“Sam,” Tab sought her out, and the moment their gazes locked she thought the other woman would break down. “There’s been an accident.”
No! Sam hugged herself tighter. Not again. Please, dear Lord, not again. Heath locked his arm around her shoulders, his tension evident in the hard line of his frame. Apprehension swept through the cabin.
“Jase was involved in a car wreck.”
Dizziness slammed her as another memory surfaced. The police officers at her door… “I’m sorry, but your parents have been involved in an automobile accident. You need to come with us to the station.” In the back seat of the cruiser, she’d wept in fear, uncertain of the severity of her parents’ condition.
Then their friends had come to pick her up and imparted the terrible news… “I’m sorry, Samantha, but they didn’t make it.”
“I’m sorry, but it’s bad.”
Don’t say that! She’d heard the words ‘I’m sorry’ the first time until she’d wanted to scream at the world. Sorry didn’t bring her parents back. Sorry didn’t return her normal life. Sorry didn’t soothe her grief at night when she cried herself to sleep.
After a twelve hour connecting flight from Los Angeles, to Vegas and then Atlanta, Georgia and then driving another 3 hours from Georgia to their home in Alabama, she’d fallen apart again the moment Jase stepped into their house. She’d taken one look at her sibling, thrown herself into his arms, and they’d sobbed together for their loss. They were all the family they had left. None other remained except cousins and aunts and uncles that had nothing to do with them.
“Head injury.” Tab went on as if she didn’t realize Sam’s world was falling apart. “Sw—swelling on the brain.”
“You should’ve called instead.” Derr ogled Sam, fine lines erupting from the corners of his eyes. “We could’ve been at the hospital faster.”
“No one should receive this type of news over the phone,” Tab sounded wheezy, as if she fought back emotions.
Derringer nodded, and she could tell he watched her, but all Sam could do was focus on her breathing as she attempted to process the news.
No, no, no, no! Her ears hummed, and blackness grew inward from the edge of her vision. It was happening again. First her parents died in a wreck, and now Jase was in the same boat.
“What happened?” Sam wasn’t sure who asked the question.
She focused on inhaling and exhaling. This is a nightmare. I’ll wake up any moment. God wouldn’t be so cruel to take all of her family. Would he?
“A drunk driver ran a red light and—”
Bending at the waist she gulped in oxygen, but the wooziness increased. She stumbled and Heath caught her, mumbling gibberish that sounded a lot like comforting words.
Keys gripped her face between his palms. “Focus on me, and breathe slowly.” Tears cut through her vision like acid, blurring everything. She suspected she was the one making the god awful hiccupping sounds similar to when a child struggled not to cry, but she couldn’t be certain. “Let it out, Boo.”
The next inhalation tore through her body like a sword, and the sobbing struck. He kissed her forehead and drew her into his arms, hugging her to his chest.
Keys held Sam tight, allowing her the freedom to let go, but her cries killed Heath. Her parents had died in a similar manner, but at least they’d gone fast. Dead at the scene.
The silence in the jet’s cabin was eerie, the sense of doom strong and that rattled him. Giving up on his best friend wasn’t an option.
“What else can you tell us?” Needing to touch Sam and offer some comfort, Heath stroked Sam’s back while Keys held her and tossed him a fidgety glance. Yeah, she was killing him too.
“Not a lot. Severe lacerations and bruises to be expected.” There were tears in Tab’s eyes, but she did a fine job of blinking them back. “Like I said, swelling on the brain, and he’s in a coma. How soon he comes out of that determines his prognosis.”
Sam’s words were muffled against Keys’ chest, her voice shaky, but at least her tears had lessened. “I need to be there for him when he wakes up.”
Tab frowned. Derringer closed his eyes and rubbed his palm back and forth across the top of his head. The wide-eyed gape of Keys said what Heath was thinking. Head trauma was tricky business, and there was the real possibility Jase would never wake up.
“We need to get to the hospital, Tab.” Heath fingered Sam’s hair out of her face and peered down at her.
Sam left Keys’ embrace and slammed into him with the fiercest hug she’d ever given him. “I can’t believe we’re going through this again.”
