The sound of something crashing came from inside. Without wasting more time, he stepped back and slammed at the door with his foot. No luck. Trying again, he rammed into it with his shoulder this time, the door flying off its flimsy hinges.

He burst inside to find the same guy who’d tried to keep him off set the first day of filming standing with an arm around Sasha, a knife at her neck.

He immediately held up his hands. “Take it easy,” he said to the man whose eyes were darting everywhere, sweat beading on his forehead.

Xander met Sasha’s panicked gaze, trying to calm her with a look. He didn’t have a clue yet how he’d get her out of this mess unharmed, but that was the only acceptable option.

“You ruined everything!” the guy said, glaring at Xander. “She was supposed to be on this set alone. I’d have her all to myself. She’s mine. Mine! Do you hear me?” His hand shook and the knife pricked her skin.

She winced as Xander clenched his hands at his sides. “You don’t want to hurt her,” he told the man in a calm voice. “You care about her, remember? So why don’t you lower the knife and–”

Before he could finish his sentence, Sasha reached behind her and did something that caused the man to shriek in pain, but he held on to her arm. She tried to yank out of his grasp, and Xander rushed forward at the same instant the asshole lunged for her, shoving her hard, away from where Xander stood.

She hadn’t caught her balance from her attempted escape, and his hard push propelled her against the edge of the counter beside the couch. Her head hit the hard surface with a sickening thud.

His stomach rolled and panic filled him, but he dove, tackling the man, shoving the knife beneath the sofa and out of his reach. He had no patience for a struggle, so he lifted his arm and punched him in the jaw over and over until his head rolled back and he was out of commission.

Xander pushed himself up and ran for Sasha. Blood pooled from the side of her head, scaring him. He yanked off his shirt, knelt down and used the material to put pressure on the wound, reminding himself that head injuries bled heavily.

He placed his free hand on her cheek. “Hey, sunshine.”

She moaned and those beautiful sky blue eyes fluttered open. “Hi.”

He smiled because she was conscious and he didn’t want her to see how fucking frightened he was.

“Jesus!”

Xander heard Jared’s voice and turned his head. “Tie up that asshole. Then call 911 and the cops,” he said, heart pounding hard in his chest.