The cool water was soothing against Blade’s tight shoulders as he sliced through the water in smooth, rhythmic strokes. Twenty minutes later, when he stepped out of the lap pool and dried off, he felt a little better. He was grateful the hotel had a private pool for VIP guests, because he much preferred swimming to exercising in the workout room. As he walked back to his suite, the jitters returned. The day after tomorrow, Christian Ross was arriving on set and they’d spend the next few days filming together. Acting alongside the great Christian Ross was more than a little intimidating. The man was Hollywood royalty, after all. Blade still found it hard to believe he’d gotten this chance to star in a heavy-hitting action movie. Hostile Territory would be Christian’s last movie as the famed Jase Scott, rogue CIA operative. This movie was a step in grooming Blade to take over the series. Christian would pass the torch, along with the keys to the kingdom. Now all Blade had to do was keep from blowing it.
He offered a perfunctory nod to the burly bodyguard standing outside the door of his hotel suite.
“How ya doing, Mr. Sloan?” the man said in a sing-song, island tone.
“Good, thank you.” He tried to recall the guy’s name. It was Tal … from Tonga? Or was it Samoa? Blade stepped into the spacious suite, decked out in what his personal assistant termed Hollywood Regency—fitting considering he was here making a movie. Although, Blade didn’t have a clue about interior design. All he knew was that the suite was ultra-fancy with the lavishly curved furniture and shiny metal accents, like something out of an old Hollywood movie. He strode over to the mini-fridge in the corner and grabbed a water. He guzzled down the entire bottle in a few swigs, then crushed the empty plastic with one hand and tossed it into the trash like he was scoring a basket. “Two points.”
He sighed, not looking forward to the long afternoon and evening stretching before him—too much time to think about everything that could wrong the day after tomorrow. He sighed, pushing aside the negative thoughts. He needed to resume the mental exercises his acting coach had taught him. He forced his mind to run through the litany of events for the evening. He’d eat dinner with his older brother Doug, who was about as conversational as a fence post, in the hotel restaurant. Then he’d meander through the hotel lobby to the back terrace and make his way to the beach for a walk at sunset. And, of course, his bodyguard would linger nearby like an ominous shadow, reminding him that his life was forever changed. He was no longer Blake Stevens but Blade Sloan, a rising star. There were scores of people who’d give anything to be in his shoes, so he shouldn’t complain. He was grateful for this opportunity, but his climb to the top was starting to feel lonely. He was tempted to go out and enjoy the nightlife to blow off some steam, even if his bodyguard insisted on tagging along. But Doug would have a coronary at the mere mention of the idea. Doug was a rule follower to the nth degree, always warning Blade about the importance of keeping up a good appearance so the studio officials would consider him easy to work with. Until Blade became a household name, things were tenuous. At least that’s what Doug kept shoving down his throat. Blade scowled, then felt a twinge of guilt for mentally throwing his older brother under the bus. Somewhere, hidden deep within Doug’s iron-clad exterior was a good guy—Blade was sure of it. Thanks to Doug, Blade had gotten his start, so it seemed only fair to bring Doug on as his manager. When they started filming Hostile Territory, the director took one look at Doug and cast him as Blade’s body double, which was a perk for Doug who loved acting. From a distance, Blade and Doug looked similar. Both were just over six feet tall with a lean, muscular build. Both had dark brown hair and rugged features. Were it not for the difference in their eye color, they might’ve passed for twins. Doug’s eyes were greenish-brown whereas Blade’s were blue. Doug’s features were a little harsher than Blade’s, his face slightly thinner. And he looked older, but not much.