“Me neither.” He clasped the back of her head and wrapped his other arm around her shoulders, snuggling her close. “The outcome will be different this time.” The universe could spread the seeds of optimism, so he wouldn’t even think of the alternative conclusion.
Jase will survive. Heath believed it as much as he could, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t dismiss the niggle of doubt that prodded its way into his mind.
“The limo outside can take us all.” Tab sniffled and ran her fingertips beneath her eyes. Her makeup was a hopeless wreck.
Heath swung Sam into his arms and she wilted against him, burying her face against his neck. “I got you, brat.” I’ve always got you.
“I love you, Heath,” her lips moved against his skin as he carried her to the limo. “I couldn’t b-bear this”—her inhale shook her entire body—“without you.”
He put his lips against her ear. “He’s strong, Sam. Don’t you dare give up on him.”
He thought she said ‘not’, but if she did it was so muffled he couldn’t be sure.
Keys opened the limo door for him and he spied Tex about to get in another vehicle. The bodyguard saluted him, indicating he would see them at the hospital. Everyone crawled inside the vehicle, and he kept his arm around Sam’s shoulders. Derringer offered her a wad of tissue and she blew her nose, then dabbed her eyes. But her breathing was choppy like she struggled to pull herself together.
“We can’t do the gig tonight.” Keys delivered that remark, both hands braced on his knees, knuckles white.
Tab nodded. “Done. I cancelled the rest of the week’s performances on the way to the jet.”
“The last words I said to Jase were in anger.” Sam burst into tears all over again.
Fuck. He tugged her across his lap and she cried, soaking his shirt. Emotions clogged his sinuses and burned his eyes, but he fought them back and swiped them away with his thumb.
Both of them had said some harsh, but true, words to Jase earlier. He couldn’t regret his honesty, but it could’ve come with better timing.
“What about Tone Deaf? What can we do to help offset the media coverage they’ll lose?” Derr’s voice was thick, and he swiped his fingers over his eyes. Heath suspected he removed moisture, but he didn’t look close enough to tell. They were a tight band, and regardless of Jase’s recent attitude, they all cared about him, considered him family.
“They’re not my problem, I’m not their agent.”
“Don’t be a bitch, Tab.” Derringer’s dark gaze glittered as he devoted his entire focus on her. “You weren’t always the amazing agent you are.”
“We’ve been there right along with you, struggling to make a name for ourselves just like they are.” Keys sounded exhausted as he pinched the bridge of his nose.
Her mouth pursed, and Tab divvied up a glare between Derringer and Keys. “Says the heir apparent to one of New York’s finest and most affluent families. We had the advantage with you calling in favors.”
“No reason why we can’t call in some favors for them.” Heath kissed the top of Sam’s head and turned to look out the window.
“Great.” Their agent said dramatically, but Heath could hear the strain in her voice. The bickering probably alleviated some of her worry. At the very least it refocused her anxiety. “I didn’t realize we were adopting wayward start-up bands.”
�
�They’re good. Real good.”
“Wouldn’t hurt to sponsor a band once a year.”
Keys and Derringer said at the same time.
“I like the sound of that, Derr.” In his mind’s eye, Heath could see the excitement on Keys’ face.
Tab sighed. “I’ll make a few calls.”
The limo banked left, and they pulled into Spring Hill Memorial Hospital, which was located several blocks off the Las Vegas strip. The media roamed the parking lot like angry ants.
Like a fifteen-ring circus instead of a three-ring one. And here he thought only the hecklers came out on the Las Vegas strip. He had no clue they’d come in mass to the hospital as well. There were a few fans present with signs elevated that proclaimed they prayed for Jase to get better and ‘I love you, Jase—Get well soon!’
“Jesus fucking Christ!” Derringer’s lips went flat. “You’d think they’d respect a time like this.”
“How’d the fans get wind of this before we did?” Keys gripped his knee again, so hard his fingertips whitened.
Tab had already whipped out her cell and was screaming into the phone about security for the band.
