WHO WOULD DO THIS TO Anna? John couldn’t believe what he was reading. He’d seen vicious stories before, but he’d never known someone who was the subject of one, and it was harder to dismiss than he would’ve thought. His blood boiled at the insinuations. On-set hookups happened on every movie, and only someone with a cold-blooded agenda would treat what was going on with them this way.

“May I have a word?” Reed asked, all politeness touched with steel. Dressed in his eighteenth-century costume for the scene, complete with a high-collared light-blue velvet suit, buckled shoes, and a ruffled shirt, the actor looked like he was about to challenge him to a duel.

“I need to—” John looked up at Anna, thinking surely, she would want to talk about this.

Anna waved him off, though. Well, maybe she didn’t want to have a private conversation with him in front of the crew, but it still rankled. He wanted to help.

Reed cleared his throat, a tight smile on his face. “Let’s go before I drag you out of here.”

John looked the other man up and down.

“I’m not above fisticuffs when called for,” Reed said.

“Do you always talk like you’re in character?” John asked as he strode for the door.

Reed’s shoes stomped behind him. “Honestly, sometimes it’s hard to drop it.”

As soon as he stepped out of the soundstage, John turned to the other man. “What do you want?”

No longer needed to maintain politeness in front of the crew, Reed’s amiable if tense demeanor fell like a curtain. “If you leaked this story in an attempt to undermine Anna, I swear to God, I will make it my mission to destroy you. I don’t have much of a career left, but I will sacrifice it to make sure you can’t hurt her again.”

John appreciated the man’s vehemence, and he was glad to know Anna had such a good friend in the actor, even if his ire was directed at the wrong person.

“Do you honestly think I would leak that story?” John had to believe Reed wouldn’t think he could sabotage Anna this way.

“I didn’t want to think so, but it’s hard to know who to trust.” Reed’s stance relaxed. “Anna’s been a good friend to me, as much as I may not have deserved it. She’s given me a chance, and I owe her.”

“Yeah, Jenny can look after herself, but I’m pretty sure if you fuck up with her, Anna will make sure no one can find your remains.”

Reed huffed. “Nor should they.”

John watched the other man. He’d been an actor for over thirty years. He must have been raised on movie sets, and everyone knew the personal toll the business had taken on the man. “Why are you still here?”

Reed looked up, shocked.