It was good to have family around, even though Doug drove him crazy. Deep down, however, Blade knew Doug was right. He had to remain focused to be able to give his all on set. And he couldn’t do that by staying out half the night at some nightclub, not when the bulk of his day tomorrow would be spent running through his lines so he’d be in top condition to act alongside Christian Ross the next day. Blade missed his friends in LA and toyed with the idea of either going there or home to Denver for Christmas. Filming for the movie went right up until the day before Christmas Eve and then resumed after the first of the year. It might be nice to get off the island for a week. He was enjoying Oahu, loved the beach, but it was hard to get in the Christmas spirit when everything was bright and sunny. He missed the snow and the Christmas traditions of decorating a tree and snuggling by a fire with a steaming cup of hot chocolate. Christmas had always been a big deal in his home growing up. His mother insisted on drenching the house in decorations and started playing Christmas music around-the-clock the day after Thanksgiving. A pang shot through him as he thought of his mother who’d passed away. Even though it was eleven years ago, he still missed her every day. What he would give to be able to talk to her again, put his arms around her to tell her how much he loved and appreciated her. She always knew the right thing to say when he asked for advice. She would know how to help him navigate through this stressful time. From the outside looking in, an actor’s life seemed like a never-ending thrill ride; but in reality, it was often mundane with countless hours spent on set—repeating takes of the same scene until the director finally captured the perfect shot.
Briefly, he thought about calling his co-star Eden to help ease the loneliness, but it wouldn’t be fair to give her the wrong idea. He chuckled, knowing it usually only took about five minutes before Eden started getting on his nerves. Besides that, he had a strict rule of not dating other actors. He didn’t want to be one of those actors who “fell in love” with every female co-star. Plus, if Doug even thought he was entertaining the idea of going out with Eden, he’d put together some elaborate PR campaign to generate hype around a budding romance. No, Blade certainly didn’t want that. He didn’t want to draw any more attention to his personal life than there was already.
Blade went down the hall to his room and tossed his towel over the back of a chair. He’d just come out of the shower, and thrown on a pair of shorts and t-shirt from the day before, when he spotted the box of chocolate-covered macadamia nuts in the center of the bed. Natalie his personal assistant, was the motherly type, always going the extra mile to make him feel comfortable. She knew how much he loved these things and must’ve gotten him a box. “Thank you, Natalie,” he said aloud as he picked up the box and lifted off the lid. His heart lurched when he saw what was inside—the one thing he hoped he’d never see again. He dropped the box like a hot coal, causing the single white rose to fall on the bed. The edges of the petals were tipped with blood that splattered across the white bedspread. There was a note—the same style as before.
His mind whirled. Had the stalker followed him to Hawaii? It seemed impossible … ridiculous. And yet, the evidence was right in front of him, plain as day. Beads of sweat lined his brow as he took in a ragged breath. Somehow, the person got past hotel security and his private security team before coming into his suite, to his bedroom. He glanced around, goose bumps lifting over his flesh. Had the stalker gone through his things? Was she lurking around the hotel, watching him? The thoughts made his stomach roil.
Things had been quiet the past month since he’d come to Hawaii to film. So much so that he’d begun to hope the ordeal was finally over. He’d felt safe and protected here, like nothing bad could touch him. He barked out a cynical laugh as he stumbled back and slumped down in a nearby chair. He should’ve known better. Stalkers didn’t give up so easily. That’s what the detective in LA had told him when he first started receiving random gifts and notes at the studio. At first, the gifts had been harmless—a teddy bear, bouquet of flowers, box of chocolates. Then he started finding items on the doorstep of his condo with notes attached—I saw you today on set. Why do you keep ignoring me?
The month before Blade left for Hawaii, the roses had started arriving. They were left in private areas where only Blade or his security team could go—his dressing room at the studio, his trailer on location, the bedroom of his condo. Each white rose was tinged with blood and had a note with it. The notes were made with words cut from magazines and newspapers. There were never any fingerprints or other distinguishing features that could point to the sender. He’d learned from lab tests by the police department that the blood came from small animals. Each note seemed to grow more desperate and menacing. Detectives investigated his case for six long months, turning up nothing. Who was this deranged person who got her jollies out of sending him random gifts and notes? Blade assumed it was a woman, but who the heck knew? A morbid curiosity propelled him to stand and read the note, making sure not to touch anything. Did you think I wouldn’t find you? You’re stabbing a stake through my heart! I need you.
His throat grew thick with fear as he swallowed and sat back down, trying to determine his best course of action. There was a single knock before the door burst open. Blade looked up as Doug stepped in. Doug took one look at Blade’s face and knew something was wrong.