Paparazzi were vultures. They dive-bombed the hardest when life sucker-punched you. The limo came to a halt, and the pap swarmed the vehicle. The locks disengaged and he was ready to make a run for it with Sam in his arms, when the door was suddenly yanked open, and Tex said, “Give me Sam. I’ll get her through this mess and come back for you.”
“More security’s coming,” Tab added.
Sam scrambled off his lap and launched out of the vehicle. Intending to join Sam regardless what Tex said, he would’ve gone after her if Tex hadn’t slammed the door in his face. And the locks reengaged.
“Goddamn it!” He yanked on the handle. “Someone should be with her.”
Keys pounded a fist on the window that separated them from the driver. His comment was directed at Tab. “This mob has no desire to harm us, they want the fucking details.” He pushed on the intercom button and yelled, “Unlock the fucking vehicle or I’ll contact my attorney and levy kidnapping charges.”
“Let them out,” Tab sighed. “Drama, boys—”
Heath didn’t hear the rest. He was out of the car and shoving through the reporters and fans that surrounded the limo.
Sam took one look at Jase, and her knees wobbled, threatening to put her flat on her ass. A fresh batch of tears blurred her vision, and she whacked them away as fast as they hit her cheeks.
Now wasn’t the time to be weak.
Be strong for Jase. He needs me now.
White gauze wrapped around Jase’s head like a turban. Various lacerations marred his face and arms. A nasty purple and blue bruise swelled on his jaw. If she hadn’t known this was her sibling, she wouldn’t have recognized him.
On trembling legs she moved closer. His right arm was devoid of injury, but his left was in an air cast. Tubes invaded his uninjured hand, and an I.V. dripped fluid into the line.
The blips and hissing of the medical apparatuses in the room filtered out the noise of the nursing station. He’d shielded her from seeing her parents and had even insisted on closed caskets. If they’d been banged up half as bad as he was, she understood his reasoning. Thanked him for his consideration.
Please, God, don’t take my brother too.
A future without him was bleak. The thought alone was enough to turn her despondent. Keeping the faith was paramount to everything. But being strong had never been harder than it was at this moment.
Sam slid her palm beneath Jase’s good limb, careful not to dislodge the I.V. “Big brother, don’t leave me.” She kissed his knuckles, hot tears scorching her cheeks. “I’ll do anything you want when you wake up. Just d-don’t l-l-leave… me.”
She buried her face in the mattress near his arm and wept. Sobs so loud she feared they’d draw someone’s attention.
A moment later a hand curled around her shoulder and gave a slight squeeze. Then another palmed her other shoulder. She lifted her head. Heath stood on one side and Derringer on the other.
She loved these guys. She sniffled and stood up as she placed her palm on either of theirs.
Keys wrapped his arms around her waist from behind and settled his chin on her shoulder next to Heath’s hand. “Jase will come through this. You wait and see. He’s strong. Either way, lean on us, and we’ll help you get through this, Boo.”
Jase was broken. Heath worried he couldn’t be put back together again. At least not right. One moment they’d been arguing, Heath’d been taking a stand for a place in Sam’s life, and in the next they were fighting for Jase’s life.
His emotions were so jumbled he couldn’t process them. At the front of his mind was worry their disagreement had put Jase on the road and they were ultimately to blame. He prayed Sam hadn’t looked at it that way. He didn’t want her suffering unnecessary guilt. Heath could do that all by himself and enough for the both of them.
“Was the drunk driver injured?” In the waiting room, Heath peered at his band mates and Tab, forcing his thoughts away from Jase’s frailty and the blame-game eating away at him. Sam remained in Jase’s room refusing to leave his side just in case he woke from the coma. He wanted nothing more than to be with her, but the doctor had shooed them away. Sam had gone toe-to-toe with the doctor—more like toe-to-chest, but she hadn’t backed down. Doctor Alberts hadn’t stood a chance, and the man still hadn’t figured it out.
“Not a scratch,” Tab confirmed.
Typical. Karma hopefully wouldn’t bitch-slap the driver with a vehicular manslaughter charge.
