Page 34 of Shotgun Daddy
Oh crap.
Did I screw up.
Please, please, please, tell me I did okay…
“Damn,” Steven finally said, shaking his head with a smile. “That wasfire. You’ve got edge, Reece. I like it. We’ll be in touch soon.”
Reece beamed, his chest swelling with pride.
“Thank you! That means so much,” Reece said, momentarily getting a little over-excited.
Reece grabbed his bag, practically floating as he headed for the door. The audition had gone better than he’d dared hoped it would – he’d nailed it, in fact.
As Reece stepped into the hall, he couldn’t wipe the grin off his face.
Truly, Reece was on top of the world, his dreams inching closer, and he couldn’t wait to tell someone and spread the joy.
Outside on the street, Reece pulled out his phone, his fingers flying as he fired off messages to Benjamin and Kyan…
REECE: YAY! YAY! YAY! Just crushed an audition for a TV pilot! It could be a super-mega-career changer. Yikes! Wanna meet up to celebrate?
Both Benjamin and Kyan replied in triple-quick time. Reece’s excitement bubbled over as he pictured the three of them at Bubble Palace, toasting with juice boxes and cake.
“Daddy!” Reece squealed, realizing that he wanted to let him in on the good news too – and hopefully make him drop any plans of spanking him for going against his orders.
Reece scrolled to Faustino’s name next, ready to call and share the good news when out of nowhere a black car screeched to a halt at the curb.
“What the-” Reece muttered, something in his gut telling him that this wasn’t good.
A sharp crack split the air… gunshot… and Reece screamed as a bullet whizzed past him, shattering a window behind him. Glass sprayed and Reece’s phone slipped from his hand, clattering to the pavement.
Panic seized Reece, his legs moving before his brain caught up, and he bolted back into the building, his heart hammering and a cold sweat coming over him.
The shot echoed in his ears, his mind racing.
Who?
Why?
Was it the man from the grocery store?
Reece scurried and hid behind a large desk. Suddenly, his buzz from the audition had been replaced by something horrible – and Reece had a feeling that this might only be the beginning…
Time blurred as Reece huddled in the lobby, his knees drawn to his chest, the cold of the tiles beneath seeping through his jeans. He’d called Faustino in a panic, Reece’s voice shaking as he’d blurted out what happened, and now he was here, bursting through the doors with Owen close behind.
Faustino’s dark eyes found Reece instantly, and he dropped to his knees beside him, pulling him into his arms.
“You’re okay, sweet boy,” Faustino murmured, his voice rough but steady, his hands cupping his face as he checked him over. “Daddy’s got you. You’re safe now.”
Reece clung to him, his fingers digging into his jacket, but the relief was short lived. Tears welled up as Reece pulled back, his voice trembling.
“Steven saw it, Faustino,” Reece cried. “The director. He was coming out to say something when it happened. What if he thinks I’m some criminal now? That I’m trouble? He won’t give me the part. I know how the industry works. I’ll lose everything!”
Faustino’s jaw tightened.
“Hey, listen to me,” Faustino said, his voice gruff but caring. “He won’t think that. You’re not the problem here. I am. I’ll fix this, I promise. No one’s taking this from you.”
But Faustino’s words didn’t soothe Reece.
