Fallen Idol (Love and Music in Texas Book 4)

by Nikki Lynn Barrett

  "As for your car, I'll get it fixed as soon as possible."

  "Don't worry about mine. You have a ton of other projects. I'll just get a rental." She'd seen the vehicles towed last night. Matt and his company had a lot a work ahead of them.

  His brows arched skyward. "You sure?"

  "Absolutely. Blaine, you just send me your bill when your car gets fixed, too. I'll cover everything." What a way to start out around here, but at least it seemed like things were going to turn out okay.

  "Sure thing." Blaine didn't seem worried about it.

  "By the way, the paparazzi is all over the place this afternoon," Matt warned.

  "Afternoon?"

  He laughed. "I find it funny that your first thought is that it's afternoon, not about the paparazzi."

  Heat rushed to her cheeks. Kyra grinned. "Sorry. I'm still waking up, and I guess I'm just used to being followed around. I'm sorry if it'll affect you, though."

  "I think it's cool! My friends are going to go insane that Kyra Sanders slept in my room!" Andrew piped up.

  "Andrew!" Matt, Randy and Blaine shouted at the same time.

  Kyra stifled a laugh. He was a typical fourteen year old boy. Of course he'd think it's cool that a 'famous singer' slept in his bed.

  "Sorry, Kyra. That was rude of me to say," Andrew's smile faded.

  "You're a typical teen. I'll let it slide." She chuckled. "If you tell any of your friends anything more, I'll make sure to give them a sneak peek of a few things I saw that they just might want to know. Things you don't want them to know." She winked, recalling a few things in his room that made her smile. Andrew was a sentimental kid. She even noted a few papers with poems written on them. Pretty deep for a boy his age. She hadn't meant to pry, but when she'd looked for a place to plug in her phone and laptop, there they were in plain sight.

  He took a few steps back, his cheeks red. "You wouldn't."

  "Hey. I'm just keeping evidence. I don't want stories floating around about me." She laughed at his reaction. "Stick to the truth and we'll be good."

  Andrew scoffed. "I'm not one of those guys."

  "That's good to know. The world needs nice guys, like you and your dad." Kyra ruffled his hair, still smiling.

  "What she's saying is don't spread lies," Blaine told Andrew.

  "Kind of like your ex did about you?" he asked her. "I wouldn't do that. Frederic is a jerk!"

  "Exactly. Sometimes, when we're in the light of fame, people tend to say things, and it gets out of hand."

  "At least you have a cool guy like Randy now." Andrew turned back to Kyra. "Don't worry. I won't tell my friends anything. I just think it's cool you stayed here. I always wondered when I would get to meet you. David and your parents have your pictures everywhere, and we listen to your music a lot."

  "I think it's cool your dad let me stay here, considering I hit Blaine's car with you in it." Kyra really had been grateful about the whole turnout of the night. Her heart warmed at how Andrew described her family. They were close with them. It only made her more eager to go see everyone. "I should get ready and gather my stuff so I can get home to my family." Kyra darted off to Andrew's room, grabbed her clothes, and then closed herself off in the bathroom. Ten minutes later, she was dressed, freshened up and began to gather the rest of her stuff together.

  Footsteps approached from behind. Kyra stood and turned around. Matt leaned against the door frame. He wore a long sleeved red shirt tucked into his Wranglers. She almost needed to sit on her hands to fight the urge to fix his unruly hair.

  "I'm just about done." She gestured to her stuff. "Then I'll be ready."

  "Kyra." Matt approached her. His voice was low and full of concern.

  Something was wrong. "Matt? What is it?"

  "I just got a call..."

  Chapter Four

  "Why didn't they call me?" Kyra cried. "Why-" She stumbled away from Matt. In the short time span she went to get ready, her world came crashing down. She frantically searched for her phone in a panic. When she found it in her purse, she realized exactly why she hadn't been called.

  When she touched the screen, it did nothing. Her phone never charged last night. She must have forgotten, and then she went to help Matt.

  "Your brother called me, but never got to finish talking before the call dropped. We should just get to the hospital now. I don't know what's going on, but he's really upset."

  Kyra nodded. She was numb. Amy and Mom? Either way, if David called from the hospital and Matt was worried, then something was wrong.