“What up?” he demanded, the corners of his jaws twitching.
Blade motioned with his eyes to the bed. Doug’s eyes popped as he flinched. “When did this come?”
“It was on the bed when I got back from taking a swim.”
He swore. “How in the heck did someone manage to get past security?”
“I don’t know.” The stricken look on Doug’s face mirrored Blade’s own feelings. Why was this happening to him? It wasn’t as if he was a megastar. Granted, if this movie went as well as his agent was predicting, he’d become a superstar. But up to this point, his acting résumé was limited to being regular on a long-running soap opera and the star of an independent film with a scant audience.
Doug stuck his head out the door and yelled. “Natalie, get in here. You too, Tal,” he snapped.
A moment later, Tal hesitantly stepped into the bedroom. His jaw went slack when he saw the rose and splattered blood. “W-what’s this?”
Doug eyed him. “That’s exactly what I want to know.”
Natalie came rushing in. She took one look at the bed and gasped, her hands going to her mouth. “Oh, no. When did this come?”
“I went to the pool to swim a few laps. It was here when I got back.” Even as he spoke the words, the scope of the situation hit home. The walls seemed to be closing in around Blade, making it hard to get a good breath.
A wild look came into Natalie’s eyes as she turned to Doug. “What’re we going to do?”
Doug glared at Tal. “Did you see anyone enter the suite?”
Tal spread his hands. “No, I didn’t see nobody.”
Blade could feel the large man’s anxiety, noticed he was starting to sweat.
Doug stepped up to him, his voice heavy with accusation. “Were you standing in front of the door the whole time?”
“Um, yeah,” Tal said, but his head seemed to shrink into his thick neck as he broke eye contact with Doug and looked down at the floor.
“Tell me the truth,” Doug’s voice rose, his face going flush.
Tal drew back. “I mean, I was there the whole time … except for the time when I went to the bathroom.”
“What?” Doug raged. “I hired you to watch the suite, not hang out in the bathroom.”
“A man’s gotta relieve himself,” Tal mumbled.
Doug got up in his face. “What was that?”
The whites of Tal’s eyes popped as he blinked rapidly. “I had to go to the bathroom. I tried to call you, but you didn’t pick up. Maybe you should’ve hired two bodyguards instead of one. I was only gone for a couple of minutes.”
A murderous look came over Doug and for a split second, Blade thought he was going to lose it and throw a punch at Tal, which wouldn’t have ended well considering Tal was solid muscle and outweighed Doug by at least a hundred pounds. Doug balled his fists, his face squeezing with anger, but then he seemed to regain his control. “You’re fired,” he barked.
“What?” Tal frowned.
“You heard me,” Doug hurled through clenched teeth.
Blade jumped to his feet. “Hey, Doug, take it down a notch. It’s not Tal’s fault. He’s right. We should’ve hired two bodyguards per shift instead of one.”
Tal looked surprised, then vindicated.
Doug spun around, eyes flashing. “And just whose idea was it to scale down?”
The hair on Blade’s neck rose. He hated it when Doug got all high and mighty and started bullying everyone. “Mine,” he said evenly.
“That’s right, little brother, you made that decision despite my better judgment.” He jabbed a finger into Blade’s chest. “And look what happened.” He shook his head, giving Blade a withering look. “When’re you gonna learn to listen to me?”
The condescension in Doug’s voice was the last straw. Blade felt the urge to punch something. “Stop talking down to me like I’m ten.”
Doug smirked. “I’ll make a deal with you, little brother, you start acting like a grown-up and I’ll treat you like one.”
Blade looked Doug in the eye, not backing down an inch. “Don’t forget who pays the bills, brother.” He caught the momentary flicker of uncertainty in Doug’s eyes and knew he had him. Doug could get on his high-horse and act like he called the shots, but Blade was the one holding all the cards. He turned to Tal. “You’re not fired. You got that?”
Tal looked relieved, Doug furious.
Doug gave him a steely look. “You can stand here and act like the big man on campus all day, but if you don’t start improving your performance, we’ll all be out on our ears.”
