Page 72 of Howl for Me
I nod, though I’m already trying to figure out how in the hell I’m going to explain this if I ever have to.
He slides a check across the paperwork without a word. I glance at it and freeze. The number nearly knocks the wind out of me.
“You’re serious?” I ask, blinking like the amount might change if I stare long enough.
“As a fucking heart attack,” Hector says, crossing his arms like he already knows the answer.
My fingers twitch. That number could cover three months of rent and then some. Hell, I could buy actual groceries. “Consider it hazard pay,” he adds with a smirk. “Johnny’s not exactly low-maintenance.”
No kidding.
“I’m in.” I say as I sign my name.
"How the hell do you expect her to keep me in line, Hector? She hasn’t even seen me shift yet. The second I do, she’ll be running scared."
I stand taller, annoyed. "I’m not scared of you."
Johnny raises an eyebrow, looking me over with a smirk. "Really? 'Cause that pepper-sprayed face of yours says differently."
I grit my teeth. "Oh, fuck off."
Hector steps between us, his voice cutting through the tension. "Enough. She knows what you are and what we do here, so don’t act like you have a choice. Be nice, or you’ll lose more than just your job."
Johnny shrugs like it’s nothing, then looks at me. "So, what? She’s supposed to follow me around all day, like my personal leash?"
Hector hands me a schedule. "Actually, yes. Stick around. Johnny has a shoot to make up today."
Johnny’s smirk falters slightly, and he shakes his head, mocking the situation. "Fine. But I can’t exactly stop fucking the broad to go chasing after you when you run off.”
“Just do your job and don’t worry about what I'm doing. Unless you can’t handle the pressure of someone calling you out on your shit.” I stand up to him, and he smirks.
Hector hands me a folder, his gaze sharp. “Get him to get ready, go over his lines, and no more refreshment tray for today.”
I take the folder, nodding. “Got it.”
Hector’s eyes flick to Johnny. “Don’t fuck up.”
Johnny, who’d been lounging casually against the wall, pushes off, glancing at me with that same cocky grin. “No refreshments my ass.” He storms out, and I'm left to follow him. Johnny chuckles, turning his head just enough to shoot me a look. “Let’s see how long you last.”
I don’t engage with him. No need to. I’m here to do a job, not to get into a pissing contest. As we round the corner toward the set, I feel a knot form in my stomach. The thought of watching him shift, of seeing that wild, dangerous side of him, still makes me uneasy. But I will not let him know that. Not when I’ve already made it clear that I’m not scared.
I already know I’ve stepped into something I’m not ready for. Monsters are real, and they have sex with humans, willing humans. Maybe it's the shock or the absurdity of it all, but I’m not running. Looking around the place, it all makes more sense, the opulent surroundings. This doesn’t look like a home that's lived in. It looks too clean, with no family photos on the walls. I know I should run, but curiosity has dug its claws into me.
I’m not going anywhere, and I'm for damn sure not going to let Johnny think he's gotten to me.
Chapter Seven
Johnny
I don’t need a goddamn babysitter.
Especially not one who smells that fucking good. Even when she’s a few steps behind, she clings to me. Not with her hands, but with her scent. It lingers and seeps into my bloodstream like something parasitic. It’s soft and persistent, and it’s already under my skin. I need to shake this woman soon.
Cassidy walks like she isn’t afraid. Chin up, and her spine straight like she didn’t just learn that monsters are real. I admire how hard she’s trying to keep her shit together. I’ve annoyed her enough that I feel like she's doing this all out of spite. Well, that and the fact that once Hector has you, there’s no turning back.
Hector made it sound like I’m some feral beast in need of wrangling. Maybe I am and maybe I want to see how long she lasts before she snaps. I walk into the dressing room and letthe door swing shut behind me, intentionally in her face. I don’t even look back. She’s not fragile. If she’s going to last, she can’t be.
Still, I hear her mutter,
