Page 48 of Cast to be Mine

Grace pushed through the glass doors, her security flanking her. She was already Elena—tired from a long day but still sharp, still alert. She made it ten feet before the first attacker emerged from the shadows.

Grace screamed. A raw sound that raised the hairs on my arms a second before she started the fight sequence. She twisted, kicked, threw her weight against them exactly like we’d rehearsed.

“Cut!”

The stunt team set Grace down gently. I was already moving toward her, checking the playback on my handheld monitor.

“That was perfect,” I said. “The scream was incredible. Let’s go again from the top, same energy.”

We ran the scene four more times, each take capturing something slightly different. By the fifth take, I had what I needed.

“Alright, let’s swap in Jessie for the van throw. Grace, you’re done with this setup.”

Grace stepped aside, breathing hard, while Jessie took her position.

We wrapped the van sequence around three in the morning. We’d gotten everything we needed.

“That’s a wrap on tonight!” I called out, pulling off my headset. “Great work, everyone. Call time tomorrow is pushed to noon to give everyone time to recover.”

A tired cheer went up from the crew. Night shoots always took it out of people, but the footage we’d captured was worth every hour of lost sleep. Grace had been incredible. I was reviewing the last take on my monitor when Patty approached, looking frazzled.

“Micah, we’ve got a problem.”

“What kind of problem?”

“Grace’s driver.” Patty checked her clipboard. “There’s been a mix-up with the transport schedule. John was supposed to be here, but apparently someone told him the shoot was wrapping at midnight. He’s already gone home for the night, and I can’t reach him.”

I glanced across the set to where Grace was having her makeup removed by a very sleepy artist. She looked exhausted.

“Can we get a rideshare?”

“Insurance won’t cover it. Lead actors have to use approved transportation.” Patty’s expression was apologetic. “I can try to track down another driver from the pool, but at this hour it’s going to be tough.”

“Don’t worry about it.” I waved her off. “My driver’s here. I’ll have him drop her off first, then take me home.”

“You sure?”

“It’s fine.”

Patty looked relieved. “I’ll let her know.”

I finished up and found Grace waiting near the production vehicles, a jacket thrown over her now-wrinkled suit. She’d taken down her hair, leaving it in loose waves around her shoulders. Even exhausted, she was stunning.

“I hear I’m getting a ride with the boss,” she said as I approached.

“Apparently someone forgot to tell your driver we were shooting until dawn.” I gestured toward the black SUV idling at the curb.

“I appreciate it. I was about two seconds away from curling up on the craft services table and calling it a night.”

I opened the back door for her. She slid in with a grateful sigh. I climbed in after her, settling into the leather seat as the driver pulled away from the curb.

The city was quiet at this hour. Grace leaned her head against the window, watching the streets slide by.

“You were amazing tonight,” I said. “That scream in the first take? I actually got chills.”

She turned to look at me, a tired smile playing at her lips. “I may have channeled some real fear. Those stunt guys are huge.”

I laughed and relaxed. It was nice with just the two of us in the quiet dark.