Relentless (Option Zero 2)

Liam took off running to his car. Ferante was dead and Aubrey was going back to LA unprotected? No way in hell this was a coincidence.

Chapter Thirty-Seven

LAX

Los Angeles, California

The two-hour-and-twenty-minute flight from Missoula to LA had given Aubrey plenty of time to think. By the time she arrived at the airport, she was sure she had made one of the biggest mistakes of her life. What if this was all a ruse to get her out in the open?

Her rational mind told her she was being ridiculous. Ferante’s death had absolutely nothing to do with Becca being fired from the film. The man was dead, so there would be no threat from him anymore. It was just one of those odd coincidences that happened from time to time. She was silly for even imagining the two were related.

The more intuitive part of her brain told her to beware. The fine hairs on the nape of her neck added to her concern. Paranoia wasn’t altogether a bad thing. Not when it came to staying alive. It was something she’d gotten used to, but somehow with Liam, she’d let her guard down. She had been safe and secure and felt no danger. That feeling had disappeared.

If she’d had more time to think about things, perhaps she wouldn’t have rushed to LA. That couldn’t be helped now. The plane was landing, and she was here whether she should be or not.

Becca was to meet her in baggage claim, and as the plane was barely five minutes late, she was likely already there waiting.

Grabbing her carry-on from the overhead compartment, Aubrey followed the rest of the passengers off the plane and into the airport. She gave herself a stern lecture as she made her way to baggage claim. She was surrounded by hundreds of people. No one was going to try anything here. And why would they? Ferante had been the only threat. He had known she would expose him, so he had threatened her. Now that he was out of the picture, she was safe.

But why didn’t she feel safe?

She spotted Becca standing in the middle of baggage claim. Even though people passed by her, she seemed to be in another world, her expression dulled by sorrow. She looked lost and forsaken. Aubrey’s heart broke for her. Her cousin had worked hard for this chance. Being the daughter of a famous director could only take you so far. To advance further and get the big, life-changing roles, talent and hard work were the most important components. Becca was a gifted actress, dedicated to her craft. Why on earth had she been fired from a part that seemed tailor-made for her?

“Becca!” Aubrey called out.

Startled, Becca lifted her head and gave her a brilliant smile. She ran toward Aubrey, and the closer she got, the more fragile the smile became. By the time she was hugging Aubrey, the smile was completely gone, and tears were streaming down her face.

“Oh Becca, don’t cry, sweetie. We’ll figure this out, I promise.”

“I know…I know,” she sobbed. “I just wish I knew what I did wrong. No one will tell me anything. It’s like it’s some big secret. But it shouldn’t be if it involves me. I should be told why.”

“Did you talk to someone else?”

Becca pulled away, wiped her eyes and delicately blew her nose with a tissue. “No…not really. I tried to discuss it with Jensen, but he blew me off. Apparently since I’m no longer the star of the movie, he doesn’t want to have anything to do with me.”

Aubrey swallowed a groan. No only had her cousin been fired from her dream role, Jensen Riggs, an up-and-coming actor and Becca’s co-star in the movie, had broken up with her. Even though they’d only had a few dates, and getting her heart bruised was nothing new for Becca, coming on the same day she was fired from her dream role would be a bit much for anyone.

“I knew it wouldn’t last,” Becca was saying. “We’d only been out a few times, and he wasn’t all that much fun to be around, but to have him treat me like I wasn’t important to him anymore because I’d lost the role...” She shook her head, and the tears increased to a steady flow. “It was just too much.”

“I know. But don’t you worry. We’ll get this straightened out, and you can tell Jensen Riggs to get lost when he comes crawling back to you. Which he will.”

“My career is over, Aubrey. I just know it is.”

Aubrey snorted. “When pigs fly.”

Her cousin didn’t laugh as she’d hoped. The despair in her eyes broke Aubrey’s heart. Ignoring the people milling around them, she held Becca’s shoulders firmly and said, “Listen to me. Remember when we were five years old? Remember the promise we made to each other?”

Sniffling, Becca nodded. “We promised we’d never lie to each other.”

“Exactly. So believe me when I tell you this. You are one of the most gifted actors I’ve ever known. There is no way your career is over. This is just a little bump in the road, nothing more.” Aubrey shook her slightly. “I promise you, Becca.”

“You really believe that, don’t you?”

“With all my heart.”

Smiling once again, she linked arms with Aubrey. “Thank you for coming. You always make me feel so much better.” She turned to the exit. “Come on. I managed to park out front, but if I don’t move soon, I’ll get a ticket.”

The minute they stepped outside, Aubrey had that uneasy feeling again. Unable to explain the oddity to Becca, who knew nothing about the issues she’d been dealing with, Aubrey did her best to act normal as she carefully examined their surroundings. There were dozens of people around. Families hauled their luggage into vans, business people stood in line, waiting for cabs, couples stood around chatting. No one looked the least bit interested in them.