Another awkward pause, and I wanted to laugh so badly but somehow managed to contain myself.
“Uh, this is Nurse Radcliff from the Townsend hospital. We have your test results back. Would you be able to pop in and discuss them with us?”
“Not a chance in hell,” Rhett said bluntly. “I’m three hours away. I’m sure test results can be given over the phone in these circumstances.”
Another pause, and I wondered if the nurse was counting to ten. “Of course, Mr. Silver,” she finally said, still as professional as ever. “I will just check with the doctor. Could you hold for a moment?”
“Yeah.”
This time I did laugh, muffling it in my pillow as Rhett shot me a slow smirk.
The nurse was gone for about two minutes before she returned. “Okay, thanks for holding, Mr. Silver. The doctor wanted me to let you know that you’re a match for your grandfather. We’d appreciate if you could visit again and discuss the transplant as soon as possible. He said he’ll make himself available to you whenever you have time.”
Rhett hung up the phone without another word, and I was no longer amused.
Fucking hell. I’d really hoped he wouldn’t be a match, because now he had a huge decision to make. He remained silent, staring at the phone, and I let him have his thoughts. All I did was take his hand so he knew I was here supporting him, no matter what decision he made.
“The irony of this is fucking insane,” he finally said with a sad laugh. “I’ve wanted that old bastard to die so many times that I’ve lost count. I planned on killing him with my bare hands, and now he’s about to die if I don’t step in to save him.”
A selfish part of me, the same part that ranted and raved about it the other day, really hoped he wouldn’t save that bastard. The less selfish part, though, knew that this wasn’t my decision and that I shouldn’t influence Rhett. I had to support him.
Wiggling closer, I wrapped my arms around him, and he rested his head against me. “I need to see them both, and then I’ll make my decision. At this stage, I honestly can’t imagine one reason that would make me risk my own life and health to save that fucker, but without seeing them, it’s hard to know.”
“I’m here for you, no matter what you decide,” I told him, even as I closed my eyes and sent out every hope that he wouldn’t do this. “When do you want to see them?”
“As soon as fucking possible,” Rhett snarled. “We need to get this over with so I can move on with my life, one way or another.”
I just hugged him harder. “You’ve already moved on,” I told him. “This is just one piece of the past that needs to be buried.”
Along with that old bastard in the hospital bed. Dead and buried was the only fitting ending for him.
I’d changed a lot over the past few months, hardened in some ways and opened up in many others. I wasn’t the same person who’d stumbled into that alley the night I met Rhett. Not even close. This version of myself was fierce in a way that old Billie hadn’t been.
I now had a life I was desperate to keep and men I’d die to protect.
There was a knock at the door a second later, and Rhett called out for them to come in. We were both naked, the sheets pooled around our waists, but it would only be Gray or Angel, and they were not going to mind.
It turned out to be both of them.
“Jace is making his statement,” Gray said shortly. “It’s blowing up across social media.”
He was wearing just a pair of sleep shorts, all of his gorgeous skin, muscles, and ink on display. Angelo wore a shirt and shorts, which for my suit-loving mafia man was practically naked.
They crowded into the bed as well, and Gray lifted the tablet he’d been carrying, hitting play on the screen. Jace’s face came immediately into view, and I saw that he was set up like he’d called for a media presence. He stood at a podium, mics visible in front of him.
“Thank you all for hearing me out today,” he started, and my heart ached at how tired and sad he looked. I mean, Jace Adams was never anything but extraordinary, in both looks and talent, but in this moment, he looked beaten.
“I’ve wanted to make a statement for a while now, to speak directly to our fans and to those who have loved and supported us for the past near decade. You are the ones we care about, and this message is for you.”
He took a deep breath, and then lifted his gaze so those piercing blue eyes were staring right into the screen. Right into our souls. I really wished I was there to hold his hand right now, but it was better that this statement came from the man himself. Alone. No distractions.
“For the last few months, Bellerose has been under attack. Not from the fans who love and support our music, but from the media, from other bands, and from a group of zealots who want to destroy everything we have worked for. Florence, our incredible bassist, was murdered in such an attack. It was staged as a random home invasion, but I’m so sure she was targeted for who she was. Who we are. She was ripped from us, and last night, I almost lost another important person to me. My sister.”
Another pause, and I saw the way his throat moved as if he was composing himself before continuing. “She was stabbed by a woman for no reason other than she is related to me. To Bellerose. We’ve never shied away from what fame brings to us, always sharing our lives and giving parts of ourselves to you all. But this is where it has to end. We are not property for you to take, touch, hurt, and murder. So, I’m here today to ask the true Bellerose fans, those who are here for the fucking music and nothing else, to back us in this new change. Don’t give the media more power, don’t allow the masses to take another Bellerose member from us, and stand by our sides as we fight for a different future. I promise, there’s new music coming from us, and it’s sound is right back to our origins. A promise I will keep, no matter what.”
When he broke off this time, the media he was vilifying started to shout out messages.
Jace ignored them all. “And you might be wondering why I have the media here, since I’m certain they are more than half the issue. Well, the truth is, they’ve been camped out here since the story broke about my sister, trying to worm their way inside the hospital, bribing, lying, and all the rest to get the first scoop. I figured that I might as well give this message directly to them as well. Bellerose is done with your shit, and we will fight back now.”