  "Right. Let me just..." She couldn't finish. Matt aided her by grabbing her guitar case and bag. She clutched her purse.

  "Andrew! We'll be back!" Matt hollered.

  "No way, Dad. I'm coming with. I want to know what's going on. David was upset."

  "Son-"

  "Come on, Dad." Andrew squared his shoulders. He gave him a look that dared him to challenge.

  Matt sighed. "Fine, let's go." He kept a comforting hand on Kyra's shoulder as he led the way to the car. "Keep an eye out for anyone lurking with cameras. Randy and Blaine found a few hiding earlier. We make no comments to them. Everyone wants to know about Kyra."

  Kyra hardly heard a thing. Her concentration was on her family and what happened. She made it to the car with rubber-like legs. From the sounds of it, David tried to call but got disconnected, and no one knew exactly what happened. They just needed to get to the hospital!

  The outside world passed by in a blur. Matt and Andrew hardly said a word, which was fine with Kyra. She couldn't concentrate anyway.

  The car came to a stop moments later, and Kyra realized they were parked. She jumped out of the car before either one of the guys could.

  Matt caught up to her at the sliding doors. As they opened, he reached out and held her elbow. "I know where their rooms are. We'll find David and get the scoop."

  She just nodded. Her mind was a jumble. Please let everyone be okay!

  "Damn. I see people with cameras heading right this way. Let's go. Why do these people always have to pester, even in a family crisis?" Matt growled. "Andrew, walk in front of me, and let's keep our heads down and mouths shut."

  "It's what they do," Kyra muttered bitterly. Especially with her. After the accident, a long hiatus, and a comeback album in the making, Kyra was big news for them. They fed on her lately. Good, bad, and the ugly. She grabbed her hat from her purse and shoved it on her head, even though they all knew she was here. Hiding wasn't going to do a damn thing.

  They made it to the elevator before anyone could catch up to them. If anything happened, she'd just call security and make them get the cameras out of here. No way was she going to deal with the paparazzi right now. She'd probably end up hurting someone or breaking a camera with her state of mind.

  She sighed and leaned against the elevator wall. Both Matt and Andrew watched her. Kyra tried to ignore it. She needed to be somewhat together when she approached her family.

  The doors opened with a loud hum. Kyra opened her eyes. That time wasn't long enough to gather her wits. Ready or not, here she went. Matt held her elbow and guided her, which she appreciated. Her legs still weren't cooperating as well as she'd hoped.

  "There's David." Andrew pointed.

  Pictures didn't do her brother justice. He was so tall! And handsome. David had been a late surprise for her parents. He'd been born right after Kyra got her big break, and he'd still been a little boy when they left Nashville. She'd never had a good chance to really know her brother. Not even after the accident and the breakdown. Sure, there'd been letters and phone calls, but it wasn't enough.

  "Kyra?" David's voice cracked.

  "Yeah, little brother, it's me. What's going on? Mom and Dad?"

  Her brother ran over and wrapped his arms around her tight. "The same. It's- it's Amy. She fainted, and now she won't tell me what's going on. I'm sorry I scared you. The call dropped. Service is stupid in here."

  "Amy? So Mom and Dad are-?" Relief wa
shed over her, but new worry for Amy took over.

  "They're alive. I'm sorry. I was afraid." David's voice was muffled against her shirt.

  "It's okay. I just didn't know what was going on," Kyra soothed. Wow, she'd totally expected the worst. Images of having to bury one of her parents had filled her mind.

  "David, where's Amy?" Matt asked. He stood close behind with Andrew.

  "I don't know. Another room." He pulled away from Kyra. "She fainted before we could see Dad, and a doctor took her to another room."

  "I'm right here."

  Kyra whirled around to see her sister. Amy had grown, too. She was beautiful. Wow. Other than looking pale, Amy was a looker. She had the same long dark hair that Kyra did. They both got it from Mom. Amy's hazel eyes studied her. She scowled.

  "What happened to you?"

  "Just low blood sugar. I haven't eaten like I should. Been too preoccupied." Her sister averted her gaze. Her tone was less than friendly.

