Page 83 of Secrets in the Deep

“Ryan.”

Jesus Christ. Melanie Prior. Thelastperson he wanted to talk to.

He turned to glare at Emily’s mother and lowered his voice. “She doesn’t want to see you.”

Melanie raised a brow. “You haven’t even asked her.”

“I don’t need to.”

She stepped closer, her voice lower now. “My daughter got hurt today. I’m going in, and I’m seeing her.” She stepped to the side.

He mimicked her. “No.”

The woman’s eyes narrowed. “You think you know her so well. Well, do you know she’s going to get sued because of you?”

“What are you talking about?”

“She’s signed a contract. To lead in a multimillion-dollar movie. And today, she told me she’s going to break that contract. Foryou. So she can stay here, in this small town, where her career will shrivel up and die.”

Was that true? He mentally shook his head. “Then that’s her choice.”

“You don’t just walk away from contracts like that. She’s going to be sued for damages. They’re going to demand repayment of her advance and potentially claim millions in losses. And that’s just the beginning. Word will get around. She’ll be labeled unreliable and get blacklisted. Then, if she ever wants to go back to the career that she’s spent her entire life working toward, she won’t be able to. So tell me, Ryan—are you worth her entire future?”

19

Something was wrong. And it wasn’t just the fact that she’d been hurt on set, or that someone had swapped out the prop knife for a real one.

No. This was different.Ryanwas different. The man she’d woken up to find beside her bed had been relieved. Comforting. He’d felt close to her emotionally.

But the man who’d returned to her room after going to find her doctor was distant.

What had happened outside her room?

His arm tightened around her waist as they rounded the hospital hallway, after the doctor finally completed her discharge. Ryan had wanted to carry her or put her in a wheelchair, but that seemed a bit much. The cut was superficial and, yes, it would likely scar, but she’d be fine.

She glanced up to see his eyes sweep the waiting room, like one of the people inside could be responsible for this hospital trip.

She followed his gaze. An elderly couple. A few families. A young guy. None of them paid her or Ryan a bit of attention.

Interestingly, she’d expected to see her mother here. But she’d never shown. There hadn’t even been a call or text. Why? Because she was still angry about the job thing? Surely her getting hurt trumped any argument.

She actually didn’t care. She was relieved she hadn’t received the visit. She was tired, and that exhaustion was now tinged with worry about Ryan and what was going on in his head.

She also needed to call Faye. The woman had to be a wreck. And Emily didn’t blame her. If situations were reversed, she’d be beside herself too.

They stepped outside and Emily immediately inched closer to Ryan.

Was the person out here? Were they watching?

Argh. She hated that this asshole was messing with the cast and making them feel so scared.

She only breathed her next full breath when she was safely inside Ryan’s truck. As he started home, she turned her head and looked at him, studying the crease between his brows. The way his knuckles were white around the wheel.

“What’s wrong?” she asked quietly.

He shot her a glance. “You were attacked today.”

“Is that it? You look angry.”