Page 41 of The Viper
Instead, I felt completely alive.
14
LUCAS
After the break, I let Lexi slip back to the set. My pulse was still high from our earlier moment—her lips, her heat, the way she’d looked at me like she could unravel me with a glance. I shook it off, forcing my focus back to the job. This wasn’t the time to lose my edge.
Benji’s attack had shifted the air on set, like a storm rolling in you could feel but not see. I spotted his bodyguards near the security tent, two big guys with easy grins that didn’t quite match the tension in their shoulders. They were built like linebackers, broad and solid, but their relaxed postures suggested they spent more time sitting around than cracking skulls. I approached and they straightened slightly, sizing me up.
“Lucas,” I said, extending a hand. “Dominion Hall.”
The taller one, with a shaved head and a scar above his eyebrow, shook my hand firmly. “Troy,” he said. “This is Nate.”
Nate, stockier with a reddish beard, nodded. “Heard about you,” he said, his tone light but probing. “Dominion Hall, huh? That’s some heavy-hitter shit.”
I kept my expression neutral. “Something like that. You guys mind walking me through what happened with Benji?”
They exchanged a glance, the kind that said they’d already clocked me as more than just hired muscle. Troy leaned against the tent pole, crossing his arms. “Caught us off guard, man. Benji’s a good dude—one of the nicest in this game. Nobody’s ever come at him like this. Not in five years working with him.”
Nate nodded, his grin fading. “Happened at his rental. He steps out on the back deck with his coffee, like he does every day. Guy comes out of nowhere—big, maybe six-two, ball cap, yelling some crazy shit about Hollywood being a sin factory, Benji poisoning souls, all that. Swings at him before we even hear the commotion. Got a couple good hits in before we pulled him off and he bolted.”
“Any ID?” I asked, my mind already running through possibilities.
Troy shook his head. “Nothing solid. Weird accent—Eastern European, maybe? Hard to pin down with all the screaming. No car, no plates. Just vanished. We’ve got cameras at the house, but the footage didn’t help. Cops are looking at it now.”
I frowned, my instincts prickling. “What do you think it means? Random nutcase, or something targeted?”
Nate rubbed the back of his neck, his eyes flicking to Troy. “That’s the thing. Benji’s not the kind of guy who makes enemies. He’s all charm, no drama. This felt … personal. Like the guy knew exactly where to find him.”
“Which means what?” I pressed, keeping my tone even.
Troy’s jaw tightened. “Either someone followed him, or someone on the inside tipped this weirdo off. No way he just stumbles on Benji’s rental in the middle of James Island. We’re careful—always checking for tails, switching routes. We don’t advertise where he’s staying.”
My gut twisted. An inside job was a problem—a big one. Film sets were porous, crawling with crew, assistants, locals. Anyone could’ve let something slip, intentionally or not. “You got any theories on who?”
Nate shook his head. “Not yet. We’re keeping our eyes open. He’s shaken but stubborn—says he won’t let it slow him down. Let’s just say he won’t be having coffee on the back porch tomorrow.”
“What’s your next move?” I asked.
Troy shrugged, but his eyes were hard. “Move to another house. We’ve got a guy checking local feeds for anyone matching the description. Cops are involved, but you know how that goes—slow unless it’s high-profile enough to make headlines.”
I nodded, my mind re-mapping the set’s weak points—the open dock, the flimsy ropes, the bored security guards who’d rather be anywhere else. “Anything I can do to help?”
They shared another look, this one longer, like they were weighing whether to trust me. Nate spoke first. “Not yet, man. We’ve got Benji covered. But …” He hesitated, glancing at the set where Lexi was running lines with a stand-in. “Keep a close eye on her. If this was about the film, she could be next.”
My blood went cold, but I kept my face steady. “Why her?”
Troy’s voice dropped, low and serious. “She’s the bigger name. The face on every poster. If someone’s targeting this production, they’re not gonna stop with Benji. And after that bar stunt? She’s got a spotlight on her.”
I nodded, the weight of it settling in my chest. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
Troy clapped my shoulder, his grin returning. “Appreciate it, man. When this movie’s done—if we all survive—drinks are on us.”
Nate laughed, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Yeah. Let’s get through this.”
I forced a smile. “Deal,” I said. “Stay sharp.”
“You, too,” Troy said, and they turned back to their post.
