’s spending his funding? Do they know this?” I asked.

“Who?”

“The producers. Sawyer said people bought in already.”

Ash raised an eyebrow and then shook his head.

“No, they all backed out. That’s why he’s selling the house. He’s funding the movie himself. Did he not tell you that?”

“No. He didn’t.” My gaze drifted off as the weight of everything began to fall down around me.

Sawyer didn’t tell me about the producers backing out because he knew I wouldn’t come. That ten-thousand-dollar check was a dupe.

But it was too late. I had nowhere to go, no job to speak of, and no way to leave.

Chapter 14

Andi

Two weeks later

“HERE, YOU CAN sit next to me.” Sawyer pulled out a chair from the grand table in the dining room of the mansion and smiled at me. I fought back a visible reaction. These last ten days or so had been awkward and stressful, trying to avoid his advances while hiding any hint that I could be interested in Ash. It was like dodging landmines every few feet. It was all so taxing I hardly had time to fully absorb what I’d left behind.

My job had mysteriously burned down, along with my living space and all my belongings. What was my plan after this movie wrapped? It was all so overwhelming I couldn’t think about it without getting a headache.

“Andi, come here real quick.” Ash and I exchanged glances. I walked to the other side of the room, and the rest of the movie’s crew filed in from the living room. There were three men and three women added to the production of the film, bringing our total to nine, with Sawyer, Asher, and me. From what Sawyer had told me, they were all acquaintances from college.

After I’d left, of course.

A tall, pretty woman with long, lush dirty-blond hair and an hourglass figure sat down in the spot Sawyer had wanted for me. He pursed his lips and scowled. I wondered briefly if he’d make her move, but I gave him a quick shrug and sat down at the opposite end of the table. Both brothers took the end caps.

Things had moved quickly once I got back to town. Sawyer had just enough money to get the mansion up and running. The mold had been taken care of, Asher and I cleaned as much as we could, and they’d moved in the equipment needed to make the movie. The house was so large that, to keep within our small budget, we would be staying in one wing and filming in another, plus the surrounding woods.

Sawyer went to sit, but the doorbell rang, and we all turned. He raised his eyebrows suggestively. “Pizza’s here.” He darted out of the dining room to get the food, and Asher stood and headed to the kitchen, muttering about beer. He returned a beat later with a six-pack, offering it to the others at the table. The men all took a tall can, but the women declined. Sawyer came back and slid the pizzas into the middle of the table.

“There’s a box for everyone. Dig in.” He grabbed his plate and opened a box, pulling out a piece of pepperoni. Sawyer popped the tab on his beer, and the table erupted with hungry chatter as everyone stood to grab food. I stayed seated, waiting until it died down before getting a piece of pineapple and bacon.

“This is the first official meeting of the cast and crew of our little movie,” Sawyer said after we’d all settled in. “Let’s get introductions out of the way. Name, why we’re here—”

“And three fun facts about ourselves?” Asher snickered. The table laughed but died down quickly when everyone caught sight of Sawyer’s eyes, narrowed into slits at his brother.

“Fuck you, Ash.” He flipped him the middle finger and rolled his eyes. “Asher, if anyone didn’t realize, is my older brother. He’s hosting us here.” There was a bitterness in his tone that made me nervous. Sawyer turned his attention to the pretty blonde on his right. “Let’s start with you, Juliet.”

The woman beamed, then waved.

“Hi, I’m Juliet. Sawyer and I are...”

“Friends,” Sawyer said firmly.