Page 2 of Bonds and Beasts

“That’s a load,” Easton says, pushing up his glasses. “Our agent made the reservation herself. There’s no way she didn’t.”

“I assure you—"

“No, I assure you,” I cut in, crowding into the man and waving a finger in his face. “You’re going to be hearing from our lawyer. The only reason you’re fully booked right now is because we’re in town. So what do we do? Where’s the next hotel?” I demand.

“I... uh... well, unfortunately the nearest hotel is forty minutes away, but—"

“Forty minutes?” I yell. Having to drive forty minutes into town to shoot and then back for rest and then back to shoot for different light or different weather or whatever else is completely not doable.

“The man has more to say, Dean. Let him finish,” Bello intones, his voice almost a bored drawl. How he keeps his patience through the most aggravating moments is crazy. I’ve only ever seen him snap once, and it was terrifying.

I clamp my mouth shut and glare.

The manager wipes his sweaty forehead on the back of his sleeve. “Yes, well, actually, that hotel, the one closest, they’re actually closed right now due to a bedbug issue. So the nearest open one that doesn’t pay by the hour is about an hour and a half away.”

Easton groans, allowing his head to tip back as his eyes squeeze shut.

“Okay, well I guess this movie’s over,” I say as I turn to walk back out the door. We didn’t want to do this gig anyway. We haven’t wanted to do any of these gigs in a long time.

Bello’s hand lands on my shoulder. I want to turn around and snap at him, but his dominance runs over that impulse. Bello is the leader of the pack, and honestly, it’s a good goddamn thing. I’d get arrested for what I want to do right now, and Easton would probably end up sleeping in the stairwell to make everyone else, meaning our directors and producers and investors, happy.

“We can’t just opt out of this movie. The contract is iron-tight. They don’t care if we sleep or not. They’ll sue us into oblivion,” Easton points out.

That’s true, and I am also irked by how strongly Lumi tied us into this movie. I’m less than thrilled by the whole situation.

“We’ll go back to the car and make some calls. There has to be an option. A short-term rental or something,” Bello suggests reasonably, writing this place off as a lost cause.

The manager is nodding enthusiastically, clearly ready for us to leave.

“I’ve already texted Lumi.” Bello holds up his phone.

By the time we make it to the car and climb in, his phone is buzzing.

He checks the screen before pressing accept and putting it on speaker. “Lumi.”

Bello’s voice is deep but holds the definite edge of a threat. Ever since we started talking about slowing down in film, Lumi’s been getting more and more aggressive about the contracts we take. Tying us into things before we realize how ironclad and extensive they are. Now she’s missing basic paperwork? Bello is as done with this shit as the rest of us.

“Bello! Oh my gosh, the hotel called me. I cannot believe they lost the reservation. Silly small-town people.”

I can hear her high nasal voice clear as day. She speaks so loudly. My fists tighten around the armrests.

“Yeah, we’re pretty concerned about accommodations at this point.” Easton leans forward to the mouthpiece before Bello can stop him.

“Oh, of course you are, baby,” Lumi coos with a fake motherly drawl that makes Easton wince. It's more than irritating for him. It hits a nerve. “But I’m happy to say that I made a few quick calls the moment your driver texted me the situation, and I’ve already found you a better, closer place to stay.”

My eyebrows shoot up. Easton’s whole face scrunches. Even Bello has a surprised look in his eye.

“We were told there were no open hotels for miles and miles,” I say.

She giggles. “Yes, but I’m amazing, remember? I found a luxurious rental right there in town. A big, beautiful historic manor house.”

“For rent?” Easton’s skepticism ripples around the car.

“Yes, smarty pants. I’m texting the address now. They have some rules, but it’s all on the up and up. Mr. Clocks, the estate manager, will meet you there. Okay? Okay. Toodles!”

The line goes dead, and we stare at the screen.

“Alright then,” Bello says as the car starts to pull away.