He blew out a breezy breath and ran his fingers through his hair. Fuck. When he’d walked into that room several steps behind Sam he’d been blown away by how critical Jase appeared. Fear had paralyzed Heath.
The lacerations and bruises could be dismissed. They were superficial, would heal and if severe enough he could have plastic surgery to remove them. But the head bandages were ominous. An air cast covered his left arm. There wouldn’t be any drumming for a while.
The beeping equipment reminded him it was the internal injuries that were cause for alarm. Swelling on the brain, along with two fractured ribs. After seeing the photos of the vehicles, he was surprised Jase had survived the crash.
All of them had to be thinking the same thing. The tour barely began was now over.
“Even if Jase wakes soon and is okay, the tour’s over. He can’t bang the drums one-handed.” Doctor said his arm was broken in three places and would require surgery. Sam wanted to get him to a specialist immediately, and he couldn’t blame her. Alberts argued Jase’s stability, and she argued for his life. Heath thought the physician had no idea how stubborn she could be. Or how much pull Keys’ family had everywhere, and he’d already put a call into the man.
Derr shrugged. “It’s been done before.”
“Not fast enough for us to get back on track this go round.” Keys gave Derringer an apologetic grimace. “Sorry, man, but it’s the truth. We either cancel the entire tour or we hire a temporary drummer to play out the rest of the gig.”
“Fans won’t like that.” Tab didn’t look up from her texting.
“I don’t like that suggestion.” Heath rubbed his temples with his fingertips and groaned. He itched to return to Sam, but band business had to be addressed quickly.
“I agree.” Derr folded his arms over his chest.
“I think showing solidarity and support for Jase is our best form of publicity, and I don’t want to play without him anyway. Hot Wired isn’t Hot Wired without him.” Which meant even if it was the worst form of publicity, Keys would still want to cancel the tour until Jase recovered. Keys leaned against the windowsill and peered outside. “We could postpone the tour instead of refunding the ticket prices.”
Faced with his best friend’s wellbeing, Hot Wired was the least of Heath’s concerns. He’d defer the decisions to Tab, Derringer and Keys. All he cared about was supporting Sam, and Jase’
s recovery
“There’s a press conference for tomorrow at noon. I’ll do the majority of the talking, but I need at least one of you to tag along and say a little of something. Any volunteers.” Tab paused texting and peeked up.
“I’m not leaving Sam. Or Jase.” Fuck the press and any other fan that thought he owed them a goddamn thing.
“I’d hoped you’d be the one to go, Heath. Everyone knows your history goes waaaay back with Jase. That makes you kind of the official spokesperson in this instance, you know to keep the fans hopeful.”
How could he give them hope when he struggled to keep his?
“Nah…they’ll be disappointed Fang’s not there, but they won’t be surprised when he doesn’t show either. They expect Fang to be with his family.” Keys turned away from the window and whatever he gawked at outside. “I’ll go. I’m better at schmoozing the press anyway.”
“A reporter is guaranteed to ask something stupid, and given Fang’s current disposition, he’s subject to punch a bastard.” Derringer adjusted his baseball cap. “I’ll go too. Someone needs to keep Keys from charming the panties off the pap.”
“That might actually help.” Tab attempted a snarky grin, but failed to pull the artifice off.
“I’ve never seen him look so fragile.” Heath rested his elbows on his knees, buried his face in his palms, and cried. He’d tried to hold back his emotions, but better to get them out now before he faced Sam again because there was no way that fucking doctor was keeping him away from her. And she wasn’t remaining in that room alone. If Jase’s status declined… a heavy knot clogged his throat. He couldn’t abide the idea. The reality would devastate him. Would tear Sam apart.
God he couldn’t acclimate the guy he knew with the man in the hospital bed. Jase could be an ass, spoiled by the advantages the biz gave them, but deep down he was a good guy. Devoted to those he loved, possessive too. Calling them out on their reckless romance chalked up to classic behavior from Jase. He always told them like it was, never withheld punches. Heath knew he and Sam were the two most important people in Jase’s life. They were what mattered.
Rockin' the Heart (Hot Wired) Page 23
