Page 59 of Camera Stays On

“Jesus Christ, Juliet.” Bea shook her head. “We’re not talking about the movie right now. We have a dead body and a gunshot victim.”

“Sounds like the perfect setup for a summer blockbuster,” Juliet muttered and walked out of the room.

What the fuck.

Maybe I wasn’t actually awake. Had I died? Was this fever-induced psychosis? Surely this wasn’t real.

“Come on, Andi, let’s get you to bed,” Ash muttered.

I closed my eyes as he slid his hands under my back and legs, but I was in too much pain to assist him, and instead lay limp in his arms as he carried me up to my room and laid me on my bed. The soft mattress was barely felt.

“Now what?” Bea asked, having followed behind him.

“Someone stay with her while I go deal with my brother.”

“Ash…” I groaned.

He was beside me in a flash. “You’re gonna be okay. Bea will stay with you. Rest, okay?”

I nodded, and then as if my brain were finally giving me permission, everything went dark.

Chapter 26

Andi

I FLUTTERED MY eyes open, finding a dim room.

“Hey, Andi, how are you feeling?” Bea’s voice pulled me harder out of unconsciousness. I raised my head, and a warm washcloth slipped down my face. She reached over and took it, offering me a cool one.

I sighed, the deep ache in my thigh vibrating through the muscle, causing me to groan.

“Where is Sawyer?” I blinked until my vision cleared. My brain was a little fuzzy, but I recalled some of the last few hours. I’d gotten between both brothers, and Sawyer shot me. Bea explained that she and Asher had been taking turns watching over me, but now, it was just Bea and me in my room. She put her arm underneath my back and helped me sit up, and then she went to turn on the light.

“He’s outside.” She frowned. “Can I get you some aspirin?”

“Yes, please.” Bea exited, and while she was gone, I looked down and examined the damage. The left pant leg had been cut off, and a bloodied shirt was wrapped tightly around my thigh. I dropped my head back as tears blurred my vision. Why hadn’t I been taken to a hospital? I was shot, and they put a T-shirt over the hole. This was not what people did.

“How long was I out?” I asked Bea when she came back, not taking my attention from the gash in my thigh. “Where is everyone?”

Bea looked at her watch. “About six hours, give or take. The crew is outside, arguing with Sawyer about what to do with Lux.”

Oh right. Lux was dead.

“For six hours?” I shook my head in confusion. She shrugged.

“They’ve been trying to convince him to call the police, but with Sawyer still holding the gun…” She nodded at my leg. “Last I’d heard, they decided to just do what he says. They’re getting rid of Lux’s body themselves.” She said it in such a deadpan tone I didn’t even bother asking about going to a hospital. I sighed and took the pills and water from her.

I guess it could be worse than my current state. I could be dead.

“I glanced at your wound. He didn’t hit anything major, and the bleeding’s mostly stopped. You’re really lucky,” she said. I didn’t feel lucky. Leaning forward, I gently started to untie the shirt. Bea hurried over and swatted my hand back. “Let me help.” She stepped in, gently peeling the fabric away.

My breath caught as my gaze zeroed in on the wound. I leaned over, reaching my hand out. The hole was about the size of the tip of my pinky. But it looked deep and dark. Was the bullet still in there? It hurt like it was. The rest of the surrounding area was a deep purple and blue hue from bruising.

Biting back bitterness and vomit, I flipped the fabric back over the wound and changed the subject.

“Are they burying her?”

Bea moved to tie the shirt back over the hole. “I’m not sure. I assume so. Sawyer isn’t letting anyone call for help.”