  "Are you two here by yourself? Who's been staying with you?"

  Amy rolled her eyes. "We're old enough to be on our own, but we've had a neighbor stay with us at night. Hi Andrew, Hi Matt."

  "Hi Amy. You gave us a scare," Matt said. "Make sure you take care of yourself, okay? Did you drive up here?"

  Amy nodded. "Yeah. We've been here about an hour." She shot a pointed look at Kyra.

  "Well, we can either put your stuff in your sister's car, or I can drop it off at the house for you. I have a spare key." Matt glanced between Amy and Kyra.

  "I'd say put it in the car." Kyra said.

  At the same time, Amy spoke. "Take it home."

  Kyra gaped at her sister. "That's extra work for them! Matt's done so much already." What was her problem? Amy had been so cold to her the last few times she spoke to her on the phone.

  Her sister rolled her eyes again. "Whatever. Fine. Thank you, Matt." She reached into her purse and tossed a set of keys at Kyra. "If you don't mind, I'm going to check in on Mom and Dad now." Then she stalked away.

  Kyra stared at her sister. What the hell?

  "She's been moody lately," David offered up as an explanation.

  "David, do you want to help move your sister's things to Amy's car?" Matt shot a glance Kyra's way. "That way you can see your parents, and maybe talk with Amy. I'll keep an eye out for the story hungry reporters, too."

  Matt was being so generous. Kyra didn't know how she'd ever thank him. "I won't be able to avoid them forever," she muttered, then realized that was the wrong thing to say, Here he was, being nice, and Kyra complained. "Thank you, Matt. But what if they start hounding you instead?" She had a feeling they already would. When her first venture out of Nashville lands her with a guy from Texas, they'd all want to know who Matt was. How many people managed to take a picture or video last night? Things she hadn't thought of when her sleep deprived self offered to help with the cars.

  "They might hound me, but it's you they want the most," he pointed out.

  Did they ever. There were more than a handful of people who believed she shouldn't get a second chance. The hate mail, the dead flowers, and the stalker after stalker proved it. Still, she pushed ahead, not willing to let the past and that horrid accident define her. Easier said than done.

  "We'll be back. Don't worry about a thing. Go see your family." Matt put a comforting hand on her shoulder.

  Kyra glanced at him. This guy was a mixed bag. Sometimes he acted like she was annoying, and other times he was caring and friendly. She wasn't sure what to make of him, but she'd bet he felt the exact same way about her.

  "I'll show you Mom and Dad's rooms. Dad is awake, but be prepared," David informed her. Kyra nodded, thinking just how grown up her twelve year old brother sounded. She dared not ask what she needed to be prepared for.

  He pointed out the rooms, then gave her a hug before he followed Andrew and Matt down the hall. Kyra froze in place. Her feet were heavy, as if stuck in blocks of ice, as she stood in front of her father's hospital room.

  "Be prepared." David's words echoed in her mind.

  Should she knock? Just enter and hope for the best? Was Amy in here, or did she go visit Mom? Questions filled her mind as fear shot through every vein in her body, making her pulse quicken. She sucked in a sharp breath and decided to just go in.

  Wrapping her hand around the knob, Kyra turned it, pushed the door open, and walked inside. She spotted the bed immediately. As she approached, her father turned his head and opened his eyes. He was covered in white gauze bandages, and her stomach threatened to bring up her earlier lunch. She fought down the wave of bile and approached him. "Daddy," she whispered, thankful he was alive, but stunned at how different- and scary- he looked.

  "Kyra," he rasped.

  "Yeah, I'm here." She blinked back tears. Be strong.

  "Don't cry." His voice was weak. He let out a series of coughs. Dad's entire body shook when he did.

  Kyra fell on to the chair beside his bed. "Don't talk if it hurts or makes you cough. I just needed you to know I'm here. I drove almost nonstop and would have been in last night if that storm hadn't come in. You just get better."

  He continued to stare at her in awe. A tear formed in the corner of his eye, which only tugged on her heart and made it hurt even more.

  Footsteps approached from behind. Kyra whirled around, expecting Amy or Matt with the boys, but she came face to face with a young brunette haired doctor instead. He seemed just as shocked to see her as she was to see him.