“What’re you talking about?” He hated the smug expression on Doug’s face. Hated the unease that trickled down his spine. Hated how Doug took every opportunity to prove his superiority.
Doug straightened to his full height so they were standing eye to eye. “The director pulled me aside and expressed concern about your lackluster performance this week. He said if you have a prayer of making it in the big league, you’re gonna have to make some drastic improvements. You’re coming across stiff in front of the camera.”
“You’re lying. If Matt had a problem, he’d come to me.” His voice sounded desperate in his ears.
“You sure about that, bro? Matt came to me because he’s afraid you’re too fragile to hear the truth.”
Blade rocked back, not sure what to make of this. Sure, he’d been a little off lately, but that happened to everybody. It was hard to be a hundred percent all the time. “I’m not fragile,” he grumbled. Hearing that Matt had gone behind his back was a kick in the pants.
Doug sighed heavily. “Look, bro, I don’t have to tell you what an amazing opportunity this is. Christian Ross is coming Thursday.” His voice took on an urgent note. “You’ve got to deliver. If you don’t, someone else will.”
No one could ruffle Blade’s feathers faster than Doug. The comment sliced through him like a knife as he balled his fists. “Like you? Is that what you mean?” His voice rose. “Go ahead and say it because I know you’re thinking it. It should be you starring in the movie. You’re the one who’s been dreaming of making it big your entire life. I’m just your kid brother who happened to be on set at the right time … got the whole thing dumped in my lap.” He was tired of carrying guilt over something beyond his control. It wasn’t his fault the casting director had picked him for the soap opera role. And he’d worked his butt off ever since, trying to prove himself.
Doug chuckled as he shook his head. “You should heed your own advice and take it down a notch, bro. Those are your issues, not mine.”
“Don’t patronize me.” Blade saw the uncomfortable looks on Natalie and Tal’s faces. They looked embarrassed to be caught in the middle of the argument.
“Go ahead, throw your little tantrum and then be done with it, because you’ve got a job to do.” Doug motioned toward the bed. “And I’ve got a mess to clean up.” He retrieved his phone from his pocket.
Blade tensed. “What’re you doing?”
He rolled his eyes like Blade was a moron for asking. “For starters, I’m calling the hotel security to get them to check the surveillance footage, then I’m calling the cops.”
“No,” Blade blurted.
“What do you mean no? We don’t have another option. The stalker followed you to Hawaii. This is more serious than we thought.”
Blade knew Doug was right. It was serious, and calling the cops was the sensible thing to do, but Blade couldn’t stand the thought of everything starting up again—the heightened security with people following him 24/7. Everyone on eggshells, waiting for something bad to happen. “I can’t handle it right now.” He hated to admit that out loud, but it was true. He was sucking wind as it was. The pressure was getting to him. Somehow, he had to push the stress aside and focus on his craft. He needed space to prove he could be an A list actor. “If what you said about Matt is true, then I need to up my game. I can’t do that with the police breathing down my neck.” For a fraction of a moment, Blade felt like he might be getting through to Doug, until he shook his head.
“Sorry, bro. I understand where you’re coming from. But above all else, my job is to keep you safe. We have to notify the police, and we have to boost security—make sure there are people with you at all times.”
An invisible noose tightened around Blade’s neck. “No.”
“You have to be reasonable, bro.”
His head was on fire. “I refuse to go back to the way things were in LA. I couldn’t even take a leak without someone looking over my shoulder.” He had to get out of here, away from Doug, so he could think clearly. He pushed past Doug.
“Where are you going?” Doug yelled.
“Out!”
“Should I follow him?” Tal said.
Blade spun around, pointing. “If you want to keep your job, you’ll stay put!”
Tal glanced at Doug like he was unsure what to do.
Doug blew out a heavy breath. “Do as he says and give him some space.” He shot Blade a death glare. “If anything happens to him, it’ll be his own stupid fault.”
Blade stormed out of the suite. Adrenaline pumped through his veins as he half-jogged down the hall of the hotel. He didn’t know where he was going, but it would be outside the reach of Doug’s all-seeing eye.
