Page 68 of Camera Stays On

“I haven’t decided yet what role you should be. It feels a little shitty for you to be my best man, given the circumstances,” he said, his eyes flicking back down to where I was holding her. My blood chilled as his hard, uncaring expression turned into an angry one.

“You thought I didn’t know? That you wanted what was mine this whole time? I’m not blind, Ash. I just thought you enjoyed being a cuck. Didn’t know you were a thief.”

Thief?

“What are you talking about, Sawyer?” Andi demanded. “He didn’t steal anything.”

Sawyer raised the gun again. “Did he not steal you from me?”

“When?” She threw up her arms. “Because we’re both dressed in our wedding garb, and I’ll walk down the aisle right fucking now if you just put down that gun!” she screamed.

“Oh, Purdy, Purdy, Purdy. My darling girl.” He walked over, nudging us apart. I stepped back just enough for him to wedge between us and show his back to me. Lifting the gun and running the butt of it along her jawline, he snickered. “You’re doing that anyway.”

Brushing past her, he pointed the gun at Bea, who was struggling to keep her eyes open on the couch. Before I could react, he pulled the trigger, and I screamed as the boom rang out across the house.

I ran to Bea, scanning for blood. My ears rang, and everything felt muted as I tried to take in the scene. My hands shook violently as I moved her hair, finding Bea’s complete, tear-stained face. He’d missed. Relief washed over me when I saw the hole in the couch, right above her forehead. I glared at my brother. “You’re a bastard. What did she do to you?” I yelled over the ringing in my ears.

“Nothing, that’s why she’s still breathing. Although, she needs new underwear.” He snickered. My gaze shot to Bea’s pants. She’d peed herself. I would have too if I’d been shot at close range.

Bea was too weak to even do anything. Her eyes had fully closed now, and she was struggling to breathe.

“She needs medical help,” I pleaded. “So does Andi.”

“You need to go get dressed. Everyone should be ready soon.” He stepped back and straightened his suit. “And we have a ceremony to do.”

Reluctantly, and full of rage, I stood. “Come on, Andi,” I said, knowing damn well he wasn’t going to let her go with me. He laughed and shook his head, waving me off with the gun.

“We’ll be here, waiting. Or, actually, Purdy, why don’t you go look for some flowers for a bouquet? You’re walking all right. I didn’t have time to get you a fancy one, but I’m sure you can put something together.”

Andi and I exchanged glances. She gulped and nodded.

“Okay.” She left, the front door slamming behind her.

“What the fuck is wrong with you?” I asked, turning to Sawyer. The ringing in my ears had faded, allowing me to speak at my normal volume.

He laughed.

“What do you mean? A director always gets his movie, no matter the cost. Sometimes you have to go a little method.”

“By casting yourself and pretending to marry your ex-girlfriend?”

“Ex-fiancée,” he corrected. “And there’s no pretending. Mick is ordained. I told you Purdy was going to be my wife someday. That day is finally here.”

It was like arguing with a wall. I could speak till I was blue in the face about how he couldn’t force someone to love him, but it was useless. At this point, he wasn’t marrying Andi because of love. It was jealousy. Rage. Ownership. He didn’t want anyone else to have his old toy. Sawyer never really grew up.

Shaking my head, I left the room, going upstairs to see what clothes I’d been left. As I walked through the foyer, I paused by a window and looked out.

The trash bags had been tossed onto Lux’s fire, bringing it back to life. It was almost ten feet tall now, with all the fabric to eat. Andi emerged from the woods, carrying a handful of sad-looking wild daffodils. Her limp was prominent as she moved over to the fire. She stared for a long moment before tossing the flowers into the orange flames, then turning back to the woods.

I hoped she didn’t go too far—and then I realized, she hadn’t heard about Bea’s injury. She’d come down as we were trying to clean her up. Andi had no idea what traps may be in there. My boots slammed on the floor as I ran downstairs to the front door and threw it open.

“Andi!” I shouted as I burst onto the porch.

Andi stepped out from the trees, lifting her skirt slightly.

“There’s traps in the woods! Be careful!”

She turned her head and nodded. I was too far away to get a close look at her expression, but it wasn’t a happy one. She stepped back into the trees just as a hand slapped down on my shoulder.