  "Hello there." His tone was friendly, but his gaze was suspicious.

  "Hi. I'm Kyra. I just came in from out of state to see my parents," she babbled.

  The doctor smiled. "I know who you are. My daughter is a fan. Your brother told us you'd be arriving."

  "So, can you tell me the good and bad about my father, please?" She cleared her throat, swiveling her gaze between Dad and the doctor.

  "Let me just do the vitals and we'll talk," the doctor promised.

  Kyra moved out of the way in order for him to work. She watched with curiosity as the man spoke to her father, asking simple yes or no questions for Dad to nod or shake his head at instead of talking. Why was his voice so raspy, anyway? Too much smoke inhalation? Would it always be that way? This was one of the many questions she had for the doctor.

  "Looking good today," the doctor commented to her father. Then he turned to her. "Follow me, and we'll talk." He gestured at the door.

  Kyra jumped to her feet and promised her father she'd be right back, then followed his doctor outside the room.

  "He's got some second and even third degree burns and will need skin grafts on a few places," the doctor started. "And he inhaled a lot of smoke. Your father ran in there after your mom and some of the others that were in the building. He was trying to pull your mother out when a wall came down on them both. The good news is he's going to heal just fine."

  Kyra blew out a deep breath of relief. "And my mother?"

  His expression changed then. Kyra noted the look in his eyes, which scared the hell out of her. "She's more critical. She hasn't woken up yet. Your mother was hit directly by the wall."

  She interrupted him, almost in hysterics. "Please tell me she's going to make it!" Kyra grabbed his arm.

  The doctor was sympathetic as he wrangled his arm out of her grasp. "Time will tell. It's really hard to say right now."

  Not what she wanted to hear, but at least he was honest. He led the way to her mother's hospital room. Amy was in there, sitting at her bedside. Her face was red and stained with tears. She glared at Kyra when they walked in, but didn't say a thing.

  This was going to be a long, hard few weeks.

  *****

  The people he'd seen with the cameras weren't anywhere to be found, at least not in plain sight. Matt, Andrew, and David moved Kyra's stuff from his car to Amy's with a quiet success.

  If only he could go home and catch up on sleep. Too bad a shop full of cars awaited, and he was already short a few
workers. He suppressed a sigh. What was Andrew going to do all day? Maybe he should have checked with Randy to see if they could have kept him company. Andrew was fourteen and old enough to be on his own, but it didn't mean he needed to spend most of the day by himself. Normally, he'd spend it with David and his family, but that wasn't a viable option right now, either.

  On the way back inside, Matt told his son the plan for today and asked him what he wanted to do.

  "I'll just hang by myself. It's not a big deal, Dad," Andrew assured him.

  Still, Matt hated the idea.

  "We're not staying all day. Andrew can stay with me," David offered. "Amy and I come in the morning for a while and then check back in the afternoon. She says it's not a good idea to sit around all day waiting."

  Something was up with that girl, but Matt couldn't put a finger on it. To him, it seemed more than just the accident and Kyra's homecoming.

  "Can I, Dad?" Andrew asked, sounding a little more excited.

  "Check with Kyra. I'm sure she might want to spend time with her family, and things might be different." Kyra and Andrew got along great, there was no doubt. Andrew spent a lot of time with David while Matt worked. He'd been friends with the Sanders family ever since they moved to Sunset Hills, but Matt still didn't want to invade on Kyra's time with them.

  Andrew's excitement dropped in the form of a faded smile and sagging shoulders. He didn't argue.

  "I don't think she'll mind," David piped up again.

  "I'll ask your sister when we meet back up with her," Matt said firmly.

  The elevator was quiet as the three had nothing more to say. Matt jingled the keys in his pocket, creating the only sound outside of the hum of the elevator. In his mind, he began to create a list of things needed to be done at the shop.

  They spotted Kyra and Amy walking out of their mother's hospital room. Matt glanced between the sisters, sensing their tension, and wondered what happened.

  "Hey, Kyra? Do you mind if Andrew hangs with us today?" David blurted.

  Matt cringed. So much for him trying to find a decent way to ask. Well, it was done now.

  Amy scowled, but said nothing.